Whether you enjoy reading or not, nothing screams "I'm an intellectual" more than having a stack of books in your bedroom, living room, etc. I figure that it's my civil duty to pass on my knowledge through this platform and give a sort of behind-the-scenes look at what allegedly makes me an interesting person. Without further ado, I present to the world a few of the books that I have on my home desk right now.

1. "Appetites" by Anthony Bourdain

The largest book on my desk right now is "Appetites" by Anthony Bourdain. The extensive cookbook covers all grounds, from breakfast to dinner and in-between. It's riddled with elegant pictures, those only seen in the dreams of a food-porn connoisseur (and not to mention a fantastic cover by artist Ralph Steadman). It's one of my prized possessions because not only is Bourdain a hero of mine, it's signed. Did I have the honor of meeting him in person? No, unfortunately not. A great friend of mine bought the book for me around Christmas time knowing how big of a fan I was.

2. "Naughty and Nice: The Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm" by Bruce Timm

The second largest book on my desk is very near and dear to my heart. "Naughty and Nice: The Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm" is a collection of artwork by the co-creator/producer of Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm. His depiction of women translates beautifully on paper as he illustrates charming female characters, most of which are nude characters, seductive monsters, or superheroes.

3. "Inferno" by Dante Alighieri

I've known about this book for the longest time but was never compelled to pick it up and read it until my girlfriend forced me to borrow her copy. I'm not close to being finished with "Inferno" but I will be eventually. This story chronicles Dante's journey through the depths and layers of Hell. If your native tongue is not Italian, I would suggest finding a copy that has been translated into English. You'll have a much easier time reading this one. When looking at a collection of books, diversity is key. And in my opinion, fiction reigns supreme.

4. "The Hellbound Heart" by Clive Barker

Clive Barker is the writer/film director best known for the "Hellraiser" series. You know, "We have such sights to show you." The S&M horror nightmare movies. "The Hellbound Heart" was the groundwork for the "Hellraiser" movies. I stole this book from my father's collection and have no intent of giving it back. Clive Barker also has a bunch of great comic books out there, if you're interested.

5. "The Napkin Art of Tim Burton" by Tim Burton

The smallest book on the top of my desk is "The Napkin Art of Tim Burton," a collection of artwork by the legendary filmmaker. What makes this book so cool is that all of the artwork was actually done on napkins from hotels, bars, etc. Tim Burton's style means so much to me as I actually have a "Nightmare Before Christmas" tattoo. This book was a Christmas present from my girlfriend and serves as a constant reminder that the sixth-grade-goth-me will always be cool.