Anyone that knows me well knows my passion for reading and the written word in general. The power of words and images make them one of the greatest tools in the entire world. Many people I am personally connected to on some level including my father are published authors which is inspiring to me. I am constantly reading some book or another and I love art books more than anything. My mother turned me on to a Gustav Klimt  book as a teenager and my face has been knee deep in some art history book or another ever since.

I love the fact that many of my contemporaries are writing books that document our culture that we live in presently. I love that the people responsible for the culture are doing the documenting, it insures some level of proper documentation and I dig seeing people I know express themselves in a tangible medium. Last night I went to 2 book signings by two friends/artist's I truly admire and respect. Here's some recent stuff that's been written and published by people I am personally some how connected to on some level. I missed the Mascots and Muggs jump-off due to a very late plane, which was a bummer. As Haze said in his blog on Riottt this is one of the best graf books ever made. Congrats to Chino and Todd James they really nailed it now I need a signature in my book my dudes!

3 Books recently published by 4 of my contemporaries: Mascots and Muggs By David Villorente and Todd James, Evolution of a Cromagnon by John Bloodclot Joseph’s and Out Of My Mind by Shawn Mortenson. Cop these there all great!

Shawn Moretnson's Zapatistas pic.....Sean met my father in Chiapas when my pop's was writing his book entitled Zapatista’s. He really dug Shawn and I think he's going to write the forward for Shawn’s book of photos about the Zapatista’s. My pop's and Shawn are both freaks so it makes sense. Only Shawn would have encountered my dad on a mountainside in Mexico. Go figure!

Shawn latest and greatest!

Another Shawn picture of Zapatista’s. Shawn is an amazing cat, we've been friends forever now and his political belief's are very similar to mine. He's a special person.

This book was written by my OG friend John Blood Clot Joseph the singer of the legendary Cromags the last hardcore band I really cared about. John is one of a kind. He is one of the people in my youth who encouraged me to be positive, to be involved and to stay away from drugs. He defines what PMA is about to me and was a serious influence on people like me, The Beastie Boys and the hardcore movement worldwide. He is also a gifted writer and storyteller, a serious physical specimen and a total bad ass. This guy is an amazing mixture of street knowledge, Krishna philosophy’s and using your mind as your most valuable weapon. John is just a tremendous cat and a workout partner of sorts. Guys 46 and is a beast still running marathons, studying martial arts and riding his fixed bike everywhere way before the fix bike craze came into play he's been rocking a fixed since the 80's when he was a bike messenger. The dichotomy of his life makes for a great read!

Here's John at his reading I was touched he thanked me at the reading. I read his manuscript almost 2 years ago and was blown away by it. John you’re a legend, Congrats brother!

 And here's Chino and Todd James' book Mascots and Muggs. Haze already sang the books praises on his blog and I just want to cosign his thoughts. You guys nailed it and then some. Now I need a signature on my copy bro's. Good stuff and from you cat's I expected nothing but greatness and you more than achieved it. Congrats to you and Dana Arabella she runs Testify books and has put out some great stuff like Bobitto's "Where'd you get those?" and Fuzzone's A Bronx Childhood. Good stuff Dana your my heroine!

Were I believe are in a good place culturally and seeing my friends and contemporaries document our cultures and movements are a beautiful thing.  One thing whenever a friend publishes a book I make sure I cop one and get it signed by the author. It makes the book more special to me somehow and supporting my friends and contemporaries art is important to me. I Know it means a lot to me when I get support from my peers it's the ultimate validation I believe!

Shawn Mortenson showing the appreciation:

And finally my pops. He has dedicated every book to my sister and me basically. My dad is 71 and blind in one eye yet he has been to Iraq 6 times since the war started covering it for AP and the NY Times amongst others. He is a serious political activist and a hardcore Journalist with over 15 books published in his lifetime. He wrote for the Chronicle examiner in SF for over 20 years and still freelances for them. He is an amazing person and the way he lives his life is very poetic. Can't wait to see him for the holidays we only see each other a few times of the year these days........He's also a lot of fun besides being my pop's just ask Shawn Mortenson about him sometime!

Like I said Reading is good for the soul in so many ways. It doesn’t matter what you read but that you read as one book leads to another and another and eventually that door leads to something positive and mind expanding. I live for a good book whether art related or not reading is something I'm passionate about much like art, music,culture and life in general.

Books not Kicks is a common joke between me and Josh the Fish my main dude who is also a book lover his dam self! To all the great writers who inspire me highest praise to you all!

If you have never read Harry Crews orJohn Fante I highly recommend them there just two of my all time favorites.

Enjoy

D Ross

NYC street culture ambassador