The Best Coffee Table Books
When deciding how to design and decorate our homes, most of us focus on turning it into a sanctuary for the people who live there. But home is also a place where we invite guests, and we want to be sure they have a good time when they come over. Small touches can go a long way in that regard, and having a quintessential coffee table book at the ready is the perfect example. Ideal for sparking conversation, busting boredom, and learning fascinating tidbits, a good coffee table book is worth its weight in gold, if you ask us. But it won't cost you that much to buy a good one. To help find the perfect coffee table book for your home, we highlighted a few of the best ones out there.
National Geographic’s Atlas of the National Parks
The great outdoors
All around the world, the USA’s national park system is revered for the sheer scale and beauty of its landscapes. National Geographic set out to capture that in this tome, and we think they succeeded marvelously. Filled from cover to cover with spectacular photographs of the parks and interspersed with maps, graphics, and text, this is the best general-purpose coffee table book we know of.
Pros:
- Has over 400 pages of content, so you’ll get your money’s worth and more
- We love that this book can appeal to almost everyone regardless of their personal interests
- Makes for an excellent gift for a family member
Cons:
- Some might wish that there was less text, but others might appreciate the in-depth descriptions
Taschen’s Jean-Michel Basquiat, 40th Edition
More than meets the eye
One of the most enlivening artists to be recognized by the greater art world in many years, Basquiat has something to offer even the most disinterested reader. His unusual techniques and raw style breathed new life into institutional art, and these same works can breathe life into your living room. This book features high-quality reproductions of some of his greatest paintings as well as lesser-known works to create a well-rounded presentation of the artist.
Pros:
- Those interested in art will enjoy the book’s essays and textual analyses
- At over 500 pages long, there is plenty of content
- Fantastic price considering the size and quality of the art reproductions
Cons:
- We wish it was a little bigger
Architectural Digest at 100: A Century of Style
If you build it, they will come
This fascinating book offers a comprehensive look at the progression of architecture over the past 100 years. It does this in a novel way, too — it shows us the homes of famous artists, politicians, business people, and more, such as David Bowie, the Obamas, and Michael Kors. It also shows the works of some of the best architects to come out of the last century, such as the inimitable Frank Lloyd Wright. Whether you and your guests are architecture buffs or you simply have a taste for the finer things, this book is sure to impress.
Pros:
- Can provide design inspiration for your own home
- Printed on high-quality paper
- Offers a varied survey of different architectural styles
Cons:
- The colors aren’t as rich as we’d like
Taschen’s Andy Warhol: Polaroids XL
Picture this
As one of the modern era’s most iconic artists, Warhol created a body of work that was different than anything that came before. In large part, that was because he lived differently than most, and this book gives us a peek into that life. The photos in this book are those that Warhol took on the Polaroid cameras he toted wherever he went. He captured intimate moments as well as grand public ones, many of which intersected with some of pop culture’s most famous names, such as Mick Jagger, Yves Saint Laurent, and Debbie Harry (aka Blondie).
Pros:
- Great gift for any aspiring photographer or artist
- Intriguing to a wide range of age groups
- The design of the book itself is unique and beautiful
Cons:
- A bit expensive, but we think it’s worth it
Anouk Wasson Krantz’s West: The American Cowboy
The past is never dead
Some believe what separates the US from the rest of the world is the unique character that developed as pilgrims and pioneers pushed westwards, transforming the land as well as themselves in the process. And eventually, the cowboy became the symbol of the self-reliant grit aroused by this undertaking. This exquisitely rendered photography book captures the cowboy and the associated Western lifestyle like no other, depicting the delicate dance between man and nature in all of its complexities.
Pros:
- The photographer is revered for her unique style and expert execution
- Offers a picture of Western life that is at once realistic and romantic
- The stark photographs make this a great statement piece
Cons:
- The photographs would benefit from more captions to supplement the visuals
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a coffee table book different from any other book?
Coffee table books are typically designed to serve a specific purpose: to entertain or intrigue readers who will only be casually reading the book for a short period of time. Unlike most books, which are often linear and almost always written to be read in their entirety, coffee table books invite skimming and casual page-flipping. That’s because they’re typically used to occupy guests, inspire conversation, and pass idle time.
Do I need a coffee table for a coffee table book?
Certainly not. Not all of us own a coffee table, and that doesn’t matter much. Feel free to display your coffee table book anywhere your guests might be seated in your home.
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