Coffee table books are the one time you are allowed to judge a book by its cover. The entire concept behind cover table books lies not only in the subject matter but also the beauty of the design of said book. But if you want a perfectly curated selection of coffee table books you need to be sure to cover a variety of topics: music, art, design, architecture, and pop culture. Make them personal but make sure they are aesthetically pleasing. Not sure where to start? Here are our top ten coffee table books to impress your guest – with their beauty and their topics.
Helmut Newton: Sumo, Revised | Taschen
SUMO is a suitably enormous homage to photographer Helmut Newton, who was often coined as the master of subversive and erotic photography. The original edition was over 2 feet long and weighed in at 65lbs. Luckily for us the newest edition is a much more manageable size but still manages to cover this notable photographer’s entire oeuvre. It’s like owning a piece of art history.
Pharrell: Places and Spaces I’ve Been | Rizzoli
Although we all know Pharrell as the award winning singer and producer but this book reveals there is much to Pharrell than the eye sees. This tome reveals his incredible reach within mainstream culture and the sheer diversity in his endeavors.
Hugh Hefner’s Playboy | Taschen
Few things up your cool factor than vintage Playboys but we weren’t all lucky enough to inherit those from our dads. Thankfully there is now, “Hugh Hefner’s Playboy”, a decadent and exciting box set that shines a light on every inch of Hefner’s life.
Type: A Visual History of Typefaces and Graphic Styles | Taschen
Few things make a man more attractive than knowing their typeface. By now you have recycled those tired comic sans jokes, pick up this double volume tome and bone up on your knowledge of type. Trust us, you can woo your lady friends with your newly found intimate knowledge of typeface history. You will be well versed in what every woman knows, prettier is just better (at least when it comes to type).
1000 Tattoos | Taschen
It’s always good to have a typical guy’s guy type of art book. While most men will opt for a book about luxury yachts or fancy cars, you can one up them with a book about tattoos -the manliest of all forms of self-expressions.
Kate Moss by Mario Testino | Taschen
Two words: Kate Moss. What could possibly look better on your coffee table than Kate Moss shot by Mario Testino? Nothing. This book celebrates one of fashion’s greatest friendships (and collaborations) with over 100 images, including many previously unseen private photographs.
Tom Ford | Rizzoli
Listen to Jay-Z: Don’t pop Molly and Rock Tom Ford. But if you can’t afford Tom Ford clothing, you can at least rock the Tom Ford book on your coffee table. The book follows Tom on a trip down memory lane, as he covering everything from his work for Gucci to Saint Laurent. Featuring over 200 photographs from some of the best in the business: Richard Avedon, Mario Testino, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, Terry Richardson, Craig McDean, and numerous others.
Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life | AMMO books
Although you may be worried that the cover illustration remind you of your childhood, that is the point. Ladies love a man with a bit of nostalgia. And besides, Charley Harper was an American original that was known for his beautiful nature illustrations.
Richard Avedon: In the American West | Harry N. Abrams
Although Richard became well known for his career as a fashion photographer, some of his best work comes from this series of miners, waitresses, and other drifters. This is classic Americana. The book features 120 full-page photographs, depicting people at country fairs, rodeos, mining camps, drilling sites, and even a slaughterhouse. Richard Avedon introduces the volume with an essay on his working method and portrait philosophy. A must have for any fan of American Modern photography.
Commune: Designed in California | Harry N. Abrams
Every coffee table collection should be rounded out with a nod to architecture or interior design. Commune was established in Los Angeles in 2004 by four like-minded souls—Roman Alonso, Steven Johanknecht, Pamela Shamshiri, and Ramin Shamshiri. They founded their company with a common mission: to enhance life through design and to blur the lines between disciplines, eras, and styles. Commune perfectly captures this spirit and embodies a new California style that mixes old and new in its layered, highly personal interiors that embrace color, pattern, and texture. This book is the first collection of the company’s work.
