Inside page of Peter Beard published by TASCHEN. Why it’s worth it: When the writer, photographer, and all-around bon vivant Peter Beard died this year at age 82, he left an indelible mark on the art world and everyone he met, from the wilds of Africa to the seedy bars of New York City. His life was marked by a ferocious pursuit of adventure, photographing endangered species and documenting his travels in beautifully intimate diaristic form, collaging photographs with drawings and notation. A gadfly who was equally at home as a social fixture, Beard delved into fashion photography, and collaborated with the likes of Andy Warhol and Francis Bacon, while living up to his nickname as Walkabout, cutting a fine figure with his year-round tan, blue eyes, and revolving door of beautiful women at his side. This book captures the spirit and craft of a man who lived large in every sense.