THE REVERSE CENTAUR'S GUIDE TO LIFE AFTER AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence—Before It's Too Late, latest Doctorow klaxon

THE REVERSE CENTAUR'S GUIDE TO LIFE AFTER AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence—Before It's Too Late
CORY DOCTOROW
MCD x FSG (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$11.99 ebook, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Whether you want to criticize, kill, or use AI, you have to get through the hype and uncover the real story.

Start with labor: in automation theory, a centaur is a person who chooses to use technology to help them do the things that matter to them. A reverse centaur is a person who has been conscripted to serve as a helper for a machine, at an inhuman, machine pace: a driver made to deliver all day long, nonstop; a warehouse worker made to work without food or bathroom breaks; a programmer made to crank out impossible amounts of code. As Doctorow says: it's not enough to ask what the technology does—we have to understand who it's doing it for and who it's doing it to.

The intended audience for AI hype isn't the people who are forced to use AI. The AI show is a performance staged for bosses and investors. Investment bankers claim AI will to be worth more than $16 trillion: a number that only makes sense if AI replaces vast swathes of the wage-earning human workforce. To justify that level of "value," every story about AI must be presented as inevitable, world-changing disruption. Even the tales of the robot apocalypse are a calculated attempt to bolster the fearsome power of AI.

Anything that can't go on forever eventually stops. When the AI bubble bursts, what will we salvage? Is there something in the wreckage that everyday people will find useful? In The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI—as he so successfully did in Enshittification—Doctorow recounts both how we found ourselves in this dire situation and how we can get through it, to a life "after" AI in which the tools work for us, not the other way around.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: The argument I myownself have against "AI" (which isn't and won't be intelligent the way humans are) is financial. There is an AI bubble running right now that's gifted us the utterly brummagem world's first trillionaire. Look a little more deeply into SpaceX's IPO, you'll see how much of it's built on AI (which was partially trained on stolen US Government data via the little dickweeds from DOGE).

It really looks a lot like a gigantic pump-and-dump scheme when one reads Author Cory's work as digested and documented in this scathing book. He's been in the trenches reporting on tech matters for what feels like forever. Enshittification, anyone? It must make the guy a crazy person to present his deeply researched, well sourced and informed conclusions to general apathy. It lights fires under some of us, my dude, so please don't stop!

Especially relevant to my eagerness to share this book with all y'all is the centering of "AI"'s intended impact on labor. It's Author Cory's clear statement that the bubble's partly fueled by tech scum's intense desire to destroy any power of workers over their work, the conditions and rewards thereof, and the very nature of employment as reconstituted post-Great Depression. Wealth inequality is something "AI" is designed to entrench.

I hope a skilled human copyeditor went over this book after my DRC was created. There are some amusing errors of fact that, honestly, trouble me a bit, eg referring to trustbusting under FDR instead of his distant cousin TR. Some other errors niggled at me, but...well...consider the subject matter, maybe these sorts of issues are proof positive of the validity of Author Cory's thesis...?

I'm very serious when I say this: reading this book can give you tools to manage your personal interactions with the "AI" being rammed down our unwilling throats to further enrich the riches scum ever to rise to the controlling positions they're now it. It can do this by alerting the complacent or avoidant reader to what is actually at risk in this economic bubble's inflation.

An easy prose style delivers a hard-to-fathom message. It's one of my favorite reads of 2026. Please get one and read it. Libraries are very likely to have copies in stock now. Of course, if you can, making the purchase for your own shelves or devices is the best way to support Author Cory in his quest to wake us all up to the threats...and the opportunities knowing they're there present...to our essential human nature.

BMW CARS 1945 to 2013: A Pictorial History, for your Beemer buff giftee

BMW CARS 1945 to 2013: A Pictorial History
TREVOR ALDER
Veloce (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$26.99 paperback, $11.99 ebook, available now

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: Profusely illustrated throughout, a worthy addition to the Veloce Pictorial History series. Each BMW model (1945-2013) has been painstakingly researched detailing body derivatives, production changes, technical information and hundreds of period photos and diagrams, plus how the ever-changing advertising was used to promote each model. A comprehensive pictorial history of BMW cars covering the post-war models right through to 2013 when electric and hybrid models started to make an appearance.

