Staff Picks: A UNC Press Holiday Gift Guide

Books are Great GiftsToday, we’re pleased to share a selection of holiday gift recommendations from UNC Press staff members. To assemble this list, we asked the question, “What is your favorite UNC Press book to give as a gift?”

Right now, you can save 40% on all UNC Press print books and receive free shipping on orders of $75 or more. Simply enter code 01HOLIDAY at checkout on our website. You can also preorder forthcoming titles using this discount, and they will ship as soon as they become available.

Happy holidays and happy reading from all of us at UNC Press.

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Staff Picks: A UNC Press Holiday Gift Guide

 

Bourbon cover photoBourbon: a Savor the South cookbook by Kathleen Purvis

“The perfect gift for any southerner or anyone else who enjoys the South’s signature spirit.”

– Laura, Executive Assistant

 

 

 

Graubart: ChickenChicken: a Savor the South cookbook by Cynthia Graubart

“My daughter loves to eat chicken but needs tips on how to prepare it. She’s going to find a copy of Chicken in her stocking this year.”

– Adele, Director of Human Resources

 

 

 

Mothers and StrangersMothers and Strangers: Essays on Motherhood from the New South edited by Samia Serageldin and Lee Smith

“I would like to put in my recommendation for gifting Mothers and Strangers: Essays on Motherhood from the New South, edited by Samia Serageldin and Lee Smith, which I recommend for its variety of beautifully written and moving stories about many kinds of mothers. My own mother and aunt both loved it.”

– Michelle, Production Manager

 

 

Stitched from the Soul: Slave Quilts from the Antebellum South by Gladys-Marie Fry

“I’ve been thinking, this holiday season, about the late Gladys-Marie Fry. I first met her in 2002 when UNC Press published a new edition of her book Stitched from the Soul: Slave Quilts from the Antebellum South. It’s only now, in retrospect, that I see what a pioneer she was, in African American studies, in material culture studies, in curatorial and museum work, and very purely in being a person of color in the academy. Professor Fry was an important mentor to me, even—especially—when she became deeply obsessed about what title to give the major new book we were working on together, a book she was not able to complete before she passed away in 2015 at the age of eighty-four. Her writing is as spectacular as the quilts she collected by undertaking a national search, and I will be giving Stitched from the Soul to all who can take beauty and heartbreak in one fell swoop.”

– Elaine, Executive Editor

North Carolina Lighthouses, Revised and Expanded EditionNorth Carolina Lighthouses: Revised and Expanded Edition by Cheryl Shelton-Roberts and Bruce Roberts

The New Guide to North Carolina Beaches: All You Need to Know to Explore Currituck, Calabash, and Everywhere Between by Glenn Morris

“The two titles I’ve given most are Shelton-Roberts, North Carolina Lighthouses and Morris, The New Guide to North Carolina Beaches. I’m not just trying to show off my design work, ha ha. There are some lighthouse fans in my family. And both books are good gifts for any North Carolinian. Useful to throw in the car on those trips to the coast.”

– Jamison, Senior Designer

 

 

Birds of the Carolinas: Second Edition by Eloise F. Potter, James F. Parnell, Robert P. Teulings, and Ricky Davis

Mammals of the Carolinas, Virginia, & Maryland by Wm. David Webster, James F. Parnell, and Walter Biggs Jr.

“I often give the gift of the books, Birds of the Carolinas and Mammals of the Carolinas. I think having a book you can refer to when you see something unfamiliar in your yard is a nice thing to have.”

– Suzi, Journals Manager

 

 

Latin American Street Food by Sandra A. GutierrezLatin American Street Food: The Best Flavors of Markets, Beaches, and Roadside Stands from Mexico to Argentina by Sandra A. Gutierrez

“The fabulous recipes and tons of fun to read. Her section openers and recipe headnotes are full of interesting information and written in a thoroughly engaging way.”

– Rebecca, Senior Designer

 

 

 

A Field Guide to Mushrooms of the CarolinasA Field Guide to the Mushrooms of the Carolinas by Alan E. Bessette, Arleen R. Bessette, and Michael W. Hopping

“Beautifully produced and tremendously informative, this book is perfect for the outdoor wanderer or for the armchair mycologist. I also give away Savor the South books—always a big hit.”

– Chuck, Executive Editor

 

 

 

City of a Million Dreams: A History of New Orleans at Year 300 by Jason Berry

“I love New Orleans. You love New Orleans. And why wouldn’t we? The music, the food, the historic neighborhoods, and the people are so beguiling. If you want to understand the city’s beating heart and soul, Jason Berry is a perfect guide. As a journalist and filmmaker he’s spent his entire life immersed in the Crescent City’s culture and history. In this lively narrative packed with memorable characters, Berry chronicles the remarkable history of a uniquely American city.”

– Mark, Editorial Director

 

 

Every True Pleasure: LGBTQ Tales of North Carolina edited by Wilton Barnhardt

“A who’s-who of North Carolina-connected literary talent. This collection is funny, warm, and sometimes heartbreaking—a perfect gift for any reader.”

– Lucas, Editor

 

 

 

Black. Queer. Southern. Women.: An Oral History by E. Patrick JohnsonBlack. Queer. Southern. Women.: An Oral History by E. Patrick Johnson

“At turns heartbreaking and inspirational, it is impossible not to be moved and humbled by the strength and courage of the women who generously contributed their stories to this collection of oral histories. We all have something to learn from the wisdom in this book.”

– Dylan, Assistant Editor

 

 

 

The Foxfire Book of Appalachian CookeryThe Foxfire Book of Appalachian Cookery (Revised Edition) edited by T.J. Smith

“This revised edition edited by T.J. Smith with a heartfelt foreword by the inimitable Sean Brock makes for great hearthside reading this winter. You can experiment with traditional recipes, explore Appalachian culture, and enjoy all the new photos, recipes, and essays inside.  A great gift for old hippies who remember the 1982 classic or new foodies who are into sustainability and real American cooking.”

– Susan, Sales Manager

 

 

Where We Find Ourselves: The Photographs of Hugh Mangum, 1897-1922 edited by Margaret Sartor and Alex Harris

“It’s an exquisitely produced book of turn-of-the- century portraits by Durham-based  itinerant photographer Hugh Mangum which offers a rare and diverse glimpse of the people of our region.”

– Gina, Director of Publicity

 

 

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