Very pretty things: A list of coffee table books
Editor’s note: Dive into a rabbit hole of illustrations, photography, art and design that will make you want to run up the bills on your credit card.
Written by: Anannya Parekh, news editor
One of the biggest reasons I collect coffee-table books is to wallow in beautiful cover art, luxurious paper and stunning images. It’s a bit of beauty always at hand to brighten up my dullest day. Also a rush: When family and friends leaf through their glossy pages in wonder. I hope you will find just as much delight in my collection:)
Artists: Their Lives and Works by DK
DK Publishing does a fab job of putting together this art book with absolutely gorgeous images and encyclopedia-esque entries about art history. This large format book features full-page prints (you can even feel some of the brush strokes) of art from around the world from at least 500 years ago. My most cherished aspect of this book is the tiny tidbits of information about the unconventional stories of the artists' lives, including their influences, developments, friendships, loves and rivalries. Fair warning: do not expect this book to be a study in art history as it only captures 80 famous artists—and includes only one from India!
The Monocle Book of Gentle Living by Tyler Brule & Andrew Tuck
This beautiful manifesto is a timely guide from Monocle—a global affairs and lifestyle magazine—to think about how to slow down, reconnect, and live a gentler life. With very fun and colourful illustrations, this book features interesting aspects of “life” that are not often talked about—but very important, nevertheless. My favourite pieces include: an illustrated guide to being nice, controlling your social media rants and practical tips on how to design a house that’s good for you and your family.
The Atlas of Beauty: Women of the World in 500 Portraits by Mihaela Noroc
The Atlas of Beauty is a collection of photos by Mihaela Noroc of women around the world to showcase the diversity of human beauty. It offers a lovely counterpoint to the cookie-cutter version we are fed by fashion magazines—and makes a nice gift—maybe even to yourself:)
Made for Living by Amber Lewis
As a home decor novice, this book by Lewis is the holy grail for me. It shares secrets of the art of layering, mixing elements and improving “livability” within your space with over 200 beautiful photographs. The text in the book has a conversational tone that makes it an easy and fun read—as opposed to being off-putting and pretentious. What I found most useful: how to put together a neutral palette without being boring.
Inspired By India by Phyllida Jay
Phyllida Jay looks at the history of India’s encounter with the West through the lens of design. It taps into India’s rich visual history—and examines how some of the most legendary design houses have looked to Indian culture for inspiration. The images always churn up desires of owning pretty things—but also teaches me how India has shaped the global imagination.
Botanicum by Kathy Willis & Katie Scott
This was another love-at-first-sight pick I found at a book fair in Chennai. Part of the Big Picture Press's ‘Welcome to the Museum’ series, this features stunning art of botanicals. Even if you do not care about plants, you will be blown away by the art that can truly be devoured—it’s also the perfect size to lay out flat on a table. The book covers a wide range of plants, from mosses, fungi and ferns to the giant sequoia, succulents, carnivorous plants, vines and fruit trees—makes for a very fun and educational flip-through with your evening chai/coffee!
The Madman's Library by Edward Brooke-Hitching
This one may not be your quintessential coffee-table book but deserves a special mention for its fascinating and bizarre collection of the oddest and most obscure books throughout history. The author—Edward Brooke-Hitching—is the son of an antiquarian book dealer and a lifelong rare book collector, so he is truly in his element for this collection. I was hooked the moment I flipped to the contents page as it included these sections: books that aren’t books, literary hoaxes, curious collections, curiosities of science, books of spectacular sizes and strange titles. The glorious illustrations add to this vivid experience with images of all these weirdly “cool” books. Truly entertaining for book geeks!
Silent Kingdom: A World Beneath the Waves
I stumbled upon this book at an environmentalist friend’s coffee table—and it was truly love at first sight. I am a bit of a sucker for black-and-white photography, and these underwater images are ethereal. Silent Kingdom reveals the world beneath the oceans and seas, with award-winning photographer Christian Vizl playing with light and shadow to beautifully portray the aquatic seascapes and marine creatures. This book also features insightful essays that inspire me to think more deeply about how to preserve our precious planet.
Important to know: Our editorial team makes their independent choices. But the Amazon links are part of an affiliate program. So we could earn some revenue if you buy from Amazon.
