GearCulture

Written by highly-respected food blogger, Daniel Vaughn, The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue is the result of over 10,000 miles worth of trekking through the southern state's legendary wood-smoking traditions. There's a host of recipes from cowboy style to barbocoa and all are complimented by mouth-watering photos courtesy of Nicholas McWhirter.

From Karl Benz's Patent Motorwagen of 1885 through to the Ford Mustang, Porsche Spyder and the futuristic Aston Martin Bulldog, Top Gear: The Cool 500: The Coolest Cars Ever Made boasts snippets, commentry and gorgeous photograhy of, well, the coolest rides of all time. Petrol head? This is your bible.

Boasting a host of recipes that incorporates everything from Snickers Muffins to Chocolate Fudge Frosting and Toxic Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing, Cannabis Cupcakes: 35 mini Marijuana Cakes to Bake and Decorate combines gourmet flavors and simple recipes, all using that most versatile of substances. Let the viscous cycle of munchies begin.

The Ultimate Deck takes a cheap hand of poker and turns it into a work of art with a one-of-a-kind collection of provocative masterpieces. This fifty-four card collection was created by a design agency, and each card has an ornate and individual backing. The tuck case is embossed with foil highlights. When you see the quality, you'll know when to hold 'em.

Gambling - and solitaire - just got a cool new makeover. Almost menacing in appearance, these Black Playing Cards are finished in a gloriously moody dark hue. We know that dimly lit rooms and the odd bottle of Scotch whisky usually go hand in hand with a game of poker, so you may have to increase the overhead wattage a little, though.

A celebration of a quarter of a century of the world's most favored balding, crime-fighting, vest-wearing tough guy. The Die Hard 25th Anniversary Collection is a five disc extravaganza of the four movies and more bonus material than you can shake a bazooka at. Still can't see dead people though, can he?

What the bible is to Christians. The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force is the ultimate guide in the ways of the light-sabre-wielding knight Masters. With insights from Yoda, Obi-Wan, Luke and Anakin (before he swapped sides, of course), it's a beautifully packaged book for Star Wars fans young and old. If you truly want the force to be with you, invest in one of these.

A chess set truly like no other, even if you don't know how to play the game it's a hell of an ornamental conversation starter. The Mars Made Chess set is designed quite beautifully, the boards are available in a choice of etched carbon fiber or back-painted glass with each piece forged from aluminium and in a range of anodized finishes of your choice. A truly classy, futuristic twist on an ancient idea.

Dogs do the funniest things don't they? Except when they crap on your carpet, that's never funny. Anyway, Underwater Dogs brings you the funniest of dogs in a way you've probably never seen them before - like the title says, sub-aqua. There's a whole host of breeds snapped by award-winning photographer and animal rights campaigner Seth Casteel, and if at least some of the images don't bring a smile to your face then you're dead inside. Or a cat person.