The Winter
Reading List

This tribute to the country’s greatest hotels and motels, as chosen by Angelika Taschen herself, forms a sort of all-American bucket list for would-be road trippers. The selection runs high and low, from ultraluxe resorts like Amangiri in Utah, to rugged Western outposts like the Arcosanti in Mayer, Arizona, or Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado. (Some, like the Catskills’ Urban Cowboy, exude both town and country vibes.) Take warning: You might find yourself booking a room before you put it down.

(Taschen Books, out now)

This island escape has long had a special place in the world of Ralph Lauren, with its lighthouses dotting past ad campaigns. But the colony has never looked quite like this: Photographer Michael Kahn used ’50s-era camera techniques to capture Martha’s Vineyard in black and white, each handmade photograph a reminder of the area’s intense natural beauty, richly detailed with grains of sand from South Beach to cloud-dappled sunsets over Zack’s Cliffs.

(Schiffer Books, out now)

Photographer Chris Burkard has earned himself more than 3 million followers on Instagram, not to mention a smattering of corporate clients, devotees eager to see where his travels take him next. In this book, he has compiled his best shots from around the world, including remote locales in Norway and the Aleutian Islands, and is sharing the personal stories behind each (mis)adventure. These tales feature personal anecdotes (including bouts of hypothermia and the destruction of his gear) that enrich Burkard’s already breathtaking photography.

(Abrams, February 1)

Despite its nearness and some thawing in US–Cuba relations, the island nation remains a bit of an enigma. That mystery extends to its artists, whose work isn’t often seen at international exhibits and art fairs. This tome helps make amends for that, featuring work by (and exclusive interviews with) 35 of Cuba’s leading artists, photographed by Camilo Guevara. (Yes, he’s the son of another famous Guevara.) The collection also includes pieces dating back to 1900, a useful survey for those new to the subject.

(Rizzoli, February 1)

Those looking for a less literal escape can venture into the mind of Walt Disney, in this first volume of a seriously exhaustive series on his studio’s filmmaking process. This book includes more than 1,500 images from what’s considered the studio’s first Golden Age, including masterpieces like Fantasia and Bambi. The photos and film stills, plus hand-painted illustrations, are culled from private collections and Disney’s archives, offering a truly never-before-seen view of film history in the making.

(Taschen, February 25)

If Jimmy Chin had been born 100 years earlier, these are the photos he would have taken: Stunning captures of then-unexplored mountains and remote deserts, captured by two explorer-photographers from the early 20th century. Vittorio Sella and Sir Wilfred Thesiger helped introduce the world to K2’s jaw-dropping splendor, the sprawling desert Rub’ al Khali, and more. The book is published by the Grolier Club, one of the country’s oldest groups of bibliophiles, with a corresponding exhibition at their NYC clubhouse from March 18 through May 14.

(The Grolier Club, March)

Native American art has long inspired Ralph Lauren, both in the clothing he designs and the homes in which he resides, notably the RRL Ranch in Colorado. This book captures more than 100 pieces from perhaps the deepest collection in the US, the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Discover Pueblo and Navajo pottery, textiles, and jewelry from the foundation’s deep archives, alongside the work of contemporary artists. Should the book arouse your curiosity, you can see much of the work at the Barnes Foundation itself, from February 20 through May 15.

(Barnes Foundation, March 15)

Looking for a true escape? This book will transport you to the outer reaches of space. It’s adapted from the BBC documentary of the same name (which aired on PBS stateside) and features awe-inducing photography by NASA. And while the visuals might overwhelm you with the mysteries of the universe, the text—by physicist Brian Cox—will enlighten you as to what’s really behind the ethereal captures.

(HarperCollins, February 8)