Eat, drink, and be merry without going manic this holiday season with help from Forking Fantastic!, the ultimate user-friendly guide to party perfection.

If the evil stepmother myth is dissolved, it's at least explained in Wednesday Martin's inquisitive book Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel and Act the Way We Do.

The Book of Dads: Essays on the Joys, Perils, and Humiliations of Fatherhood offers a heartfelt guide to understanding the role of "Dad" through collected essays on the highs lows, and strange adventures of modern paternity.

Pinch your pennies with The Backyard Homestead, Carleen Madigan's all-purpose guide to living simply and efficiently during any pesky recession.