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The Most Enticing Man Smells, According to Romance Novels

Philosopher Simon Critchley having a drink at a bar — The Media That Gets Philosopher Simon Critchley’s Wheels Turning
5 minute read

Courtesy Phaidon — Danish Design Firm HAY Heralds Its 20th Anniversary With a Superb, Highly Tactile Book
3 minute read

The book cover of The Essence, depicting a woman donning perfume. — This New Book Unpacks the World of Fragrance
2 minute read

Five dye pots with colored fabrics inside them. — The Terroir of Natural Color Dyes
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Photo: John Cairns. Courtesy the Bodleian Libraries. — An Exhibition at Oxford Highlights the Sensorial Splendor of Books
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Cover of “Still Pictures: On Photography and Memory” by Janet Malcolm. (Courtesy Farrar, Straus and Giroux) — The Piercing Prose of the Late Janet Malcolm
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Two people kissing with black veils over their faces — Antwaun Sargent on the Power of Contemporary Black Art
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Courtesy Artisan Books — Ghetto Gastro’s Jon Gray on “Durag Diplomacy” and the Beauty of the Bronx
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A Vintage Odyssey cover image, featuring a vintage microphone. — The History of Vintage Recording Gear, Written by an All-Knowing Industry Veteran
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Cover of “Open Questions: Thirty Years of Writing About Art” by Helen Molesworth. (Courtesy Phaidon) — With “Open Questions,” Helen Molesworth Opens Up New Ways of Seeing Art
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Courtesy Chelsea Green Publishing — Hannah Lewis on the Burgeoning “Mini-Forest Revolution”
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An Yu. (Courtesy Grove Atlantic) — The Eerie, Dreamlike Piano Melodies Behind An Yu’s Latest Novel
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Courtesy Tertulia — This New App Gives Readers a Place to Convene and Connect
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The 7 Best Books of the Year
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Two hands cupping a dorodango mud ball. — The Joyful Japanese Art of Making Mud Balls
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Alexandra Lange. (Photo: Mark Wickens) — Alexandra Lange on Mall Nostalgia, Romance Novels, and Twitch
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Hundreds of flowers spill out of a phone booth on on New York City street corner. — The Story Behind Lewis Miller’s Unforgettable #FlowerFlash Installations
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The cover of “Question Everything: A Stone Reader,” co-edited by Simon Critchley and Peter Catapano. (Courtesy Liveright) — Simon Critchley on the Sheer Delight of Questioning Everything
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Courtesy The University of Chicago Press — A Commemoration of AACM’s Legacy in Experimental Jazz
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Lara Gilmore. (Photo: Paolo Terzi. Courtesy Phaidon) — Lara Gilmore on the Media That Brings Out Her Inner Child
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Courtesy Princeton Architectural Press — A Handbook for Navigating the Nuances of Japanese Tea
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An arrangement of colorful dishes in stone and clay bowls on a wood table. — Marfa’s Culinary Culture, in a New Cookbook
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A man sitting outside barefoot wearing a hat — The Media That Shapes Claus Sendlinger and His Slow Hospitality Brand
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An Aesop book leaning in a windowframe. — How Aesop Grew Into an “Anti-Salon” Beauty Empire
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Author and professor Hsuan L. Hsu on a yellow background. — In Literature and Art, Smell Is a Powerful Means to Convey Risk
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Catherine and John Pawson standing and siting at a table in front of a white wall. — What Catherine and John Pawson Cook at Home in the English Countryside
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Chef Jennifer McLagan — A Case for Bringing Blood, Bones, and Offal Into the Kitchen
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Nuno textiles book — How Japan’s Most Important Textile House Weaves the Past and Present into Its Fabrics
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Cover of “Roman Stories” by Jhumpa Lahiri. (Courtesy Knopf) — The Gossamer Glow of Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Roman Stories”
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Olfactive expert Dawn Goldworm — A New Children’s Book Combines Colors and Smells to Profound Effect
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The red cover of the book Smellosophy. — Historian Ann-Sophie Barwich on Why Smell Remains the Most Mysterious Sense
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Cover of “Look: How to Pay Attention in a Distracted World” by Christian Madsbjerg. (Courtesy Riverhead Books) — In “Look,” Christian Madsbjerg Celebrates the Slow, Patient Act of Observation
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Taste Makers book by Mayukh Sen — Meet Seven Immigrant Women Who Shaped the Way America Eats
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The covers of four new books on the climate crisis. — Four New Must-Reads on the Climate Crisis
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A flower flash by Lewis Miller — Lewis Miller’s Flower Flashes Offer Wonder and Delight
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“The Sense of Smell in the Middle Ages: A Source of Certainty” book cover — Dr. Katelynn Robinson Unpacks the Role of Odors in the Middle Ages
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Journalist and writer Julia Cooke — The Words and Music Author Julia Cooke Is Escaping Through Right Now
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Courtesy Lara Call Gastinger — Botanical Artist Lara Call Gastinger on Seeing Scents
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Chef Bill Granger smiling in a sunny room. — Bill Granger, the Chef Who Made Avocado Toast Mainstream, on Australian Food
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The Scratch and Sniff Book of Weed on a white background. — Illuminating Scratch-and-Sniff Books, Made for Grownups
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A wood-fired oven in a kitchen. — The Unexpected Advantages of Wood-Fired Cooking, Explained by Japanese Chef Yoshihiro Imai
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Azzedina Alaïa's Taking Time on a white desk. — Azzedine Alaïa’s Ruminations on the Value of Taking Time
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Priya Khanchandani. (Photo: Prarthna Singh) — Priya Khanchandani on the Media That Inspires Her Curatorial Work
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Courtesy Assouline — Why Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Remains One of the Most Enduring Watches Ever
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A concrete home with a large window flanked by two trees — A New Book Surveys 11 Transcendent, Light-Filled Homes Designed by Tadao Ando
2 minute read