The detailed text covers all model ranges, and includes full specs, colour variations and styling details. Illustrations include period photographs, advertising brochures, and original drawings. Complementing the historical content are technical specifications, ongoing production changes, and build figures, making this the ideal reference work for model identification and authenticity. Appendices cover model designations, motorsport achievements and TV/movie appearances.

This title is a bookshelf-must for anyone interested in BMW motoring heritage.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: BMW is one of those cars that has cachet...nowadays...my dad brought home two of them in 1961, and my mother laughed so hard at them he was forced to get rid of them.

My how things change...forty-plus housewife-equivalents today would not laugh themselves silly at a pair of BMW sedans.

The cars we now call BMWs have been so carefully image-managed it would be a feat if they were not lusted after. James Bond, style icon, drove one. They've gone into brand-manager nirvana...no one who has a dud car with their label dares speak about it because they won't be believed.

Is a BMW loyalist among those you need to give a gift to in 2025? You're in luck: these books from Veloce, an imprint of David & Charles, are very reasonable paperback originals, and even cheaper as ebooks. I've viewed them on a modestly-priced tablet, and their design and image presentation survived very well indeed.

The images throughout cover all the ages and types of BMWs. The samples provided for promotion were more limited in scope:

The author chose to end the survey with the year that BMW brought out electric and hybrid options for its vehicles. These are somewhat cursorily tacked on at the end:

A modest ding to my rating, though it likely won't matter to most serious aficionados. A modestly-priced book that will greatly please its recipient.

SAAB CARS 1949 to 2011: A Pictorial History, history of a make that was failed

SAAB CARS 1949 to 2011: A Pictorial History
JULIAN PARISH
publisher (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$26.99 paperback, $11.99 ebook, available now

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: This handy full-colour guide covers the complete history of Saab’s cars. Chapters cover each of Saab’s models, including the 93 and 96 saloons that enjoyed much success in rallying, the 95 station wagon and the striking Sonett sports cars. The SaabO caravan and the Formula Junior racing car built during this period are also presented.

More than a dozen years after the last cars rolled off the production lines in Trollhättan, Saab still commands a keen following among car enthusiasts around the world. During the 60 years of its existence, Saab became renowned for the aerodynamic design, technical innovation and sturdy construction of its cars, which famously appealed to individualists and creative thinkers.

This handy full-colour guide covers the complete history of Saab’s cars. The story begins with the ‘Ursaab’ prototype and the original 92, which went into production in 1949 as the company branched out from aircraft manufacture after the war; it continues through to the final second-generation 9-5 models in 2011, launched when the company was struggling to stay afloat.

Individual chapters are devoted to each of Saab’s models, including the 93 and 96 saloons, which enjoyed much success in rallying, the 95 station wagon and the striking Sonett sports cars. The Saab caravan and the Formula Junior racing car that Saab built during this period are also presented.

These early models were followed by the larger 99 and the much-loved and highly successful 900 range. The book features detailed specifications for each version of these two models, including the first turbocharged variants, with which Saab has become synonymous. In 1985, the 9000 took the marque further upmarket and into partnership with Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo.

The guide continues into the 1990s and 2000s, when General Motors progressively took control of Saab’s automotive division. Its bestsellers during this period were its 9-3 and 9-5 ranges, based on GM platforms. Less well-known, especially in Europe, are its 9-4X and 9-7X all-wheel-drive models, not forgetting the 9-2X, a badge-engineered version of the Subaru Impreza. All these models are also presented.

Each chapter provides an introduction to the development and evolution of each model, as well as comprehensive technical information. Production numbers and dates are given, as well as details of limited editions. The book is extensively illustrated in full colour, with many archive photographs from Saab Automobile and the Saab Car Museum showing the cars’ interior and exterior design.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: The sad demise of SAAB in the financial collapse of 2008 came because of capitalist greed. How shocking, right?

contents

This aspect of SAAB's history is not, as you'd expect, foregrounded in this history of the company and its products. The quirky Swedish ugly duckling was always a niche player outside its homeland; when GM came calling after a less-than-stellar attempt at Europeanization with the 9000 model, it must've seemed like a forward path.

