You may be under the impression that humans are the “main characters” of the earth and that insects are mere pests that we begrudgingly tolerate. But comic artist Peter Kupfer’s captivating graphic history, Insectopolis, shows us that is far from the truth. In the book, a bug’s life is explained through immersive comic panels, quippy speech bubbles, and surprising statistics. (Eighty percent of all species on earth are insects!) Pulitzer Prize–winning biologist E. O. Wilson contextualizes the awesome significance of insects in the book’s epigraph: “If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish … the environment would collapse into chaos.” ($35, amazon.com) —Paulina Prosnitz

If whatever your mom bought you at Bed Bath & Beyond simply isn’t cutting it, perhaps some hand-embroidered linens from Vis-à-Vis Paris might? Véronique Taittinger’s elegant, romantic brand specializing in dressing the bed and table has enlisted the artist Laila Gohar to add her whimsical touch to a 13-piece collection, where her signature beans manifest themselves in a Belgian-linen tablecloth and cocktail-napkins. Did we mention the sheets are made from breathable, perfect-for-summer 500-thread-count Percale? No self-respecting tradwife influencer will be able to live without this set—but that doesn’t mean the rest of us should hold back. (from $55, modaoperandi.com) —Ashley Baker

How does Ross Barkan find the time? For the past decade, he’s been on the front lines of the national-politics beat, writing incisive commentary on Trump for The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and The New York Times (to name three of many); he’s also a contributing writer for New York magazine. He has taught college-level journalism courses, run for New York State Senate, written a nonfiction book on Andrew Cuomo, and operates two Substacks—all of this by 35. Oh, and he also writes fiction. His third novel, Glass Century, is out this month. The nearly 500-page feat follows the amateur tennis player Mona Glass’s affair with her married college professor Saul Plotz, who is a decade her senior. Barkan depicts their relationship in detail, from the 1970s to the coronavirus pandemic. ($33.99, toughpoets.com) —Jack Sullivan

Air Mail has a few satellite offices in the vicinity of our Greenwich Village HQ, and one is surely Bar Pisellino—the all-day café from restaurateurs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams. Located just across the street from their mother ship, Via Carota, Bar Pisellino was built for caffeinating and spritzing the Italian way, and this summer, it’s expanding its reach all the way to, well, Italy. Now through August 27, Bar Pisellino is popping up at Villa Làrio, an elegant hotel on Lake Como. It will serve its signature Palazzo Negronis alongside apertivos of all persuasions to both hotel guests and drop-ins alike. And no offense to the Village, but the panoramic views of both the lake and gardens put Seventh Avenue to shame—and are guaranteed to inspire FOMO in every single one of your Instagram followers. (villalario.com) —Ashley Baker

Figlia bottles the taste of summer. With notes of lemon, peach, black tea, and a blend of botanical extracts like elderflower, basil, and peppercorn, the non-alcoholic beverage evokes the feeling of sunshine—hence the name of its potion, Sole, which means “sun” in Italian. Founded by Lily Geiger, who lost her father to alcoholism, Sole looks like an aperitif but avoids mimicking the taste of alcohol. Made with all-natural ingredients and free from preservatives, Figlia’s Sole is best served chilled, over ice. On that note, I will be experimenting on creating a Sole granita in the months to come. ($43, drinkfiglia.com) —Gracie Wiener

Anyone with a shred of sense knows that at some point in the not-too-distant future the world is going to end. And when it does, you’ll want to have an escape vehicle picked out. While something hulking and tank-like may provide the illusion of safety, you’d be much better off ripping it over mountains and across deserts on a Ural Motorcycle. Originally designed to handle Russia’s underdeveloped road network during W.W. II, Ural’s sidecar motorcycles are now assembled in Kazakhstan (production was moved there when the Russia-Ukraine conflict kicked off) with a degree of engineering obsessiveness that can’t be overstated. They are one of the few motorcycles that have two-wheel drive, a reverse gear, and an engine optimized for torque and pulling power rather than high speed. Off-road tires mean that you’ll be able to get through rivers, snow, and pockmarked roads with no trouble. The sidecar’s cargo hold can fit groceries, camping supplies, and, in the event that you really need to get out of Dodge, your pet. I don’t know if the world will end in fire or in ice, but I’m certain that I’ll go out on a trike with my wife and cat tucked into the sidecar. ($21,999; imz-ural.com) —Nathan King