Courtesy Yale University Press — A Sonic Journey Inspired by the Expansive Landscapes of the Nordic Region
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The front and back cover of Spencer Bailey's book, “In Memory Of: Designing Contemporary Memorials” — Spencer Bailey on Memorials, Abstraction, and the Act of Unforgetting
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A vintage envelope addressed by former president Abraham Lincoln — The Fascinating, Often Shameful History of U.S. Voting Ballot Design
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Cover of “Worlds Without End” (2023) by Chris Impey. (Courtesy MIT Press) — Chris Impey on the New Space Race and Exoplanet Habitation
17 minute read

Courtesy Leonard Koren — From “WET” to “Wabi-Sabi”: Leonard Koren’s Adventurous Aesthetic Journey
31 minute read

Cover of “The Cook You Want to Be” by Andy Baraghani — Why Andy Baraghani’s New Cookbook Is Going to Become Our 2022 Go-To
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Koji wrapped in white gauze on a black background. — Fermentation Expert Rich Shih Explains the Particularities of Koji
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Journalist Doree Shafrir — Doree Shafrir’s Favorite Media Outlets—Slow, Singular, and Unconventional—Mirror Her Life
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Illustration of a tree with leaves next to a tree without leaves — The Natural World, in Book Form
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Cover of “Nichetto Studio: Projects, Collaborations, and Conversations in Design” — The Prolific, Genre-Defying Output of Luca Nichetto
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An old pair of scissors with a yellow handle. — This Necessary New Book Honors the Craftsmanship of Tools
2 minute read

Writer and author Julian Sanction — Why History’s Harrowing Polar Expeditions Get Julian Sancton’s Blood Pumping
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Photo: Naomi McColloch. (Courtesy Chronicle Books) — A Practical Guide to Making Food With Flowers
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Journalist Danielle Freedman — The Profundity of Superheroes, Comedy, and Jazzercise, According to Danielle Friedman
9 minute read

The book cover for Sugar Free 3. — Michele Promaulayko on Controlling Your Sugar Cravings Through Smell
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The cover of the book "Meaningful Stuff: Design That Lasts" by Jonathan Chapman. — How to Break the Cycle of a Throwaway Society
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The cover of “Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility” (2023). (Courtesy Haymarket Books) — In “Not Too Late,” a Vital, Kaleidoscopic View on the Climate Crisis
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A ladle ladling Japanese chicken curry from a large clay pot into a bowl. — How to Make the Perfect Japanese Curry Brick
4 minute read

Courtesy Artisan Books — The Unsung Virtues of Natural Wine, According to an Expert
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Cover of “Curry Everyday: Over 100 Simple Vegetarian Recipes From Jaipur to Japan” by Atul Kochhar — Atul Kochhar Sees Curry as Vessel for Cultural Exchange
3 minute read

Long Players book by Tom Gatti — Fifty Writers on the Albums That Changed Their Lives
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A martini glass with green drink and cherry inside — In Tokyo, Cocktails Are Both a Culture and a Craft
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Cover of “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life” by Dacher Keltner. (Courtesy Penguin Press) — Dacher Keltner on Why We All Need Daily Doses of Awe
17 minute read

