29 Coffee Table Books For Everyone on Your List
A coffee table book may be the perfect holiday gift. Here’s why….
Coffee table books should be at the top of your gifting list. They fulfill some key gifting criteria: coffee table books aren’t something people typically buy for themselves; they deliver value, and most of all, they are able to be personalized.
Along these lines, you can select a coffee table book based on the recipient’s passions and interests, and they will be able to enjoy and draw inspiration from it, both as a decorative object and as a tome to read and flip through. Trust me, they’ll appreciate the gesture because as useful and delightful as coffee table books can be, it can feel frivolous to purchase for oneself.
Here’s a selection of coffee table books curated by interest to help you discover titles for each and every person on your list.
Travel
Amalfi Coast | $104.00
Few places in the world have captured the imagination of so many as this sliver of coast on the Italian peninsula. Amalfi Coast celebrates the storied region perched between the mountains and the sea known for its vivid colors, charming seaside villages, breathtaking vertical landscapes, narrow, winding roads, and some of the best hotels in the world. Whether you’ve been or dream of visiting, this book will satiate your craving for beauty and history.
Great Escapes USA | $30.00
During the pandemic many Americas rediscovered (or discovered for the first time) the wonders of traveling around the USA. Though the borders are open once again, Great Escapes USA will stoke your interest to explore more of the country – in person or through its pages. You’ll “visit” legendary landscapes from the desert mountains of Mexico to the coast of Maine and take a tour of various hotel destinations from mobile homes and tents to palatial resorts.
Paris. Portrait of a City. | $35.00
Known interchangeably as the city of Lights, the fashion capital, and the city of Love, the French metropolis comes to life and jumps off the page in this stunning book. Carefully researched images, including some of the earliest ever taken of Paris – by Louis Daguerre and Henry Fox Talbot – celebrate the iconic city and its contributions to the worlds of fashion, film, art and culture. Fall in love with Paris again and again as you flip through the pages and take in its beauty and romance.
Art
Art = Discovering Infinite Connections in Art History | $71.88
True art lovers will appreciate this thorough compendium of the History of Art. Take in over 800 works of art from the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York organized by keywords rather than the usual chronological or geographic categories. Think of it as a modern and stylish take on a textbook – a fold-out, detachable timeline serves as a handy reference and 160 curatorial essays will provide a richer understanding and context for the art.
Frida Kahlo. The Complete Paintings. | $190.00
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is considered one of Mexico’s greatest artists. Although she was thought to be a surrealist painter, she stated that she did not paint her dreams, as the other surrealist painters, but rather her own reality. She was known for self-portraits, vivid colors, and depictions of pain and passion. This XXL monograph captures her life and art sharing all of Kahlo’s 152 paintings along with rare photos, diary pages, letters and an illustrated biography.
Jean-Michel Basquiat | $200.00
American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) ascended from graffiti artist to global art superstar in a few short years. Known for his expressive style, Basquiat utilized bold colors, brushstrokes and scribbles and frequently repeated motifs from sports, film, his beloved jazz music, history and current events. His works were notable for their cultural commentary, particularly around systemic issues around race and class, as he tapped into his experience as a Black man. This XXL-sized monograph features Basquiat’s major works in pristine reproduction.
Photography
Helmut Newton. Legacy | $50.00
Spanning over 50 years, Helmut Newton’s (1920-2004) photographic oeuvre is unique and unparalleled in scope. His images recall a specific epoch – Paris in the 70’s, the jet set, glamor, high fashion and relaxed sexuality. In fact, he was renowned for nudes which he turned into high art. Legacy compiles highlights from Newton’s include his work for fashion bibles like Vogue and Elle and many rediscovered images.
Peter Beard | $150.00
With one foot in New York and one foot in East Africa, pioneering contemporary artist Peter Beard (1938-2020) lived an incredible life, the result of which is his body of work, which blends photography, ecology and diary writing. As an ardent conservationist, he documented man’s impact on nature with equally brutal and beautiful imagery. This large-format monograph provides a unique window into the artist and his world through faithful reproductions of his highly unique and personal body of work.
