Help me pick a book for my BIL...

[MontrealMum]

My BIL is a voracious reader and I always buy him a book or two for Xmas. I am having trouble finding something appropriate this year. He likes books that are:
-political, but Canadian NOT American...
-books about cooking, or cookbooks
-he's also into gardening
-he's very into Nordic skiing, and would appreciate anything on that topic or other adventure stories
-I also sometimes give him jokey books about Canadian culture because neither of us were born here (he's originally from Germany)

Maybe I should have put this in "O Canada!", but I thought I'd try it here :)

I also tried to find a nice "male" apron for him, but the assumption is, I guess, that if you're a man, you grill, not cook. Silly stereotype. BIL does all the cooking, I'm not sure that they even own a grill. But if you have a link for a "manly" apron not about grilling, that'd be good too.

[bubbaray]

Is he into the "eat local" craze? The 100 Mile Diet book (http://www.amazon.ca/100-Mile-Diet-Year-Local-Eating/dp/0679314830/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259723429&sr=1-1)(not a "diet" book, but an eating/ lifestyle book) is by 2 Vancouver authors. Choices Markets (http://www.choicesmarket.com/index.php)here in Vancouver has a new cookbook "A Local Table (http://www.choicesmarket.com/cookbook.htm)". Its not on Amazon.ca, but you could probably order it from Choices. If you really really want it, I could get one and mail it to you, but they would probably be able to do that faster than I could (not until the weekend at the earliest). The fact that it might be harder to find might make it a better gift??!! PM me if you want to go that route. Happy to help.

You could combine those 2 or add in Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle (http://www.amazon.ca/Animal-Vegetable-Miracle-Barbara-Kingsolver/dp/155468188X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259723429&sr=1-6), which I have been reading for a while (like, in 5 minute stretches, sigh). I really like it and it gives the "why" reasons for local eating, as opposed to "how" to eat local, KWIM?

I've been wanting to read Trudeau's Memoirs (http://www.amazon.ca/Memoirs-Pierre-Trudeau/dp/0771085885/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259723107&sr=1-7) Not that I'm a huge fan (he screwed the West, just like all Canadian politicians), but more because I do think he did more to shape Canada as I know it than any other politician. I mean, any politician who gives the press the finger, I want to know more about, KWIM? Of course, if your BIL is from Quebec, he either loves PET or hates him. No middle ground there.

Gardening, well I would only buy him books for his zone. So, if he's in Quebec, any book I could recommend would be virtually useless in Mtl or area.

Totally not on your list, but I have a friend with similar interests and she loved Krakauer's (sp?) Into Thin Air (http://www.amazon.ca/Memoirs-Pierre-Trudeau/dp/0771085885/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259723107&sr=1-7).

HTH

[mariza]

How about a subscription to a food & wine/cooking or travel & leisure type magazine? Not sure what the selection is like in Canada but I'm sure you could find something to suit his interests. We did this for my brother a few years ago & he loved it.

[babystuffbuff]

Totally not on your list, but I have a friend with similar interests and she loved Krakauer's (sp?) Into Thin Air (http://www.amazon.ca/Memoirs-Pierre-Trudeau/dp/0771085885/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259723107&sr=1-7).


That's what I thought of, too. He's a great author.

[katydid1971]

I got FIL this apron personalized a few years ago. He's 6 foot and it fits him just great, it adjusts. You could get a good cook book to go with it. I personally love "the America's Test Kitchen" but you might not want it 'cause the "America" stuff;) "How to cook everything" is also great.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/l011/?pkey=x|4|1||4|apron||0&cm_src=SCH

[ThreeofUs]

Does he like science at all, or have any curiosity that way? Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" is really great:
http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/076790818X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259723759&sr=8-1

As for food/gardening books, "Epitaph for a Peach" is fantastic:
http://www.amazon.com/Epitaph-Peach-Four-Seasons-Family/dp/0062510258/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259723815&sr=1-1

And then there's always the new translation of "Je Sais Cuisiner", which I am adoring:
http://www.amazon.com/Know-How-Cook-Ginette-Mathiot/dp/071485736X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259723963&sr=1-1

GL!

[MontrealMum]

Thanks Melissa! Those are all great recommendations. I had considered the Trudeau book as Chapters is promoting it since it's a Globe & Mail bestseller. I'm getting it for FIL, but I really don't know how it would go over with BIL. (he lives in Ottawa, not QC) I'm off to check out those other links and other posters' recs which all sound great too. Thanks so much everyone - I have just been drawing a blank for BIL this year and he's the only one I've got left to take care of.

[kristenk]

This cookbook might work or it could be totally wrong! It's one of my favorite cookbooks, but it's by someone in the Texas Hill Country. A bit of a difference from Canada! She has a bakery that is FABULOUS! I gave one of her cookbooks to my foodie BIL last year.