All roads end only after they go forward.

The SAAB fanciers in the US are pretty passionate about these very clearly different, obviously not mainstream, automobiles; they are fond of them for these reasons. Rolling examples of the owner's counterculture credentials. I mean, look at them in comparison to US cars!

the early 95/96 days

There were attempts to be more, shall we say, style-forward. The sporty little Sonett III was a badge of cool in the 1970s, the kind of cool that thought for itself not bought what it was told was cool:

But of course no car company makes its money on sporty cars. Those're "halo cars" that cast a stylish and sexy light on the cars people really need and thus usually buy. In SAAB's case, that was the 99 sedan in the 1970s, and its evolution the 900 sedan in the 1980s:

I'm still a bit sad that SAAB was treated the way it was by GM. The marketplace wasn't ever eager to buy their quirky products in bulk, of course; but it is always sad to see a viable niche go unfilled.

LOTUS CARS 1952 to 2024: A Pictorial History, great gift for the fan

LOTUS CARS 1952 to 2024: A Pictorial History
MATTHEW VALE
Veloce (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$24.99 paperback, $16.99 ebook, available now

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: A visual celebration of Lotus’ iconic road cars — from the first Lotus VI to the Evora supercar Lotus has produced road cars since 1952, and this book covers them all, right up to the Evora supercar.

This compact and richly illustrated book is part of the popular A Pictorial History series and charts the full journey of Lotus road cars from 1952 through to 2024. Enthusiasts, collectors, and motorsport fans will discover a chronicle of innovation, style, and pure driving excitement that only Lotus can deliver.

From the lightweight brilliance of the Lotus Seven to the exotic Esprit and modern Evora, each model is examined with rare and previously unpublished photographs, capturing the elegance and engineering genius of the marque. Author Matthew Vale — a recognised expert on Lotus — brings his extensive knowledge and passion to his sixth Lotus title, offering clear insight into the brand’s heritage and technical evolution.

The book also explores how Lotus’ racing pedigree shaped its road cars, resulting in vehicles that deliver exceptional handling and performance.

Whether you're a seasoned Lotus devotee or new to the marque, this compact visual history is a must-have addition to your automotive library.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: A very reasonably priced overview of the design history of Lotus' road cars, illustrated by well-selected photos—and lots of 'em—to give the make's many excited fans a lot to kvell over, dream on, lust after...all the usual car guy behaviors. It come is two price points, each quite affordable for the genre and the audience to meet. I saw the photos supplied on a tablet. They're very well-designed to fit onto those dimensions.

The photos provided for publicity are all focused on the beginning of the make through the 1970s. Never fear, the modern era is represented as richly.

I feel confident that five images has given you a feel for how design and information interact. The lotus fan isn't going to be disappointed by this lovely, thoughtful gift, whichever edition you choose to give them.

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY: The Story of the First Generation Models, 1989-1998, niche gift, precious to the right giftee

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY: The Story of the First Generation Models, 1989-1998
JAMES TAYLOR
Veloce (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$60.00 hardcover; $18.99 ebook

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Tells the story of the original Discovery in detail, with a wealth of imagery to show the multiple models and variations. Discovering the Discovery: The Story Behind Land Rover’s Game-Changer

Since its debut in 1989, the first generation Land Rover Discovery has become a beloved icon with a devoted global following. While many books offer buying advice, none have fully explored the why behind the Discovery—its creation, development journey, and the role it played in shaping Land Rover’s future.

The Discovery was more than just a new model—it was a turning point. In the early 1980s, Land Rover faced declining sales and rising competition from affordable, family-friendly 4x4s built by Japanese manufacturers. These vehicles borrowed the Range Rover’s concept but delivered it at a much lower price. Land Rover knew it needed a response—and fast.

