A great personalized gift. Some people are hard to buy gifts for, which is why we love these bookshelves. They're made of hardback books collected in various themes: law, wine, golf, cooking, reading. They're very sturdy because some of the paper has been removed and replaced with a sturdy armature of salvaged lumber.

Please note, the bookshelves are all one of a kind, we may not have the exact book titles you see here.

The books come mostly from donations, recycling centers and library discards. The bookcase maker, Jim Rosenau, of Berkeley, CA was raised in a house of bibliophiles. He went on to become a carpenter and comedy writer. Now a bookish bookshelf designer.

"I'm interested in older hardback books that look better than they read. Older encyclopedias with gilt type on the spines and embossed covers are always great," he says.

The shelves are sturdy enough to support typical loads. However, their surfaces may be damaged by abrasion and moisture. They must be kept out of direct sunlight.