Editor’s note: Each month we see lots of books. Some of the curiouser arrivals are featured in this space.
J. Shimon and J. Lindemann grew up in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of Aluminum Specialty, the company that manufactured that stalwart of hipster holidays, the aluminum Christmas tree. Shimon and Lindemann, both professional photographers, celebrate the tinsel icons of their youth in Season’s Gleamings: The Art of the Aluminum Christmas Tree. "Although they can be viewed solely as aesthetically stunning objects," the duo write of their subjects, "their existence will always be informed by each viewer’s holiday baggage."

Right. Aluminum trees played a large role in the holidays of my quintessentially 1970s childhood. Sticking all of those branches covered in potentially blinding strips of metal into the tree’s wooden base was a time-consuming chore, only slightly less annoying than maneuvering them back into their sheaths at the end of the season. And who can forget the ordeal of having to rethread limbs that became detached from their silver fringe?

Still, the trees are retro-cool in a future-past, Jetsons kind of way, which is why Shimon and Lindemann quietly prowled yard sales and sneaked into attics and basements, eventually collecting 40 trees. Season’s Gleamings isn’t a decorating guide or history of the trees (though it does include a little background); it’s merely an homage to a space-age ideal.

Ever wondered how your favorite Hollywood celebrity decks his or her Christmas halls? Catch the Tinseltown holiday scoop with Christmas Style by Debi Staron and Bob Pranga, a Los Angeles-based decorating duo also known as “Dr. Christmas.” With a foreword by entertainment reporter Leeza Gibbons (whose home is featured in the book), this flamboyant decor guide includes full-page color photos of gorgeous Southern California interiors, all beautifully adorned with glittering holiday trees, sparkling lights, exquisite ornaments, lush greenery and festive foods. Christmas Style also includes sections on movie-star themed Christmas trees (“The 12 Dames of Christmas”), pictures of the authors’ celebrity-autographed ornaments, and a primer on how to select, trim and dismantle Christmas trees. Alison Hood still waits up for Santa every Christmas Eve and eats way too many cookies while keeping watch at the hearth.

If the idea of going home for the holidays sends a chill down your spine, you might find relief in bringing along The Dysfunctional Family Christmas Songbook by John Boswell, best-selling author of What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School, and Lenore Skenazy, a New York Daily News columnist and contributor to Mad magazine. This irreverent hymnal of 19 satirical “alternative” Christmas lyrics, all set to the music of the old standard carols, is guaranteed to raise a reaction whether it’s to tickle the familial funny bone, or to make Aunt Hilda bop Cousin Bobby with the Christmas ham. So, get happy, raise a cup of cheer and warble out such favorites as: “O Holy Fight” (sung to the tune of “O Holy Night”), the saga of one family’s sadly divided politics; and “Come Meet the Family” (sung to “O Come All Ye Faithful”), a “celebration of Christmas aggravation.” Alison Hood still waits up for Santa every Christmas Eve and eats way too many cookies while keeping watch at the hearth.

<b>What’s new in getting old</b> Not many Americans have missed the message that retirement now means a Jupiter-sized nest egg, a fourth or fifth career and purpose-driven leisure. That pressure takes its toll on the collagen, but Mark Victor Hansen (co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series) and beloved 94-year-old TV host Art Linkletter ( Kids Say the Darndest Things! ) tout 60 as the new forty and implore baby boomers to think outside the casket in <b>How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life</b>. Longer and healthier lives mean a new set of expectations and challenges, so the duo urge readers to refire instead of retire and sage instead of age. These inspirational quips ( don’t regret, re-great! is another) and obvious recommendations ( maintain vibrant health! Defy expectations and have a hot sex life! ) get a bit old, so to speak, but the pair also inject some literary Botox into many myths and misconceptions about aging to smooth away worry, and offer some unusual ideas to ponder. The controversial calorie restriction approach to longevity is interesting, along with their advice on unleashing your innate creativity or inner Grandma Moses, and becoming a seniorpreneur to stay solvent, keep the synapses firing and stave off Alzheimer’s.

In the past, most people learned crafts from a friend or family member. They taught the new crafter basic stitches and were nearby to help when he or she got stuck working on a new project. These days, people teach themselves crafts a lot more often, which means there is no wise expert on call to solve problems that can stymie a project and crush a new crafter’s confidence. Edie Eckman’s The Crochet Answer Book seeks to take the place of that helpful friend by anticipating and answering some of the most common questions crafters have. This book covers the basics of forming stitches, shaping and blocking, as well as more advanced techniques. It should be on every fiber lover’s bookshelf. Sarah E. White is the senior editor of the crafting website LovetoKnow Crafts.

In the past, most people learned crafts from a friend or family member. They taught the new crafter basic stitches and were nearby to help when he or she got stuck working on a new project. These days, people teach themselves crafts a lot more often, which means there is no wise expert on call to solve problems that can stymie a project and crush a new crafter’s confidence. Margaret Radcliffe’s The Knitting Answer Book seeks to take the place of that helpful friend by anticipating and answering some of the most common questions crafters have. This book covers the basics of forming stitches, shaping and blocking, as well as more advanced techniques. It should be on every fiber lover’s bookshelf. Sarah E. White is the senior editor of the crafting website LovetoKnow Crafts.

Swimwear designer Ashley Paige knows more than most about the interplay between crafts and fashion. Her knits have graced the bodies of such stars as Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Gwen Stefani, and her book Sexy Little Knits: Chic Designs to Knit and Crochet brings her sultry sensibility to the home crafter. The book offers 25 designs including beach wear, fun summer clothes and pieces to wear at home. The projects show incredible range, from a nylon robe to a halter dress with peek-a-boo hearts to barely-there bikinis and an long mesh nightgown. This book is not for beginners, as it doesn’t given any basic knitting or crocheting instructions. It’s also not for the timid (and not just because there’s a derriere on the cover). Those who have been looking for something daringly different to knit or crochet will find that this book fills the niche perfectly. Sarah E. White is the senior editor of the crafting website LovetoKnow Crafts.