Andy Warhol. Polaroids 1958 - 1987 | $30.00
Before there was Instagram, there was Warhol. Through diary entries and photos, the artist (dates) was an obsessive chronicler of his time. This book amasses decades of instant pictures from still lives to portraits capturing a who’s who of New York society, art, music, sports and Hollywood including Mick Jagger, Grace Jones, Pelé, and Yves Saint Laurent. Several of the photos served as the subject matter for screen prints providing a window into Warhol’s artistic process.
Design
Art Deco Style | $95.00
Springing up between the World Wars and reaching its peak in the Roaring 20’s, Art Deco evolved as a design idiom to speak to the needs and tastes of the modern world. With its gleaming decorative qualities, the style came to symbolize modernity, glamour and the optimism of technological progress. In Art Deco Style read about the rise of the meteoric design movement and admire and form a deeper appreciation for its best examples from architecture to fashion design to cars.
Smiley: 50 Years of Good News | $60.00
Everyone is familiar with the Smiley — but did you know the design started out as a happiness promotion in the France Soir newspaper to draw attention to positive news stories? You’ll learn the full story behind the ubiquitous Smiley and view countless examples of how it has made its stamp on pop culture a symbol of self expression and joy. In a time when we could all use a boost, let this book do that for you from your coffee table.
John Derian Coffee Table Picture Book | $50.99
Each year designer and boutique owner John Derian releases collections of home decor objects adorned with imagery drawn from antique prints and lithographs from his vase archive. For the first time Coffee Table Picture Book compiles these images into a single large scale tome. Each 11 x 14” image is striking in its own way with subject matter as diverse as Adam and Eve to a peacock. Flip the pages frequently to reveal a new image to enjoy as art.
Fashion
Naomi | $134.95
Trailblazer, activist, cultural icon and larger than life glamazon, Naomi Campbell helped define the supermodel era as the queen of the catwalk. Get up close and personal with Naomi and take a walk through fashion history with her magazine covers, music videos, and most inspiring shoots and with exclusive text by Naomi. It’s a truly special collector edition with a custom box containing an XL book and companion volume.
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty | $25.00
Published to accompany the blockbuster exhibition at the Met Costume Institute, Savage Beauty pays homage to the British fashion designer Alexander McQueen (1969–2010). Essays from the museum’s curators paired with an impressive catalogue of McQueen’s creations trace his trajectory to become one of his generation's most influential, creative and provocative talents. A striking lenticular embodying the book’s title graces the cover. If you couldn’t attend the exhibit, this book is the next best thing — McQueen’s legacy lives on.
Peter Lindbergh. On Fashion. | $19.99
In Peter Lindbergh’s (1944-2019) fashion photography, it is never the fashion, hair, makeup or glamour that takes center stage. Each photograph celebrates the essence and individuality of his subjects which included some of the world’s top models — Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford among others. Indeed his iconic images for Vogue helped launch the 90’s supermodels. This edition gathers more than 300 images from forty years of Lindbergh’s career.
CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion | $58.50
Gone too young, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s fashion legacy lives on long after her tragic death. Her classic, effortless aesthetic is endlessly emulated to this day. This recently published book explores and pays homage to her timeless aesthetic with never before published photos and anecdotes from fashion luminaries.
Music
Art Record Covers | $35.00
Some of the most visually striking album art of all-time was made by the greatest artists of the day. This anthology of artists’ record covers presents 450 covers and records by visual artists from the 1950s through to today, encompassing various art movements from modernism and Pop Art to postmodernism and contemporary art. Various interviews shed light on the collaboration between artist and musician. Flip open a page and learn the story behind your favorite records.
Alfred Wertheimer. Elvis and the Birth of Rock and Roll. | $35.00
There are countless memorable photos of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley, but few are as historic as this collection of images by Alfred Wertheimer. The young photographer was invited to photograph the up-and-coming performer on the brink of superstardom in1955. Trailing him like a shadow that year, Wertheimer captured more than 3,000 photographs, both on stage as well as intimate moments behind the scenes, the best of which make up this remarkable historical document.
Sports
Surfing. 1778 - Today | $54.99
A sport, a lifestyle, a philosophy, surfing has grown into a global phenomenon with an enormous influence on culture far beyond the waves. This comprehensive visual history charts surfing’s evolution from 1778 with its first historical mention to today and its influence on film, fashion, art and music. Following three and a half years of meticulous research, it brings together more than 900 images and essays from today’s leading surf journalists.
