Part one of The Big Fail: What the Pandemic Revealed About Who America Protects and Who It Leaves Behind is fittingly titled “Contagion.” Written by Bethany McLean (author of The Smartest Guys in the Room, about the Enron scandal, which was later made into an Oscar-nominated documentary) and business journalist Joe Nocera, the book offers a chronological report of the coronavirus pandemic three years on, speckled with anecdotes about everything from “Cuomosexuals” to the P.P.E. black market. Alongside Michael Lewis’s The Premonition, which told the story of the doctors and scientists who fought to have the U.S. government take the pandemic response seriously in the early days of the virus, andThe Desperate Hours, Marie Brenner’s moving account of a New York hospital in crisis, The Big Fail is one of the essential COVID books of our time. ($32, bookshop.org) —Julia Vitale

During John Demsey’s three decades at the helm of Estée Lauder, his business know-how came second only to his unique radar for rising stars. He had an eye for allure, recruiting everyone from Lady Gaga to Nicki Minaj for MAC campaigns in the early 2010s. After leaving the company last year, Demsey switched gears, turning toward decorating his six-story town house, on the Upper East Side, which is the subject of a new coffee-table book. In a testament to his “maximalist mantra,” every square inch of the home brims in color, pattern, and texture. Photographer Douglas Friedman captures the art and accessories that distinguish each room, and journalist Alina Cho delves into Demsey’s creative process. ($65, amazon.com) —Paulina Prosnitz

Believe it or not, holiday-cocktail-party season is imminent. There’s nothing wrong with basic glassware, especially when entertaining a crowd, but for more intimate, special occasions, consider Artel’s irresistible Double Old Fashioned glasses. Hand-engraved, mouth-blown, and made by Czech artisans out of lead-free crystal, they’re works of art in a palm-size format. Now that certain bottles of tequila, whiskey, and brandy are selling for upward of four figures, why not upgrade their containers as well? We’re partial to the racing yachts, but other options include lobsters and crabs. An embarrassment of riches! ($220, abask.com) —Ashley Baker

Never underestimate the power of a good oil or mask before hair-wash day. The problem, however, is that it’s one thing to douse your locks in a jojoba oil–honey mixture, and entirely another to get said concoction out. Mara Roszak, hairstylist to Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, and Olivia Wilde, has finally solved my predicament with her new line, Rōz (pronounced “rose”). The Willow Glen Treatment Oil, made from six active botanical oils, is incredibly nourishing without leaving your hair greasy post-shower. I leave it in for at least 10 minutes (if not overnight) and bask in its amazing scent of cassis, vetiver, jasmine, neroli, and geranium before hopping into the shower. Pair it with Roszak’s new Foundation shampoo and conditioner for the softest and best-smelling hair around. ($48, rozhair.com) —Clara Molot

L’École School of Jewelry Arts was founded in 2012 with the backing of Van Cleef & Arpels to cultivate a community rooted in jewelry-making and education in the heart of Paris. It’s since expanded to Hong Kong and is currently building additional campuses in Shanghai and Dubai. Now the doors of L’École’s second Paris location open in the beautiful and recently refurbished 18th-century town house Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau. Functioning primarily as a museum for exhibitions and lectures, such as the recently unveiled Comédie-Française collection of stage jewelry, it also includes a permanent special-jewelry library and bookshop. Next time you’re strolling down Boulevard Montmartre, be sure to stop in at the historic palace for the perfect mix of jewelry porn and history. (lecolevancleefarpels.com) —Lucy Horowitz

Leave it to New York’s beloved bookstore McNally Jackson to curate the best selection of books, even if that means publishing out-of-print ones. McNally Editions focuses on re-discovering hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path options, from Gary Indiana’s Rent Boy to Dinah Brooke’s Lord Jim at Home (with a foreword by Ottessa Moshfegh). And there are more titles coming soon. We’re especially excited for Operation Heartbreak, a love story inspired by a real-life World War II secret mission written by none other than Alfred Duff Cooper, Churchill’s ambassador to France. And, according to McNally Editions, it’s “perhaps the only great novel written by a politician.” The books are beautifully bound, and a subscription service (two books every season for $30) makes the perfect gift for even the most avid of readers. (from $18, mcnallyeditions.com; AIR MAIL Editors’ Circle members receive a discount on McNally Editions purchases) —Clara Molot