Tatiana Schlossberg smiling next to the front cover of Inconspicuous Consumption. — Environmental Journalist Tatiana Schlossberg Shares Her Media Diet
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Dr. Gary Deng. (Photo: Stephen Cardone) — Dr. Gary Deng on Aligning Mind and Body Through Food, Traditional Medicine, and Self-Care
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Cover of “Rocky Mountain Modern” by John Gendall — A New Book Traces the Evolution of Modernism in the Rocky Mountains
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Shantell Martin's book, Wonder. — Shantell Martin’s Debut Book Follows the Line of Her Life and Workπ
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A building designed by MASS Design Group. — MASS Design Group’s Model for Building a More Just Society Through Architecture
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Lorne M. Buchman — What Roles Do Our Bodies Play in the Creative Process?
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A pitcher of water with a hand holding a honey wand overhead. — How to Make Fermented Drinks at Home, According to Antwerp Chef Barbara Serulus
1 minute read

Courtesy Thames & Hudson — A Photographic Compendium Highlights the Unspoken Power of Flowers
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Courtesy Mack Books — A New Book Captures the Magnificent Breadth and Melancholic Beauty of Alec Soth’s Photography
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“Between the Mountain and the Sky” by Maggie Doyne — How Maggie Doyne’s Enduring Altruism Continues to Transform the Lives of Orphans in Nepal
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Four book covers from titles about the climate crisis on a white background — A New Digital Book Club Explores the Beauty and Fragility of Our Planet
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A spread from “How to Take a Japanese Bath.” (Courtesy Stone Bridge Press) — For Leonard Koren, Taking a Japanese Bath is the “Ultimate Experience”
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A page excerpt of the book. — This New Book Highlights Spaces Made to Engage the Senses
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Cover of “To Free the Captives: A Plea for the American Soul” by Tracy K. Smith. (Courtesy Knopf) — A Liberating, Time-Traveling Journey Through Family, History, and Memory
7 minute read

A red Powell's by Powell's book on a wooden table. — A Unisex Fragrance That Smells Like Old Books, Created by a Portland Bookstore
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“Untitled (Coalescence)” (2021), an installation made of resin, LED lights, and a microprocessor, by New York–based artist Palden Weinreb in the Rubin Museum’s Mandala Lab. (Photo: Rafael Gamo. Courtesy the Rubin Museum) — Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen on the Science-Backed Pleasures of Neuroaesthetics
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The book “Designers Against Coronavirus” open on a wood table — The New Book “Designers Against Coronavirus” Is a Powerhouse of Positivity
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(Photo: Delfino Sisto Legnani) — A Book About Joints Celebrates the Big Ideas Behind Tiny Details
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A New Biography Looks Back on Stewart Brand’s Planetary Impact

Book Cover of "Promise That You Will Sing About Me" — A New Book Gets to the Heart of Kendrick Lamar’s Sonic Rise
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Clockwise from top left: “The Essentials” from Eleven Madison Home, Ikebana Kit Box from Space of Time, “Conversations with Noguchi,” Ghetto Gastro Ancestral Roots waffle and pancake mix, Gohar World Host Necklace, Rice Factory New York rice, Papier d’Arménie “Discovery Box,” and Michael Kimmelman’s “The Intimate City.” — Eight Distinctive and Delightful Gifts for the 2022 Holiday Season
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Karl Lagerfeld in 2014. (Photo: Christopher William Adach) — A New “Cultural Biography” on Karl Lagerfeld Illuminates the Person Behind the Image
23 minute read

Journalist and novelist John Colapinto — The Magic and Miracle of the Human Voice
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Clockwise from bottom left: Gohar World Egg Chandelier, Mini; Salvatori Ellipse Mortar and Pestle; Sohn Foot Pillow; Theory11 x Eleven Madison Park Limited-Edition Playing Cards; “Not Too Late”; “Philip Glass Piano Etudes”; Molteni & C Porta Volta Chair; Tom Dixon Tank Wine Set; Haws x Gardenheir watering cans. — Nine Timeless Gifts for the 2023 Holiday Season
6 minute read

“The Perfect Sound: A Memoir in Stereo” by Garrett Hongo (Courtesy Pantheon Books) — The Poetry of Building the Perfect Sound System
3 minute read

An array of Baudar’s wildcrafted vinegars. (Courtesy Chelsea Green Publishing) — “Culinary Alchemist” Pascal Baudar on the Art of Foraging and the Craft of Vinegar
6 minute read

The Future Library Forest. (Photo: Rio Gandara. Courtesy Helsingin Sanomat) — At a Library in Oslo, the Books Can’t Be Read Until 2114
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The cover of the book Hearing the Cloud. — What the Internet Sounds Like: A Playlist
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Saws, Planes, and Scorps by David Heim — The Seductive Appeal of Handmade Woodworking Tools
6 minute read

Rebecca Solnit and Brit Marling. — You Won’t Want to Miss These Virtual Talks and Book Readings
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Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen — How Leonard Cohen Sought Out Spiritual Truth Through His Songs
2 minute read

