Book

Amy Stewart's new book, "The Drunken Botanist," explores the plant ingredients in our favorite cocktails (and the lesser known ones too). "Every great drink starts with a plant," Stewart writes in her introduction, a section aptly titled "Aperitif. " "If you're a gardener, I hope this book inspires a cocktail party. If you're a bartender, I hope you're persuaded to put up a greenhouse or at least plant a window box. " Subtitled "The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks," the book covers more than 150 plants, organized by classics such as agave, herbs and spices like wormwood and allspice, flowers (think chamomile and violet)

Malala Yousafzai, the girl who was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen while riding the bus to school in Pakistan, will publish a book in the fall. "I Am Malala" will be published in English in the U.S. in October by Little, Brown and also in England, where Yousafzai has been hospitalized. On Oct. 9, 2012, Malala was shot in the head while riding on her school bus in Pakistan's Swat Valley, as vengeance for her bold and public stand on education, which contravened the Taliban's policies.

Sonny Barger is not a religious man. But riding motorcycles is "as good a religion as any and probably better than most," says the Hells Angels icon. Meditative and transcendent, motorcycling focuses the mind, he says, and requires devotion. At 71, Barger has spent six decades riding bikes and 53 years as a member of the country's best-known outlaw motorcycle club. Now he's spreading the gospel of two wheels with his sixth book, "Let's Ride: Sonny Barger's Guide to Motorcycling, How to Ride the Right Way — for Life," co-written with Darwin Holmstrom.

Mike Piazza has not set foot in Dodger Stadium since his retirement. When the Dodgers offered to honor him with a bobblehead night last season, Piazza declined. "He doesn't want to come back because he thinks the fans will boo ," former Dodgers Manager Tom Lasorda, the godfather to Piazza's brother, told The Times last month. Piazza did himself no favors on that score in his new book, "Long Shot. " In the book, he blames iconic Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully for turning fans against him during the contract stalemate that preceded his trade to the Florida Marlins in 1998.

Glenn Ligon: Off Book Where: Regen Projects II, 9016 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood When: Saturday to Jan. 23 Price: Free Contact: www.regenprojects.com, (310) 276-5424

The staff of the Pleasure Chest, a high-end West Hollywood sex shop, were first tipped to the "Fifty Shades of Grey" phenomenon by their accountant, who noticed a curious spike in sales a few weeks ago. New customers had been drawn to the store after reading the erotic novel about a young woman's submissive sexual relationship with a wealthy businessman, and wanted some products described in the book. Now the Pleasure Chest is organizing "Fifty Shades of Pleasure" workshops at its West Hollywood, Chicago and New York locations.

'The Book of Eli' MPAA rating: R for some brutal violence and language Running time: 1 hour, 58 minutes Playing: In general release

Book cover's about-face For the second time in less than a year, Bloomsbury USA has put a white girl on the cover of a book that's about a girl of color. First it was Justine Larbalestier's "Liar," which has an African American protagonist. This time, the book is "Magic Under Glass" by Jaclyn Dolamore. The romantic fantasy features Nimira, a brown-skinned protagonist, but the figure on the cover that was shipped to stores is white. Now it's being withdrawn, the publisher's website says, because "the jacket design has caused offense and we apologize for our mistake.

Rough Justice The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer Peter Elkind Portfolio: 320 pp., $26.95