I constantly find myself drooling over the titles published by sister-company Chronicle Books. Now that it's Christmastime, I have the perfect excuse to splurge on books for myself and the people I love--and then "borrow" the books I give them (indefinitely). Here are some I'm looking to wrap up and top with a bow:

SURFER Magazine: 50 Years, ($40)

Daydreaming of getting away to somewhere more breathtaking than your tiny apartment? Flip through a copy of this book and your desires to escape will be quenched. A beautiful collection of SURFER Magazine's most iconic images, best features and interviews as well as previously unpublished photos, it's a tribute to the past, present and future of the sport.

Fanzines, ($40)

Being in the publishing industry and a veteran 'zine maker from my high school days, this book speaks to the analog enthusiast in me. Perfect for any blogger, writer, artist, or lover of reading, Fanzines is a picturebook showcasing the weirdest, coolest zines ever produced. To chronicle the phenomenon of xeroxed, self-published manifestos, the book delves into the movement's earliest days up until contemporary underground lit.

Mick Rock Exposed: The Faces of Rock 'n' Roll, ($40)

Mick Rock is a tastemaker in the world of rock photography--he's snapped everyone from Syd Barrett to David Bowie to Blondie to Thin Lizzy to Lou Reed to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, all before they were superstars. Having been one of the few music photographers to score big-deal museum exhibitions, Rock's work is the stuff of legend. Throw Ziggy Stardust on the turntable and start reading.

Ticket Stub Diary, ($14.95)

Going to shows just isn't the same now that you can get in using a "ticket" you printed at home. When you do end up with a crinkled ticket stub in your pocket, it's like a treasure. For anyone who's a collector, music/sports/museum lover, the Ticket Stub Diary will become a precious diary chronicling their adventures. Display your ticket stubs in the books' sleeves and jot down notes and memories from the event to show the grandchildren.

Great White: The Majesty of Sharks, ($50)

Everyone knows the Discovery Channel's Shark Week is the best 7 days on television. Pair it with this glossy coffee table tome about these ferocious fishies, and your life will be complete. A collection of renowned photographer Chris Fallows' work underwater, it will not fail to induce gasps, oohs and aahs. It's a rare glimpse at the beauty and mystery of sharks, forcing us to confront our fears of these predators with brilliant shots of them leaping from the sea, intersecting with humanity, and floating through their dark, watery natural habitats.

Tartine Bread, ($40)

Hailed as the book of the season, grab Tartine Bread, skip the lines at their Mission outpost and start baking at home. We all know the culinary cred Tartine founder Chad Robertson has, so you won't have to second guess the recipes you'll be churning out once you get started. Gaze at the dreamy, carb-laden photos before wrapping it up and giving it away, and then invite yourself over to dinner at whatever friend's house you bestow this book upon for Christmas.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, ($12.95)

Two undeniable facts: zombies are hot right now, and Jane Austen is timeless. Unless everyone you know is uptight, gift them this modern, quirky classic (soon to be made into a movie) and they won't be able to put it down. It finds our heroine Elizabeth Bennet waging a bloody, corpse-ridden war against the zombie apocalypse, all while being romantically entangled with the dashing young Mr. Darcy. Can she both destroy the plague of brains-gobblers and class-conscious elite? Wade through all the violence, humor and cannibalism to find out.

For more gift ideas for your literary friends, click here.