This week I discovered a real gem.

Cowboy Boots The Art & Sole, by Jennifer June and photographs by Marty Snortum.

This is one of those rare books where it’s just as good of a read on the history and artistry of cowboy boots as it is a photography book filled with beautiful images from some very personal collections.

Here are a few of my favorites…..

Y’all can keep up with Jenn and her boot fascination on her website. DimLights.com

I know the cover image on this book is stunning, but look how great it looks without the dust jacket.

Growing up in Texas, you learn quickly how important a man’s boots are for judging his character.

Wanna know what he’s worth?

Look at his boots,

Red Wings coated in mud = a hard-worker, his hands will be rough and calloused. This guy will squat in the rain on the side of the road to help a stranger with a flat tire.

Lucchese ostrich with a high polish = a man who enjoys the finer things in life and takes care of them as well. This guy’s handshake is as good as his word. (Unless he’s J.R. Ewing)

My favorite boots? That’s pretty easy, my 20+-year-old suede Justin ropers with the hole in the right little toe area. They aren’t nearly as unique as the boots in this book but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I’ve had them resoled 3 times now, and they are still as comfortable as just wearing socks alone.

What do they say about me? That I appreciate the classics that just get better with age and I’d rather have something with a story to tell than “factory new” any ol’ day. (But y’all already knew that about me)

Yes, they are a little bit more sedate than the boots in this book, OK – much more sedate, but I may have been persuaded to invest in some with a little more flare.

Y’all just might be too.

I suggest hoping over to Amazon right now and grabbing a copy of this book before they’re all gone.

Go on, get one……

You’ll thank me.