The result was the Discovery: a bold, mid-market SUV developed under tight deadlines and with new internal processes. Launched in 1989, it hit the market with immediate success, becoming a European best-seller and revitalizing Land Rover’s position in the global automotive industry. It soon became a core part of the brand’s identity and laid the groundwork for today’s fifth-generation models.

More than just a commercial success, the Discovery reshaped the Land Rover brand. Once known solely for rugged, utility-focused vehicles, Land Rover began to evolve into a premium manufacturer of passenger-oriented 4x4s. The Discovery, alongside the Range Rover, shifted public perception and helped cement the Land Rover name in markets around the world.

This book tells the full story of the original Discovery—from its design and development to its production, sales, and global impact. It also highlights its diverse roles, from a staple of police and emergency fleets to a reliable workhorse van, and its key contribution to Land Rover’s American breakthrough.

Richly illustrated with rare and compelling images, this book is an essential read for enthusiasts, historians, and anyone fascinated by the vehicle that helped redefine an iconic brand.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: There's always a guy somewhere who knows everything there is to know about one thing. Doesn't really matter what the thing is, he's learned the details, he's very interested in the way the subject of his obsession came to be...the true enthusiast in other words. (I already know the word you're thinking, don't say it.)

this guy is jealous of the copyeditor who worked on this chart

It's often a car, make or model...sometimes both...that gets him interested. You will know. It's never mysterious. If lots of objects...clothing, drinking vessels, little tchotchkes on shelves...have the Land Rover logo on them, this is the gift to give regardless of occasion. Yuletide gifting is the biggie, of course, but any rift could be mended with one of these.

we start at the beginning

It's the nature of books to be image-friendly. Printing has been as much or more about images and art than text since 1454. I realize the pictures of Land Rover Discovery models going through their paces don't rev your tachometer to redline, but they will his.

never heard of the Camel Trophy? you will

I'm also surprised to tell you the ebook version, on a decent tablet, looks quite good, and costs a third as much as the very luxe hardcover.

I suspect hints might've been dropped already if you're gifting a superfan. You won't go wrong with this choice.

FORMULA ONE: THE CHAMPIONS: 75 years of legendary F1 drivers

FORMULA ONE: THE CHAMPIONS: 75 years of legendary F1 drivers
MAURICE HAMILTON (photography by Bernard Cahier & Paul-Henri Cahier;foreword by Damon Hill)
Ivy Press (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$46.00 all editions, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Bask in Formula One glory with this 75th Anniversary edition of The Champions, featuring exhilarating photography and expert commentary.

Since the Grand Prix’s start in 1950, just 34 men have achieved the accolade of F1 World Champion. For the first time, legendary F1 commentator Maurice Hamilton and award-winning photographers Bernard and Paul-Henri Cahier bring the heroes of this iconic sport together, in a stunning photographic portrayal of the poise, skill and winning mindset that separates the fast from the furious, the elite from the talented.

Formula One and its champions are brought to life

An exquisitely written profile of each of the 34 F1 World Champions, with key details from the driver’s life and F1 career

Stunning photography of the drivers and their cars, both on and off the track

Historic interviews with the sport’s lost heroes, including James Hunt and Ayrton Senna

Exclusive quotes from icons such as Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg

A brand new foreword by Damon Hill, former F1 World Champion.

Debate has raged over which driver is the best of the best. It is impossible to say. But that will not deter energetic and informed discussion, usually predicated on a personal preference swayed by affection. Each of these champions will have experienced and delivered pulse-raising performances many times over.

Fully revised and updated for the 75th Anniversary and with a new foreword by F1 legend Damon Hill, this handsome homage to the most ferocious of sports and the incredible sportsmen who drive at the edge in pursuit of greatness, it is time to choose your favorite F1 Champion.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Formula One and my oldest sister are the same age!

I need a lie-down.