The chef is Rebecca Rather and she has two cookbooks (both with lots of pictures). Wait, make that 3! A new one just came out!

Pastry Queen: http://www.amazon.com/Pastry-Queen-Royally-Recipes-Countrys/dp/1580085628/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

Pastry Queen Christmas: http://www.amazon.com/Pastry-Queen-Christmas-Big-hearted-Entertaining/dp/1580087906/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3

Pastry Queen Parties: http://www.amazon.com/Pastry-Queen-Parties-Entertaining-Friends/dp/1580089909/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1

[pakin]

Book: Alton Brown's Good Eats: The Early Years
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Eats-Early-Alton-Brown/dp/1584797959/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259732107&sr=8-1

Apron: Danger Men Cooking from Target
http://www.target.com/Danger-Men-Cooking-Apron-Black/dp/B000FMV6KG/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1

Pakin

DS 4/2001
DD 6/2005

[Aishe]

Into Thin Air is a great suggestion. Jeffrey Steingarten is a hilarious food writer if you want to go that route:

http://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Ate-Everything/dp/0375702024/
http://www.amazon.com/Mustve-Been-Something-Ate/dp/0375727124/

Calvin Trillin is also good:
http://www.amazon.com/Tummy-Trilogy-Calvin-Trillin/dp/0374524173/

[misshollygolightly]

Margaret Atwood edited a quirky little volume called the Canlit Foodbook some years ago. It has excerpts and related recipes from Canadian literature. These days, you'd probably have better look finding a used copy--I think it was published around 1987. Perfect gift for a food-loving, Canadian-loving, book-loving person!

[hillview]

Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle (http://www.amazon.ca/Animal-Vegetable-Miracle-Barbara-Kingsolver/dp/155468188X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259723429&sr=1-6),

Also love
Omnivore's Dilemma
http://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Dilemma-Natural-History-Meals/dp/1594200823

In Defense of Food
http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Food-Eaters-Manifesto/dp/0143114964/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

Love Pollan.

Hot Flat and Crowded is pretty good
http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Flat-Crowded-Revolution-America/dp/B002BWQ504/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259765325&sr=1-1

Endurance is fantastic adventure read
http://www.amazon.com/Endurance-Shackletons-Incredible-Alfred-Lansing/dp/078670621X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259765410&sr=1-1

HTH!
/hillary

[caleymama]

Endurance is fantastic adventure read
http://www.amazon.com/Endurance-Shackletons-Incredible-Alfred-Lansing/dp/078670621X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259765410&sr=1-1


I'll have to look for that for my DH - I gave him Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World (http://www.amazon.com/Shipwreck-Bottom-World-Extraordinary-Shackleton/dp/0375810498/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259769556&sr=1-1) a few years ago and he enjoyed it.

I would also second the rec for many of the books already mentioned: Michael Pollan, Bill Bryson, Jon Krakauer, Barbara Kingsolver...

Some others that DH and/or I have enjoyed recently:
Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting (http://www.amazon.com/Coop-Year-Poultry-Pigs-Parenting/dp/0061240435/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259769845&sr=1-1) by Michael Perry (not sure if your BIL would appreciate this, if he has kids, etc. but both DH and loved it)

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen (http://www.amazon.com/Coop-Year-Poultry-Pigs-Parenting/dp/0061240435/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259769845&sr=1-1) by Christopher McDougall (I haven't read this but DH did a few months ago and SO many people have recommended it to him before and since)

How to Cook Everything (http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Everything-Completely-Revised-Anniversary/dp/0764578650/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259770504&sr=1-1) by Mark Bittman

The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution (http://www.amazon.com/Art-Simple-Food-Delicious-Revolution/dp/0307336794/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259770556&sr=1-1) by Alice Waters

[carolinamama]

Love this cookbook:
http://www.cooksillustrated.com/bookstore/detail.asp?PID=265

And their magazine is good too if you want to do a subscription. They describe the process of each recipe and why certain processes worked better than others so it is not only a cookbook but also reading about making food. Good gift for a foodie as evidenced by the reactions I've gotten from my family members when I've gifted it.

[caleymama]

Love this cookbook:
http://www.cooksillustrated.com/bookstore/detail.asp?PID=265

And their magazine is good too if you want to do a subscription. They describe the process of each recipe and why certain processes worked better than others so it is not only a cookbook but also reading about making food. Good gift for a foodie as evidenced by the reactions I've gotten from my family members when I've gifted it.

Yes! That's a good one too. We own it and I enjoy reading & using it. Love, love, love the magazine also!

[MommyofAmaya]

This:

Also love
Omnivore's Dilemma
http://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Dilemma-Natural-History-Meals/dp/1594200823


Or, this, which is incredibly "manly" for cooking/food books, and is much more fun than I initially thought:

http://www.amazon.com/Food-Cooking-Science-Lore-Kitchen/dp/0684800012