Annual Pamphleteer Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas is here and we've got some ideas for last-second gifts, broken down roughly into wants, needs, and reads.

In Praise of Floods by James C. Scott The late, great James C. Scott passed away earlier this year, but he left one last book behind, In Praise of Floods, which examines the life of a river in Burma and draws out the importance of rivers to mankind. Scott was a political scientist and anthropologist at Yale who authored two proir books that had an immense impact on how I view the world and understand politics. Both Two Cheers for Anarchism and Seeing Like a State would make good gifts if you want something more immediate as this last book won't ship until February. For a preview, you can listen to Scott's lecture on the topic here. Davis Hunt

Scammer by Caroline Calloway Like it or not, Caroline Calloway is the closest to Andy Warhol we have in a world reeling from the irrevocable impact of social media. The Instagram trailblazer more renowned for not writing than her actual output finally finished her beleaguered memoir in 2023. And it was more than worth the wait. Avoiding hipster navel-gazing and late-millennial posturing, Calloway forges a portrait of the brand as a bona fide artist. It may take until Easter for the new tricked-out edition to arrive in your mailbox, but that’s all part of Calloway’s trademark charm. Jerod Hollyfield

The Count Of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas I’m surprised I didn’t choose this book sooner. Illustrious in both life and death, Alexandre Dumas is best known for guiding his readers through swashbuckling adventures. Once you’ve found yourself between the pages of The Count of Monte Cristo, there’s no turning back. Just as wine replaces Welch’s and charcuterie becomes a glorified stand-in for Lunchables, The Count of Monte Cristo reignites a sense of adventure in adulthood similar to the experience of reading something like Treasure Island for the first time as an adolescent. 

Though tempting, I suggest avoiding the abridged version and committing to all 1,250 pages. Originally serialized in a Paris newspaper called Journal des débats, the storyline is both addictively engrossing and conveniently episodic. Rest assured, the novel can be easily re-engaged if you have to take a few breaks along the way. As it turns out, a new mini-series adaptation of the book premiered during the Rome Film Festival this October and is now available on streaming services. Megan Podsiedlik

Peter Huber Diego XL Lugsole Bit Loafer These Peter Huber lugsoles are a must have for any interpid young man who wants to dress more formally while also being light on his feet and maintaining a robust separation between himself and the potentially hazardous elements. People commonly mistake these for Gucci loafers. I'm fine with that. You can also dress them up or down. In the absence of tux shoes, these work great in a pinch. You can also throw them on with a pair of jeans or chinos and spend all day walking in them without issue. On my last trip to New York City, I put a good ten miles on these bad boys. A necessary part of any self-respecting man's wardrobe. Davis Hunt

Remington Vacuum Beard Trimmer I’ve long dreamed of crafting that impeccable Don Johnson stubble, but always seem to fall short. At best, it’s uneven. At worst, I wait too long and make an unnecessary mess in the bathroom. Thankfully, the best gift I got last year has allowed me to go from mountain man to Miami Vice with virtually no cleanup. An absolute grooming game changer. Jerod Hollyfield

Receipt Wallet & Organizer Though I probably don’t need these particularly adorable leather organizers, I do need a designated receipt wallet for stowing those pesky pieces of thermal paper in a more orderly fashion (instead of having to sift through the papers wadded up in my jacket pockets or smashed down in my bill fold). Paired with this cute receipt folder to help me keep things organized at home, just looking at these items on my list makes me feel like a superior being. Megan Podsiedlik

Bendable Flexible Magnetic Pickup Tool This is somewhere between a want and a need, but if you've ever played with this thing, you'll be looking for an excuse to use it. Next thing you know, your car will be disassembled in the garage and bolts will be strewn all over the place and you'll get quiet pleasure out of using this bendable, flexible magnetic pickup tool to summon them closer to your person. We're all about empowerment over here and this tool is very empowering. Davis Hunt

Birdbuddy Birdwatching may have placed just under comic book collecting in that “unattractive hobbies for men” list circulating on Twitter the other day, but the Birdbuddy is destined to upgrade an activity long defined by binoculars and dork shorts. With a built-in camera powered by AI, this birdfeeder tags and catalogs visiting species while alerting you on the phone Ring-style when they appear so you’re always ready for photo ops. It may not help you on Hinge, but at least you’ll make the most out of the outdoors. Jerod Hollyfield

Record Player/CD/Bluetooth/Radio Combo I’m not a Spotify playlist kind of gal—something about the algorithms telling me what to listen to. Currently, my sound system consists of a 2005 Emerson CD clock radio, which makes it part of my vintage collection. I’d really like to upgrade without completely compromising my semi-analog existence. Maybe because it’s Christmas time—I fondly remember digging through the cassette tapes looking for Carpenters’ “Christmas Portrait”—I’m pining for that nostalgic sound of scratchy vinyl. I hope Santa brings me this Record Player/CD/Bluetooth/Radio combo. If he does, I’m going to christen it with “Christmas in Dixie.” Megan Podsiedlik