This sport has become far more visible in the US during the 2020s, with Netflix shows and social media chatter...but anyone who read Autoweek (me) knew of its stars, its dramas, and the like from the day Denise McCluggage started the magazine. I recognized some names:

...from days of yore. Quite a lot of modern Formula One has changed with the unbelievable sprint to the future its technology has made over the decades. Things once deemed impossible, personal endurance feats, longevity of components, speeds attained...all have occurred because the sport is so hugely popular in most of the world that the money's been there to support it.

Among the modern era's amazing drivers is the legendary Max Verstappen, all of 28 years old, who's won 71 Grands Prix across 11 seasons.

A book like this is a shoo-in to be your racing enthusiast giftee's most favorite object ever. It's well worth the price, featuring as it does some of the most remarkable sports/action photography by the father/son duo the Cahiers, whose racing photography resides in their still-privately-owned archive. It is hard to imagine anyone looking at their images...the father's more reportage, the son's clearly artistic...and not feel their pulse rate increase from the immediacy and the velocity each image coonveys. I can't picture (!) F1 racing except through their images.

Certainly reserved for a very special someone at this price, the book is something I think will be a life-long treasure for its recipient.

DESIGNING DREAMS: Essays on the inside story of GM, Harley Earl and America's Golden Automotive Age, for your car guy

DESIGNING DREAMS: Essays on the inside story of GM, Harley Earl and America's Golden Automotive Age
DICK RUZZIN
Veloce (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$29.99 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Explore the artistry of the Golden Age of American cars with Dick Ruzzin, one of the designers of the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. Discover General Motors' legacy, Harley Earl's vision, and the creative process behind automotive art. Featuring essays, sketches, and photos, Designing Dreams celebrates the passion and enduring impact of car design.

A design book, an art book and an automotive history book. If you love car design you must have this book. It describes in detail automobile creation, the design of the iconic Oldsmobile Toronado and the people who created it. The Toronado is now seen as the most significant design representation of the Golden Age of the American Automobile.

Step into the world where cars became dreams on wheels. In Designing Dreams, Dick Ruzzin unveils the untold story of General Motors, Harley Earl’s groundbreaking vision, and the artistry that defined America’s Golden Automotive Age.

At the centre of this compelling collection of essays is the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado—a revolutionary front-wheel-drive luxury car that remains an icon of design and innovation. As one of its designers, Ruzzin provides an insider’s perspective on its creation, offering a rare glimpse into the radical ideas and creative energy behind this automotive masterpiece.

After 40 years at General Motors Design, Ruzzin reflects on the profound influence of Harley Earl, the pioneer car designer who elevated automobiles into works of art. Earl’s creativity and design philosophies reshaped the industry, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire.

Illustrated with over one hundred sketches and General Motors Design’s archival images, this book explores the passion, artistry, and precision behind automotive design. It captures the essence of a unique profession that combines function with beauty, producing cars that are both practical and beautiful.

Designing Dreams is more than a history of car design—it’s a celebration of the people, ideas, and innovations that made the automobile a defining symbol of American ingenuity. Perfect for car enthusiasts and design lovers alike, this is a journey into the heart of creativity and the Golden Age of the American Automobile.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: What a ride! The Toronado, whose design and development feature in this book of course, but really the Wayback Machine ride into the era when early September was the moment the 196{x} cars arrived in dealerships with soaped windows that had little, teasy gaps; the car magazines (Motor Trend, Car & Driver, Autoweek) hit the newsstand for us car freaks...all male...to grab, drool and dream over the latest iteration of a logo, use of a name from the past or rename a model range, displacement of block (409! 429! 350! all cubic inches, all with their own stories, details, merits)....

Every woman I've ever known, and any of you reading this now, are rolling your eyes and sighing impatiently, or just about to interrupt to change the subject to something *you* care about.

So get him this book. He'll be easily led to pick it up even after he's read it:

contents; preface spread

...because there are photos even you won't mind looking at:

the car itself; a design study fancifully executed (it's art!)

The stories of the whos, hows, and whys of the industrial design revolution represented by the Toronado and its era-defining looks will keep many, if not most, car guys enrapt. These were human beings with human stories, but they had godlike powers...the wealth and might of the most powerful corporation in the wealthiest, most powerful country in the world was at their command! Of course skulduggery and stupidity were on prominent display because hubris (cf, Harley Earl)!

