5 great reads for Father's Day

If dad loves to read, why not make his Father's Day with a fun new book? Consumer Reports dropped in on the 2014 BookExpo America, which took place May 28-31 at the Javits Center in New York, to peruse the latest titles. Amid the stacks on display from more than 1,000 exhibitors were many strong Father's Day contenders. Below are five favorites from our editors. You might also consider an E-book reader to lighten dad's load. Our Ratings include several versions of the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook, among others.    

Man Made Meals: The Essential Cookbook for Guys ($14, Workman) 
By Steve Raichlen 
Consumer Reports often turns to Raichlen for grilling tips, so we were thrilled to see his new book at the Expo. It contains more than 300 recipes that will whet the appetite of any man's man, including Fire-Eater Chicken Wings and Finger-Burner Lamb Chops. Billed as the Joy of Cooking for guys, the book is also loaded with helpful tips, like how to shuck an oyster or truss a chicken. 

The Big Book of Hacks ($19, Weldon Owen)
Edited by Doug Cantor
From the pranksters of Popular Science, this compendium of offbeat DIY projects is perfect for dads who like to tinker around the house. Want to turn that Consumer Reports-recommended Roomba robotic vacuum into a surveillance camera? This book will show you how. Other clever projects with a home improvement twist include building a toilet-powered zen fountain and making a Rubik's Cube-inspired chest of drawers.

Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt ($17, W.W. Norton & Company)
By Michael Lewis 
Though it's been out for a couple months, there was still plenty of buzz at the show surrounding Lewis' expose of high-speed trading, especially after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said it will investigate the practice. If your dad is into the shadowy dealings of the world of finance, he'll find this a compelling read.

The Hall: A Celebration of Baseball's Greats ($31.50, Little, Brown and Company) 
By the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum   
Baseball buffs will enjoy this compilation of all 306 players inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame since it's founding 75 years ago. The coffee table tome comes alive with plaques and photographs, and each section opens with an essay by a living Hall of Famer who played that position, guys like George Brett and Nolan Ryan. Another new baseball book worth considering is The Closer by future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera. 

Proof: The Science of Booze ($20, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
By Adam Rogers
Our love affair with alcohol is taking an intimate, artisanal turn, with everything from craft beers to boutique bourbons. Rogers, an editor at Wired, explores the sophisticated ways in which modern scientists are refining our relationship with the hard stuff. And for Father's Day, there's even a scene where Rogers takes his old man to an upscale Boston restaurant for their first taste of single Malt scotch, which he calls the start of "an expensive hobby." 

—Daniel DiClerico (@dandiclerico)