Smithsonian Books

12/23/2024

Happy birthday to Madam C. J. Walker, who was an incredible entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist. The self-made millionaire made her fortune developing a cosmetics and hair care line for Black women, like this “Wonderful Hair Grower." She's featured in our book SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN WOMEN, which celebrates overlooked stories and undersung accomplishments of women across history. https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/history/smithsonian-american-women-remarkable-objects-and-stories-of-strength-ingenuity-and-vision-from-the-national-collection/

Photo credit: NMAAHC, gift from Dawn Simon Spears and Alvin Spears, Sr.

12/18/2024

RAWR! Looking for a last-minute gift as the holidays approach? A HISTORY OF DINOSAURS IN 50 FOSSILS has it all-- stunning illustrations, amazing research, and (best of all) DINOS! We've got you covered across the board with this exciting title.

A beautifully illustrated and definitive crash course on dinosaur fossils, from the Allosaurus that use their teeth and jaws to dismember p…

12/17/2024

Today marks 121 years since the Wright Brothers took to the skies with the earliest versions of airplanes. THE PUBLISHED WRITINGS OF WILBUR & ORVILLE WRIGHT is a fascinating collection of writing from the two brothers throughout their design process and their flight tests through their own eyes.

For the first time, nearly seventy of Wilbur and Orville Wright's published writings are brought together in a single, annotated reference. Spanning …

12/16/2024

Got an art lover in the family you still need the right gift for? SMITHSONIAN ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HISTORY, ART, AND CULTURE IN 101 OBJECTS is at the rescue. Full of pictures from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History Collection, this book is sure to stun with beautiful objects and an even more wonderful visual history of Asian Pacific American culture.

A rich and compelling introduction to the history of Asian Pacific American communities as told through 101 objects, from a fortune cookie baking mol…

12/15/2024

233 years ago today, our founding fathers ratified the Bill of Rights. Turn back time with one of our history titles, and reimagine the creation of these documents that make our country what it is today.

12/14/2024

Still looking for the right gift for your coolest friend or relative? Look no further, we've got you covered. SMITHSONIAN ROCK AND ROLL is a celebration of a genre that's defined American music, from the birth of blues to CBGB and beyond! This impressive history has got great photos and a comprehensive understanding of a genre defined by no rules.

In December 2015, the Smithsonian called on rock and roll lovers around the world to collect photos and stories of their favorite moments in music. F…

12/13/2024

Happy National Day of the Horse! We'll take any ecuse to escape to the wild West, and today is the perfect occasion to dive into AMERICAN ENDURANCE. This title follows true cowboy stories from 1800s America, all on horseback. Safe to say, this is the book you've been looking for if you want a chance to get, well, wild!

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Richard A. Serrano's new book American Endurance: The Great Cowboy Race and the Vanishing Wild West is h…

12/13/2024

Today is the official opening of IN SLAVERY'S WAKE, the exciting new exhibiton ! We published a book to commemorate this exhibiton, reflecting on America's past and present relationship to enslavement. Check out this exhibit and all the history it highlights today!

Explore the modern-day impact of slavery and colonialism in this panoramic Black history for anti-racist readers of 1619 Project and C…

12/12/2024

Check out our holiday gift guide for the readers on your nice list!

Make your shopping this year a breeze with these book recommendations!

12/11/2024

Remember that time Tony Hawk posted about our amazing book FOUR WHEELS AND A BOARD? Because we do! 🤩 With the cold and snow and early darkness, winter is the perfect time to read about skateboarding when you aren't able to ride! https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/history/four-wheels-and-a-board-the-smithsonian-history-of-skateboarding/

12/11/2024

Whether you're plannign on making resolutions, or just sticking to your routine this new year, our 2025 engagement calendar is an exciting way to jump into the upcoming year. Along with space to plan out your life, this planner features photos and illustrations from the Smithsonian collection for an engaging way to set out your to-do list.

Featuring 55 gorgeous full-color images of diverse Smithsonian objects, this wire-bound, weekly calendar is like visiting a different museum every we…

12/10/2024

Springtime might feel far away, but CHERRY BLOSSOMS, a book of photography centered around Washington's iconic cherry blossoms, makes is seem just a bit closer. Dive into the Japanese tradition behind cultivating these trees that have become an iconic part of the D.C landscape.

A beautiful gift book commemorating the nation's most cherished springtime tradition, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, through original works of…

12/09/2024

Looking for the perfect cold-weather activity? Look no firther! ABECEDARIUM, our adult take on coloring books, is chock-full of letters and designs from manuscripts in the Smithsonian collection. Bust out those markers and let coloring brighten up the darker days.

A unique Smithsonian coloring book featuring the letters of the alphabet from rare illuminated books and manuscripts Abecedarium offers artists of…

12/06/2024

Beam us up, Scotty! We don't want to work; we want to read! SMITHSONIAN ATLAS OF SPACE will feel like a journey through outer space, so get the book and get ready to explore. https://smithsonianbooks.com/store/aviation-military-history/smithsonian-atlas-of-space-a-map-to-the-universe-from-the-big-bang-to-the-future/

12/05/2024

Step into SUBLIME LIGHT and stay awhile! Weaver DY Begay's mesmerizing tapestries are worth pouring over again and again. If you have any fabric artists in your life, this makes a beautiful gift! https://smithsonianbooks.com/store/art-architecture/sublime-light-tapestry-art-of-dy-begay/

12/04/2024

The kind of coffee table book that will have your coffee going cold for how completely the photos will draw you in!

A sumptuous celebration of more than 230 of the most memorable and beautiful wildlife photographs from the past 60 years There's a unique magi…

11/30/2024

November flew by! Seasons are changing and days are colder. This time of year, check out our title METAMORPHASIS, which unlocks a landscape ruled by insects. With over 80 beautiful illustrations, add a pop of color to the windertime with the wonderful world of bugs!

An accessible, beautifully illustrated celebration of insects—and their extraordinary contributions to humankind—from the hosts of the BB…

11/29/2024

When Thanksgiving ends, Black Friday is always sure ot follow. Between fighting for the best deals, check out ONE NATION UNDER GOODS, a history on our nation's complicated relationship with the shopping mall.

Loved and hated, visited and avoided, seemingly everywhere yet endlessly the same, malls occupy a special place in American life. What, then, is this…