Your New Year's resolution this year is to class up your living space—to de-clutter, graduate from Ikea, replace the college posters with "real art" (or at least some cool flea market finds) and add a dose of culture to your surroundings. The easiest place to start? How about loading your bookshelf with classy tomes that will not only impress your guests and brighten up your pad, but will also help you learn something in the process. The quintessential coffee table book is a pictorial page-turner that is as beautiful to look at as it is fascinating to read. Here, we round up ten coffee table books that are sure to please and inspire.
The World in Vogue: People, Parties, Places by Hamish Bowles and Alexandra Kotur (buy it now price, approximately $71; above, left) The latest addition to Vogue's book series—in 2008 it was Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People, and in 2007 an homage to the stylist—this mix of words by the magazine's top writers—including Hamish Bowles and Jonathan Van Meter—and 300 images culled from the last 40 years of celebrities, personalities and socialites at the world's most glamorous parties and events is a glossy-on-steroids that will please any fashionista.
The Map As Art: Contemporary Artists Explore Cartography by Katharine Harmon (buy it now price, approximately $52; above, center) This collection of 360 images of map-related art, imagined by well-known contemporary talents like Ed Ruscha, Julian Schnabel, Olafur Eliasson, is ideal for anyone who is curious about cartography.
Texas by Robert Reynolds (buy it now price, $9.78; above, right) First published in 1973, this historical review of Texas—both in images and words—is still in print after more than thirty years. Whether you're a history buff or a lover of the Yellow Rose, you'll revel in this book's lively text and vivid imagery
The Coffee Table by Alexander Payne (buy it now price, $44.34; above, left) Ten year's after Seinfeld's Cosmo Kramer waxed lyrical about the genius in a coffee table book about coffee tables, someone finally published one. A great souvenir for any Seinfeld fan feeling sentimental after seeing the cast on the most recent season of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Norman Rockwell's Christmas Book by Norman Rockwell (buy it now price, $9.99; above, right) You may remember this book from your childhood. We guarantee you'll still enjoy rereading it this holiday season and for years to come. With a mix of Rockwell's touching Saturday Evening Post images and stories and poems from authors such as William Shakespeare, Langston Hughes and Louisa May Alcott, it's a spot-on choice.
The Great Life Photographers by The Editors of LIFE (starting bid, $9.99; above, right) Those obsessed with Americana history will appreciate these one-of-a-kind photographs from the LIFE magazine archives. First published in 1994, the book features the work of every LIFE staff photographer from the 20th century as well as images taken by frequent contributors like Joe McNally and Eugene Smith. In the treasure trove, you'll find the first pictures from outer space, celebrity portraits of legends including Marilyn Monroe and the Beatles, and scenes from others memorable moments in history like the Tiananmen Square protests and Robert Capa's "Falling Soldier."
Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou and Jean-Michel Basquiat (illustrator) (buy it now price, $11.46; above, left) Any precocious child (or childlike adult with a penchant for high art) will appreciate this work. Basquiat's work illustrates Angelou's famous poem, accompanied by short biographies of both visionaries.
Who Shot Rock and Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present by Gail Buckland (buy it now price, $26.50; above, second from left) A thorough retelling of the history of rock-n-roll through pictures, this book, written and compiled by photographic editor Gail Buckland, includes everything from images of Elvis shot by Alfred Wertheimer in 1956 to that now-famous photo of Jimi Hendrix, shot by Gered Mankowitz in 1966. There are more than 200 photographs included.
Design for Obama. Posters for Change: A Grassroots Anthology by Steven Heller (buy it now price, $29.99; above, second from right) Edited by Designforobama.org founder Aaron Perry-Zucker and filmmaker Spike Lee, this book documents the importance of graphics in President Barack Obama's 2008 election campaign, featuring artists from across the globe. Not only is this book a piece of history, but it's also a testament to the impact design has on our everyday lives.
Vintage Cocktails by Brian Van Flandern and Laziz Hamani (photographs) (buy it now price, $31.11; above, right) From the Vesper to the Pimm's Cup, old fashioned cocktails have made a comeback, with bartenders across the world stirring up new spins on time-honored recipes. With stunning images of favorites like the French 75, Dark and Stormy, Bloody Mary and many more, this book will make you want to purchase an old fashion tea trolley. We suspect you'll be mixing up Dirty Martinis in no time.
Lauren Sherman is a fashion and culture writer based in Brooklyn. She founded The Fashion Beat in October 2009 after working for four years at Forbes.