...and here are faces to put with names

So yeah, maybe you are bored rigid by Granddad's nostalgic interest, maybe you're contemplating viricide to stop the engineering talk, or maybe you just don't want to be more unpleasant than necessary. It's easy, and cheap, to get the kind of book he's going to enjoy (quietly, in a corner), likely more than once.

They really had all the coolest toys.

THE COMPLETE BOOK OF SPACECRAFT: Rockets, Shuttles, Satellites, and Space Stations, tech history

THE COMPLETE BOOK OF SPACECRAFT: Rockets, Shuttles, Satellites, and Space Stations
MICHAEL H. GORN (Text & Illus. Giuseppe De Chiara, tr. Davide Sivolella)
Motorbooks International (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$40.00 all editions, available noe

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Marvel at the history of space exploration through its daring vehicles, exhaustively chronicled in this authoritative volume featuring more than 250 artworks.

In 1957, the world looked on with both uncertainty and amazement as the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first man-made orbiter. Sputnik 1 would spend three months circling Earth every 98 minutes and cover 71 million miles in the process. The world's space programs have traveled far (literally and figuratively) since then, and the spacecraft they have developed and deployed represent almost unthinkable advances for such a relatively short period.

In Spacecraft, illustrator and aerospace professional Giuseppe De Chiara teams up with aerospace historian Michael Gorn to present a huge, profusely illustrated aerospace history profiling and depicting spacecraft from Sputnik 1 through the International Space Station and everything in between, including concepts that have yet to actually venture outside the Earth's atmosphere.

This updated and revised edition includes:

Expertly written profiles depicting and describing the design, development, and deployment of manned and unmanned spacecraft from around the world, including satellites, capsules, spaceplanes, rockets, and space stations—now updated with the latest models

Vivid scale illustrations of the many international spacecraft in multiple-view, sometimes cross-section, and in many cases shown in archival period photography to provide further historical context

Earthbound and spaceborne data and intel chronicling every technological leap, engineering challenge, and monumental achievement, from troubleshooting the lunar landers of the '60s to engineering solar-driven sails to propel futuristic craft to Mars and beyond

A look ahead to an era of privatized space travel and even plans for lunar and Martian space stations and settlement

Dividing the book by era, De Chiara and Gorn feature spacecraft not only from the United States and Soviet Union/Russia, but also from the European Space Agency and China. The mind-blowing machines examined in this volume include the rockets Energia, Falcon 9, and VEGA; the Hubble Space Telescope; the Cassini space probe; and the Mars rovers, Opportunity, and Curiosity. For anyone who has marveled at humankind's attempts and advances in leaving Earth, Spacecraft: The Complete Guide to the Rockets, Satellites, Capsules, Shuttles, and Stations That Put Us in Space is the definitive reference.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: It's amazing to me the Moon landing was 56 years ago. It's amazing to me the Space Shuttle, that miracle of my teens, hasn't flown in over ten years. Technology becomes history, too.

it all feels like yesterday

The author and author/illustrator get really into details, the illustrations are so detailed as well that they'd have been classified back in the day. The point of a book like this is its blend of fascinating explanation and really cool images, complemented by concept-explaining illustrations:

the poles of the idea

I'm fascinated by space exploration. I grew up with Walter Cronkite explaining how Gemini and Apollo worked, celebrating the advances in technology each launch represented, mourning the loss we suffered through in 1967.

No progress can ever be made without losses, important ones, but the lessons those losses teach can carry through the decades. What else matters in this world but learning to do better, to be better, to expand our enormous reach safely and positively?

the poles of the Space Race: US vs USSR

Many hours of pleasure in this gift book for the recipient who loves rockets, space flight, engineering, all the modern miracles humans have created to expand our understanding of the universe.

You'll know which eager-eyed soul needs to see this on present-opening day. Indulgent it is, pricey, beautiful, and a luxury...but that's the best gift described, no?