If you think the press is held in low esteem today, imagine what French novelists thought of journalism in the early 19th century, when Honoré de Balzac no less had a character in one of his novels dismiss newspapers as “those whorehouses of thought.” Slowly, however, the reputation of hacks improved when novelists and poets began careers as columnists and papers began serializing novels. Charles Baudelaire, who led the embrace, may still have thundered against the press, but his screeds were now published in the papers themselves. Max McGuinness, in artful and winning prose, explores how this change came about, focusing on Stephané Mallarmé, Guillaume Apollinaire, and Marcel Proust as his primary hustlers looking for a bigger audience. The author illuminates this relation amour-haine with panache. ($148.13, amazon.com) —Jim Kelly

It’s been 60 years since a 24-year-old Cassius Clay barreled into the Miami Convention Center to take on the world heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston, and proceeded to verbally destroy him with a mix of poetry (“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”) and put-downs (“I can beat you anytime, chump!”). Back then, the press thought Clay had gone crazy. Now, we may recognize it as the birth of trash-talking—the art of getting inside your opponent’s head to mess with his or her game. In Trash Talk, Rafi Kohan has given us a funny and smart read that looks into the insult-dueling traditions of the African diaspora (such as “the dozens”) and at masters of the form from across the sports world such as Larry Bird, Kevin Garnett, Brett Favre, and others who knew how to let their mouths write checks that their talent could cash. ($22.30, amazon.com) —Michael Hainey

In the summer, earrings needn’t be too fussy, which is why Mejuri’s Stevie Hoops are such welcome news. Inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s lead female singer, the collection includes eight new hoop styles that have interchangeable links, so one can mix silver, enamel, vermeil, and pavé diamond with abandon. They’re classic enough that they wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, and yet we could also imagine them on a front woman performing at Glastonbury. (from $178 to $3,700; mejuri.com) —Ashley Baker

Pool floaties aren’t always aesthetically pleasing, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be. At Johnny Pigozzi’s house in Antibes, which he swears has the “most fun pool in the South of France,” whales, dragons, sharks, and giraffes make for an irresistible visual feast. If you’re looking to go feet first into the pool-floaty market for your own backyard, we recommend starting with one of these Hotel du Cap inflatable lifebuoys in red or blue, which come with their own matching waterproof pouch. It’s a great way to get a hotel souvenir without going for the red cap, which might seem a little garish. ($130, boutique.oetkercollection.com) —Elena Clavarino

Perhaps you have purchased enough cotton T-shirts to have found the perfect-fitting one. Well, bad news for you: it’s time to consider TWP’s jersey crewneck T-shirt. Founded by Trish Wescoat Pound—who worked at Theory and Michael Kors before starting Haute Hippie—TWP offers well-made and tailored basics. Their jersey His Tee is stretchy, soft, and neither too boxy nor too oversize. ($135, twpclothing.com) —Jensen Davis

The Prada boutique has become one of East Hampton’s most popular landmarks, at the corner of Main Street and Newtown Lane. Just in time for the summer season, it’s unveiling a fresh new interior design. And if that’s not enough to get you on the Jitney, then take a look at its tempting array of bags, shoes, accessories, and ready-to-wear for both men and women. The shop’s smartly curated collection follows a crochet theme, which manifests in the Raffia wide-brimmed sun hat (perfect for taking the Riva to Duryea’s), a cheeky beret, a baseball cap, and several bags. ($650, prada.com) —Ashley Baker