Ten Smithsonian Books for Every Reader on Your Holiday List

Looking for a last minute gift this holiday season? At Smithsonian Books, we think there's nothing better than a book gift! Whether you're buying for family, friends, or making a list for what your loved ones should get you, we have books for all kinds of readers.

The Space Enthusiast

Smithsonian Atlas of Space: A Map to the Universe from the Big

Space lovers from one to ninety-two will cozy up with this all winter long to pore over its 300 charts, illustrations, and photographs. Former chief historian of NASA Roger D. Launius leads the way through the universe and the history of space exploration. Smithsonian Atlas of Space is the perfect gift for stargazers, armchair astronauts, NASA fans, and anyone who wants to learn more about everything beyond our planet.

Spaceships: An Illustrated History of the Real and the Imagined

Do you know someone who wants a key to the TARDIS or who watches SpaceX launches? Spaceships is a spectacularly illustrated guide to spaceships through the ages and the ways real spaceships have influenced pop culture. This is an ideal book for anyone who loves space exploration, science fiction, or mentally escaping to the stars.

The Animal Lover

60 Years of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 

The animal and nature enthusiast in your life will camp out at the family holiday party and get lost in these award-winning photographs—and probably draw a crowd peering over their shoulder! The book is like a front-row seat on a safari ride through forests, jungles, mountains, skies, and the ocean. No binoculars necessary to appreciate animals in their habitats, from humpback whales engaging in a courtship dance to a macaque seeing his reflection for the first time. Its messaging on the importance of conservation and the power of wildlife photography to show what's at stake makes it great for photographers and advocates for the protection of the planet and its creatures.

Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Bird Nests and Eggs

This book will charm birders and birdwatchers both young and old! Beautiful nest photographs reveal the architectural prowess of birds, from the Buff-spotted Woodpecker's nest excavated in an arboreal insect nest to the Cape Penduline Tit nest that includes a false chamber to trick predators. Each nest and egg image is accompanied by insightful entries on the size, time and location of collection, materials used, and background information on the bird. 

The Outdoor Explorer

Everest 24: New Views on the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition

Whether they climb mountains or just like to watch documentaries about people who do, Everest 24 is the perfect gift for anyone who appreciates adventures and the great outdoors. The book shines new light on the 1924 expedition where British explorers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappeared during their attempt to be the first to summit Mount Everest, and includes artifacts, original expedition correspondence, and rarely seen photographs. It includes maps, stunning photos of the mountain, and essays about Everest's cultural meanings and the overlooked stories of the Indigenous intermediaries. With the icy mountains, this is an ideal winter read that will captivate.

In Search of the Old Ones: An Odyssey Among Ancient Trees

A book for the person who would rather be at a national park than anywhere else. Filled with palpable awe for the natural world, In Search of the Old Ones book transports readers across the country to visit its oldest trees, from the 1,200-year-old Seven Sisters Oak that has survived several hurricanes to the Palmer’s Oak that has cloned itself for 13,000 years to stay alive. The holidays are a great time for a digital detox, and this book will allow readers to connect with nature from the warm comfort of home.

The Fan of Fearsome Beasts

A History of Dinosaurs in 50 Fossils 

This stunning reference book belongs at the top of every dinosaur lover's wish list! It features full-page fossil images, colorful artistic recreations, and enlightening entries about some of the most amazing dinosaur discoveries ever made. If you know someone obsessed with prehistoric creatures, fossils, and natural history, make their wish come true!

Ancient Marine Reptiles

Who doesn't love a good sea monster? This is the kind of book for those who wish the Loch Ness Monster was real—they'll be in awe of true sea monsters who reigned the ocean for 150 million years. Beautifully illustrated with fossil photography and artistic reconstructions of ancient marine creatures like Mosasaurs, known as “T-Rexes of the deep," this is a must-have for anyone who loves learning about animals with sharp teeth, long necks, and incredible biology.

The History Buff

Four Wheels and a Board: The Smithsonian History of Skateboarding

Perfect for the broad reader—and the boarder! This is a history book unlike any other, full of striking skate decks, amazing photos, and essays from influential skateboarders like Tony Hawk and Mimi Knoop. This visual guide to skateboarding history is a go-to gift for skateboarding fans and sports history aficionados, but it's also great for history readers looking for a unique read about American culture.

The Object at Hand

An amazing range of Smithsonian objects, from Nat Turner's Bible to the Hope Diamond, are explored through thematic categories that reveal how they fit into the American story. Interviews with curators, scholars, and historians offer a feeling of getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the Smithsonian's collections. This delicious sampler plate of history is sure to satisfy a history buff's appetite.

Visit Smithsonian Books’ website to learn more about its publications and a full list of titles.