Virgil Abloh. Nikes. ICONS | $59.04
This is a book about the creative process and genius in action. In 2016 Virgil Abloh (1980–2021) and Nike joined forces to create a sneaker collection celebrating, and indeed reimagining, 10 of Nike’s most iconic shoes — called The Ten. Like watching a master work, the book reveals the collaboration between Nike and Abloh, the varied references that informed the project, and Abloh’s deconstructed approach to design
Film
Lawrence Schiller. Marilyn & Me | $34.99
Lawrence Schiller received the assignment of a lifetime when Paris Match magazine sent him to photograph Marilyn Monroe on the set of what would become her last film. What emerges is an intimate portrait of the star in her final months, as seen in more than 100 images, and an unexpected connection, as told by Schiller who takes us back to that time with tact, compassion, and humor.
100 All-Time Favorite Films of the 20th Century | $25.00
From horror to romance, noir to slapstick, adventure to tragedy, Western to new wave, this selection gathers the greats of 20th-century cinema into one indispensable guide. Film entries include a synopsis, cast/crew listings, technical information, actor/director bios, trivia, and lists of awards, as well as film stills, production photos, and the original poster for each film.
Nature
Wild: The Legendary Horses of Sable Island | $60.00
Just off the coast of Nova Scotia, Sable Island is home to one the last herds of completely wild horses. Photographer Drew Doggett was granted unprecedented access to capture the untamed beauty of Sable Island and its horse population. Through this collection of more than 100 photos and Drew’s writing, you’ll take a journey through a day on the island, up close and personal with these majestic creatures.
Cabinet of Natural Curiosities | $61.82
Amsterdam-based pharmacist Albertus Seba (1665–1736) was unrivaled in his passion for collecting and cataloging animals, plants, and insects from all around the world. After decades of amassing his curiosities, Seba commissioned meticulous illustrations of every specimen. The publication of these beautiful, exquisitely detailed color plates reveals his collection to be just as brilliant and fascinating to this day.
Interiors & Architecture
Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People | $52.75
Vogue Living is an interiors classic for a reason. Through a combination of stunning imagery from the world’s most celebrated photographers and accompanying text by writers like the book’s editor Hamish Bowles, we’re treated to intimate portraits of fascinating people, the homes they inhabit, and the way they live. From modern to classic, the homes are as varied as the people, from Madonna to Oscar de la Renta to artist Julian Schnabel.
Axel Vervoordt: Portraits of Interiors | $57.65
The Belgian interior designer, antiquaire and art dealer Axel Vervoordt is renowned for a softer take on minimalism that exudes emotion in part through his extensive use of time-worn things. In his houses he strives to find harmony in the surroundings and reflect the people who own it. Portraits of eighteen residences, as varied as an urban New York penthouse and a Wabi-Sabi farmhouse, provide insight into his design approach and philosophy.
Food & Cooking
Gjelina: Cooking from Venice, California | $21.20
Although cookbooks aren’t traditionally coffee table books, we think you can break with convention for this one. Full of mouth-watering images from acclaimed photography duo Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott, Gjelina is a visual feast. Recipes by talented chef Travis Lett produce the kind of food people want to eat now, with a focus on simplicity and seasonal ingredients, with a California flair.
The Flavor Thesaurus | $20.82
The Flavor Thesaurus provides a new perspective on cooking through the lens of flavor pairings. Through extensive research, Niki Segnit identifies the 99 fundamental ingredients of food and to the point, which ones pair best together, unlocking infinite possibilities in an everyday kitchen. This book will become your new go-to guide in the kitchen.
Dalí. Les Dîners de Gala | $43.13
Part surrealist artwork, part cookbook, Les Dîners de Gala “is uniquely devoted to the pleasures of taste” as Dalí put it. The opulent dinner parties thrown by Dali and his wife Gala were the stuff of legend. This reprint features 136 of the original recipes courtesy of top old school restaurants, illustrations by Dalí, and some other surprises. Even if you don’t cook from it, this book is sure to provide a multisensory adventure and perhaps some inspiration for your next event.
For other gift ideas, check out the Sense of Spencer Holiday Gift Guide.
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