A classical painting depicting two men and a woman with a funny contemporary caption — In Her New Book, a Comedienne Explains the Mansplainers of the World
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Author Shanna Farrell — The Spirit Brands and Bar Owners Redefining a “Good Drink”
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A photograph of a woman in a bright red dress on the beach. — Antwaun Sargent’s New Tome to Black Image-Making in Fashion Today
2 minute read

Book Cover of Until Proven Safe — A New Book Explores the Longstanding Practice of Quarantine—and Why It Must Change
2 minute read

The Dimes cookbook on a soccer goal's net. — One of Our Favorite Manhattan Restaurants Debuts a Cookbook
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The Kistefos Museum in Jevnaker, Norway — Bjarke Ingels on Creating Extraordinary Environments for Today and Tomorrow
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A book cover with plants inside a vial. — Harold McGee Unpicks the Science of Scent
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Ted Gioia in front of a large window. — Jazz Critic and Historian Ted Gioia’s “Subversive Songs” Playlist
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Roxane Gay. (Photo: Reginald Cunningham) — Roxane Gay Balances Her Content Intake Between the Real and the Imagined
9 minute read

Courtesy Farrar, Straus and Giroux — In “Ordinary Notes,” Christina Sharpe Weaves a Profound Portrait of Black Life
7 minute read

Author and scholar Elliott H. Powell with a red scarf in front of a mural. — Elliott H. Powell Traces the History of Black Musicians Engaging with South Asian Culture and Sounds
2 minute read

Cover of “The Trayvon Generation” by Elizabeth Alexander — Elizabeth Alexander Explores the Grief, Gratitude, and Creativity of the “Trayvon Generation”
5 minute read

John Pawson. (Photo: Gilbert McCarragher. Courtesy Phaidon) — John Pawson’s Approach to Making Life Simpler
23 minute read

Designer Yves Béhar — Twenty Years On, Yves Béhar’s Designs Still Challenge the Status Quo
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Author and ethical fashion advocate Maxine Bédat — Maxine Bédat’s New Book Traces the Lifespan of a Pair of Jeans to Illustrate the Ills of Fast Fashion
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Three monolithic bread loaves on a yellow tablecloth. — Esther Choi’s Edible Homages to Le Corbusier, Agnes Martin, and Others
3 minute read

David W. Orr. (Photo: John Seyfried) — David W. Orr on the Inextricable Links Between Climate and Democracy
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author and environmental anthropologist Gina Rae La Cerva — Environmental Anthropologist and “Feasting Wild” Author Gina Rae La Cerva’s Media Diet
6 minute read

Illustrations of various Los Angeles landmark buildings. — Emilien Crespo Explores the Soul of Los Angeles Today
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The book cover for Fanny Singer's Always Home. — Fanny Singer’s Ode to Her Legendary Mother, Chez Panisse’s Alice Waters
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Potter Edmund de Waal with books — Master Potter Edmund de Waal on the Necessity of Revisiting the Past
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Cover of “The Seed Detective” (left). Adam Alexander (right). (Courtesy Chelsea Green Publishing) — “Seed Detective” Adam Alexander Imagines a Better World—Through Rare, Endangered, and Unusual Vegetable Varieties
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The Perfume Companion book — A Definitive Guide to Finding Your Signature Scent
2 minute read

Cover of “The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Essays on Desire and Consumption” by Katy Kelleher. (Courtesy Simon and Schuster) — Desiring Beauty, Even If It Kills Us
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At a Distance book by Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman — Introducing The Slowdown’s First Book, “At a Distance: 100 Visionaries at Home in a Pandemic”
4 minute read

Journalist Annie Daly sitting on the steps of a brownstone — Traditional Self-Care Alternatives, According to Some of the World’s Healthiest Cultures
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Emilia Terragni. (Courtesy Phaidon) — Phaidon’s Emilia Terragni on the Media That Satiates Her Roving Curiosity
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Overlapping copies of “No Finish Line.” (Photo: Weston Colton. Courtesy Nike) — Nike Imagines the World 50 Years From Now
15 minute read

A woman making a beet and goat cheese salad. — How to Eat Your Way to a Stronger Immune System
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White and red flowers with green leaves on a solid black background. — Horticulturist Ken Druse on Exploring the World of Botanical Fragrance
2 minute read

Journalist and filmmaker Saleem Reshamwala — Journalist and Filmmaker Saleem Reshamwala Shares Who and What He’s Following Now
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Two copies of Offscreen magazine featuring a woman with black glasses on the front cover. — Editor and Publisher Kai Brach’s Inspiringly Minimalist Media Intake
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Various scented objects archived in trays. — Mandy Aftel’s Willy Wonka–Like Wonderland of Curious Scents
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