Talk about brains and beauty -- give one of these gorgeous new art and architecture books and know that your good taste will not go unnoticed. (Worth noting: In most cases, the books are available online for much less than their list prices.)
Thanks to her exhibition at the New Museum, painter Elizabeth Peyton's star is currently white hot. Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton ($59.95) includes 200 color reproductions of her poetic, jewel-like portraits of her famous pals from the art, music, and fashion worlds. Another artist having a moment right now is William Eggleston, the modern master who proved that color had a place in art photography. The mesmerizing monograph William Eggleston: Democratic Camera ($65), produced in conjunction with his current Whitney museum retrospective, is a keeper. 
Modern Architecture Pop-up ($45) by Anton Radevsky and David Sokol isn't for kids. It is, however, a marvel of construction in is own right that will both amaze and edify. And for all those hard-core avid architecture buffs in your life, consider the uber-impressive Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture, which documents over 1,000 of the globe's most remarkable structures ($195).
Last but not least -- and weighing in at over 18 pounds -- there's the illustrated biggie of the year: All the World's Birds: Buffon's Illustrated Natural History General and Particular of Birds ($350). The 18th century French engravings are both scientifically precise and totally wondrous. The kind of book that makes you want to stay in to curl up in front of the fire.Photographs by George Chinsee.
To see all the previous gift guide suggestions so far, click HERE. And check back every day this month for new gift ideas.
