Organic farmer Coleman (The Winter Harvest Handbook) provides an enlightening manual for sustainably growing food without synthetic chemicals. His “self-fed” method allows gardeners to maintain soil fertility without purchasing outside manure or compost, which, he explains, can contain residual contaminants like pesticides, antibiotics, and heavy metals. Inspired by 20th century farmers like Edward H. Faulkner, Coleman details organic practices he implements at his Four Season Farm in Maine, such as growing green manure crops—including grasses and legumes—and tilling them into the soil to enhance fertility, as well as rotating crops to manage weeds and prevent plant disease. The methods are illuminated in full-page photographs, and a helpful glossary defines terms like “cover crops” and “shallow incorporation.” Whether one is cultivating a modest home garden or managing an expansive farm, Coleman presents a wealth of useful information—from the amount of buckwheat manure to sow to control weeds to the optimal schedule and weather conditions for applying organic matter to crops. The result is a valuable tool for mastering soil sustainability and producing a healthy harvest. Photos. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 09/12/2025 | Details & Permalink

Sab’s Stuffies creator Benedict debuts with a charming guide to finger knitting. The tools and materials required are readily available: in addition to polyester, jumbo-weight yarn, crafters just need scissors and fiberfill. Benedict shares step-by-step instructions and photos for basic techniques, such as creating slip knots and knit stitches, and she encourages readers to start by making a blanket so they “get the hang of the craft.” To practice finger knitting in the round (a method used for projects that are circular rather than flat), readers can tackle simple projects like the pillow pouf and the “Stress-Ball Buddy.” The rest of the patterns are adorable animal stuffies, including a beginner-friendly bumblebee, duck, and whale. When readers are ready to advance their skills, they can try the octopus, which involves increasing and decreasing stitches, as well as the walrus, which requires reverse bobble stitches. While the instructions are generally easy to follow, some beginners may struggle with knitting in the round; the thickness of the yarn can make loops difficult to decipher in the provided photos. Still, this will get crafters of all levels excited to try a new skill. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 09/12/2025 | Details & Permalink

This fun guide from knit and crochet designer Howell (The Knit Vibe) shows how to create stylish wearables and decor with only chunky yarn and a pair of hands. The opening chapter teaches readers the basics of knitting without needles, like how to create a foundation chain and knit and purl stitches. Howell also explains advanced techniques like how to produce cables with one’s hands and increase and decrease stitches. Each project has an indicated skill level, ranging from a two-square beanie that Howell recommends as a first project, through a more intermediate marled pocket scarf that involves colorwork, to an advanced log cabin quilt–inspired throw that requires binding off and then picking up stitches to produce multiple blocks of color. Other projects include a chunky striped cardigan, a tote bag knitted from upcycled T-shirts, a strawberry plushie, and a floor cushion. Beginners should note that some projects incorporate other crafting skills, such as the velvety chain necklace, which involves attaching jump rings and a lobster clasp with jewelry pliers. Nevertheless, the instructions are clear, and for additional support, Howell includes QR codes that direct readers to video tutorials. The result will appeal to crafters of all levels. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 09/05/2025 | Details & Permalink

“Cooking with homegrown food is a shortcut to becoming a more creative and more instinctive home cook,” promises West (Saving the Season) in this stunning how-to. West draws from boyhood memories and lessons learned from his grandparents and their community of East Tennessean farmers: “I grew up with my ears full of the old-timey phrase ‘cooking from a garden’.... There was nothing so good as what had just been picked.” Part one offers a comprehensive overview of “gardening basics.” West advises starting small, offers tips on seed selection, and goes over climate and seasonal considerations, soil management, and upkeep. He also discusses which vegetables and herbs to grow according to cuisine preference and cooking needs. Part two provides more than 125 recipes organized according to vegetable families alongside growing charts and tips for harvesting, preparing, and storage. There’s green bean gratin topped with parmesan and bread crumbs, roasted carrots with chimichurri and lemon yogurt sauce, and a pan-roasted tomato sauce that comes together in just 10 minutes. West’s lively prose contains bites of food history, agricultural science, and food politics and the garden fresh recipes are mouthwatering. This essential guide will enable anyone to have a farm-to-table experience. (Aug.)

Correction: An earlier version of this review misidentified the location of the author’s grandparents’ farm.

Reviewed on 08/15/2025 | Details & Permalink

Chung, who posts to TikTok as @iam.chungry, aims to inspire “even those with limited time, space, budget or even cooking skills” in her debut collection, but somewhat misses the mark. The dishes themselves are appetizing and often come together quickly; recipes to “whip up on a weeknight” include spring onion oil noodles and five variations on fried rice. For more elaborate meals there’s red braised pork belly and home made recreations of popular take-out dishes like sweet and sour pork. Vegan and vegetarian fare abounds (mapo tofu, dan dan noodles with mushroom instead of pork), as does seafood (prawn vermicelli, whole steamed fish). Unfortunately, Chung only occasionally offers substitutions for specialty ingredients that may prove difficult to source and her instructions can sometimes be convoluted: the final step when assembling dumplings, for example, is to “Fold two of the short arms of each ‘T’ (on the same side) in to meet each other and seal in the middle of the dumpling’s edge. Bend the other arms of the ‘T’ round slightly to make the dumpling curve gently.” This is accompanied by a line drawing illustration that only adds to the confusion. There are a lot of tasty offerings, but true beginners may struggle to follow along. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 08/15/2025 | Details & Permalink

