“At a time when I had forgotten the possibility of pleasure, Pépin had effortlessly, instinctively brought me back to life. Without knowing it, he had extended a hand to a drowning man.” Brett Martin in GQ: The Chef who saved my life.

+ Syndicated from Kottke: Design Observer and the AIGA have announced the winners of their 50 Books | 50 Covers competition to find the best designed books and book covers published last year.

+ “The pre-show now is, like, a couple whiskies and a couple Advils.” WaPo on Dave Grohl, a back-aching, coffee-guzzling, minivan-driving classic rocker.

+ So Tom Brady may have deflated some footballs. Let’s not make a federal case out of it. Even though he might.