Sports fanatics under the age of 30 may have trouble believing it. But there was, in fact, a time before ESPN. Since hitting its stride in the 1980s, the broadcast channel has become the one-stop shop for all things sports, progressively eclipsing the once dominant print journalism of Sports Illustrated. Now ESPN’s founding executive producer, Peter Fox, rewinds to the mayhem of the sports network’s first year in The Early Days of ESPN: 300 Daydreams and Nightmares. A perfect complement to Bill Keenan’s chronicle of the obstacles and ordeals that complicated ESPN’s founding, Fox details the abiding faith of co-founder Bill Rasmussen and early on-air personalities such as Chris Berman that kept the dream alive. And from all us longtime SportsCenter diehards, thank God they did. ($29.95, amazon.com) —Jack Sullivan

I love a deadline—give me one and I’ll be sure to meet it just under the wire and not a minute sooner. That may be one reason why Augustinus Bader’s new Skin Infusion speaks to me. It’s intended to be used in four-week increments when skin needs extra care. The idea is to apply it morning and night when you travel, are exposed to harsh climates, or as the seasons change. It contains a jacked-up version of the Augustinus Bader TFC8 complex along with an ingredient that enhances the skin’s ability to absorb vitamin D, both of which help speed skin-cell turnover and protect the skin barrier. The key is to use one small bottle every day until it’s satisfyingly empty. I tried it for the allotted time, and I’m impressed with the way it turned my dry skin almost dewy. The word “fresh” might even apply. It also appeals to my diligent, goal-oriented soul. ($430, augustinusbader.com) —Linda Wells

“When the shotgun went off under Johnnie Burchill’s brother’s chin, word had it, the top of his head came off like the top of a turnip lantern.” So begins Rabbits, the debut novel from longtime London Times columnist Hugo Rifkind. Set in 90s Edinburgh, the book follows middle-class teenager Tommo as he navigates the world of his posh new boarding school, where he’s surrounded by wealth, hedonism, and, all of a sudden, a suspicious number of small, dead animals. As Val McDermid so aptly summarizes the book: think Saltburn “but with kilts.” The violent undercurrent roiling beneath his peers, though initially disguised by their poise and good breeding, eventually explodes, leaving someone dead. Unexpected, darkly funny, and occasionally poignant, Rabbits is a delightfully disturbing novel that will stick with you long after you turn the last page. ($19.04, amazon.co.uk) —Paulina Prosnitz

As a renter in New York City, I have a laundry list of things I would like to change about my apartment but can’t. While I could ramble all day about my upstairs neighbor who feeds pigeons, for now let’s focus on a problem with a simpler solution—lighting, specifically the “ceiling boob.” This flush-to-the-ceiling, domed fixture, which somehow manages to make the light even harsher, has become ubiquitous in rental units. Since rewiring is not an option, I recently found that Tulip Shades provide the perfect disguise to this eyesore. Tulip’s thick fabric diffuses harsh ceiling light and comes in a variety of colors and shapes, making any space more welcoming. While your rental apartment may last only a year or two, the Tulip Shade is made to move with you. No power tools or TaskRabbit needed for installation—only a few Command Strips. (from $110, tulipshades.com) —Gracie Wiener

Her title and cover concept—a funny homage to Roxy Music’s eponymous debut—would have been enough, but as Linda Thompson dryly told Air Mail, “Once I got the idea, I felt obligated to make the record.” Good move. All the songs on the stylistically wide-ranging, consistently fine Proxy Music were written or co-written by the British folk-rock legend herself, but recorded instead by some of her favorite performers—these proxies were necessary because Thompson’s once matchless singing voice is now largely silenced by dysphonia. It’s a friends-and-Thompson-family affair: her ex-husband, Richard; son, Teddy; daughter, Kami; and grandson, Zak Hobbs all participate. Among the high points are Martha Wainwright’s “Or Nothing at All,” Ren Harvieu’s “I Used to Be So Pretty,” and Dori Freeman’s “Shores of America,” to name too few. And there’s a bittersweet, shadow benefit: you can easily imagine Linda Thompson singing every one of these wise, witty, often achingly beautiful new songs. (iheart.com) —George Kalogerakis

Ginori 1735 has been a leader in Italian porcelain since its inception in Florence three centuries ago, when its centerpieces and vases adorned the dinner tables of the city’s aristocracy. The brand has recently had a bit of a Renaissance. The design world has been raving over its pastel-colored Diva collection—a modern re-interpretation of the 1950s Colonna collection by Giovanni Garibaldi, one of Italy’s most prominent 20th-century designers. Now the porcelain maison is expanding into hospitality with a brand-new Café Ginori inside Bergdorf Goodman, where Italian dishes such as beet risotto, eggplant parmigiana, beef carpaccio, and tagliatelle al ragù are served on sublime tableware, showcasing some of Ginori’s signature fabled patterns. Cushions, pillows, and chairs from the brand’s Domus collection fill the space, as well as wallpaper that matches the dinnerware. Stop in for an aperitivo—perhaps a Negroni Sbagliato … or two. (opentable.com) —Elena Clavarino