This persuasive if diffuse study from gastroenterologist Spiegel (VRx) analyzes how gravity influences people’s health. He argues that not everyone experiences the pull of gravity in the same way. For some, it causes bodily distress, or “gravity intolerance.” This can look like getting dizzy after standing up too fast, persistent low back pain, swelling around the ankles, varicose veins, or plantar fasciitis. It can also contribute to digestive and mental health issues: irritable bowel syndrome may be the result of the digestive system being unable to manage gravity’s downward pull, while anxiety and panic may be linked to the inner ear’s inability to calibrate balance. Spiegel also explores how the human body manages gravity, noting that the cardiovascular system pumps blood through veins “like an antigravity hydraulic system,” and offers strategies for building resilience to gravity’s force. For example, he explains how standing desks and balance boards can ease back pain, yoga poses can improve circulation, and a device that delivers electrical impulses to the vagus nerve can improve gut health. Packed with anecdotes on roller coasters, spaceflight, rock climbing, and more, the account feels scattershot at times. Still, those seeking solutions to a chronic or undiagnosed health issue may find the guidance they need.

Reviewed on 08/15/2025 | Details & Permalink

Welch, cohost of the Netflix series Hack My Home and in-house designer for The Drew Barrymore Show, offers tips for styling high-end looks on a budget in this practical guide to home decorating. The self-taught interior designer, whose clientele includes Nate Berkus, Michelle Obama, Tyler Perry, and Oprah Winfrey, argues that “a true forever home is defined not by the way it looks but by the way it makes you feel.” Welch walks readers through designing their homes, from making a plan to setting the right mood to picking the best furniture. Throughout, he offers budget-friendly hacks, like creating lush drapery by buying inexpensive, off-the-rack panels and hemming them to fit, shopping thrift stores for vintage and unexpected pieces (such as barn doors that create a striking backdrop or an imperfect cabinet that brings character to a room), and finding printable artwork online and framing it oneself. Welch’s ideas are brought to life in full-page photographs of stunning spaces, and DIY enthusiasts will appreciate his resourceful and inclusive approach to home decorating, which is geared toward renters and homeowners alike. This how-to seamlessly blends affordability and style. Photos. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 08/15/2025 | Details & Permalink

“The key to success in the kitchen is just to enjoy it,” promises chef Straker, creator of the All Things Butter brand, in his striking debut. The accessible, wide-ranging recipes will appeal to a variety of tastes, with crash courses on such beloved classics as filet mignon with peppercorn sauce, roasted tomato and basil soup, and jam-filled doughnuts. Several are quick and beginner-friendly: for the side dish of spinach with lemon and parmesan, fresh spinach is sauteed with garlic, salt, and olive oil, and then finished with lemon juice, pepper, and cheese. Other recipes are still easy but will take time to prepare, such as the slow-roasted lamb shoulder, which needs to cook for at least three and a half hours. For those seeking a challenge, there’s more ambitious fare, such as the butternut squash agnolotti, which involves piping a roasted squash puree into homemade pasta dough. Regardless of the difficulty level, Straker’s instructions are clear, and he takes time to provide explanations for each step: when making focaccia, for example, let flour and water sit to autolyze, ensuring that the flour is fully hydrated and begins to develop gluten, “improving the smoothness, elasticity and flavor of the dough.” The result is an excellent, well-rounded collection of recipes that home cooks of all levels will turn to time and again. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 08/15/2025 | Details & Permalink

This fun, easy-to-follow guide from fiber artist Essen (Easy Weaving with Supplemental Warps) shows readers how to weave squares with knitting yarn on a pin loom and stitch them together to form stuffed animals, like a turtle, panda bear, or owl. Users will need a pin loom that weaves four-inch squares; Essen used the “Zoom Loom” created by the Schacht Spindle Company. The opening chapters teach weaving basics, like how to wind the yarn onto the loom and how to choose the best yarn for each project. She then explains common shapes that will form the base of each critter. For example, stitching together two squares into a small, closed tube creates the bodies of a sheep, goat, llama, or lion. The remaining chapters are how-tos for specific creatures, each of which is named after a location in Essen’s home state of Montana. The most eye-catching are those that are cohesive and three-dimensional without looking patched together, like Eureka the Unicorn, Pablo the Peacock, and Bridger the Bison. Throughout, photos clearly illustrate Essen’s instructions, which are inclusive to right- and left-handed weavers. Textile artists looking for a quick, portable project will be especially pleased. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 08/15/2025 | Details & Permalink

Interior designer Gates (Elements of Style) presents an eye-catching survey of nine homes she’s redesigned in the Northeastern U.S. She opens by explaining how Covid-19 changed home design: “People needed a separate place to work out, have quiet Zoom meetings, and find dedicated rooms to get some SPACE from the nonstop closeness.” The first project Gates showcases is her own Second Empire–style home in Wellesley, Mass., which she and her husband bought in 2020. She walks readers through how she renovated the space to work for her family, adding play areas for the kids and transforming the basement into a gym. In the following projects, Gates explains how her design choices met her clients’ unique needs; in a colonial-style estate in Essex, Conn., for example, she blended the wife’s colorful and youthful aesthetic with the husband’s desire for a traditional look, while in a prewar apartment in Manhattan, she maximized storage space to accommodate a family of five. Throughout, Gates is candid about her missteps and offers insightful tips, like the importance of living in a new home for a while to better understand how its spaces will be used before making big changes. Full-page color photos bring her breathtaking designs to life. This hits the mark for readers in search of fresh ideas for their homes. (Sept.)

Reviewed on 08/15/2025 | Details & Permalink