Our favorite is “Gray Malin: The Essential Collection by Gray Malin,” which features whimsical photography of people, animals, and the most vibrant destinations around the world. Read on for our other top picks. If you’ve yet to discover Gray Malin, let us be the first to introduce you. Malin is an incredible photographer with a knack for whimsical imagery using animals and people in scenic locations around the world. Covering a decade of Malin’s work, this book features his most iconic photoshoots as well as stories about each locale and subject. This large hardback book is sleek with black binding and white lettering on the exterior—perfect for a neutral or colorful living space, and easy to clean with a simple dust rag. The paper is thick and glossy, making it easy to turn each page and appreciate what awaits on the next. With colorful scenes of llamas and balloons in the desert and dogs at the Beverly Hills Hotel, you and your visitors are sure to have fun flipping through this lively book. Though somewhat expensive, this book is a collector’s item so the price isn’t unreasonable. If you fall in love with any one of Gray’s photographs, you can also purchase the images to display as wall art. Price at time of publish: $70 While most of the recipes only need between four to five ingredients, these aren’t your typical cheese plate pairings—the author creates a thoughtful plate with unique food items like tequila-braised rhubarb, pickled raisins, and olives paired with white chocolate. The gorgeous photography will have you in awe as you flip through each gourmet spread. Overall, this coffee table book is affordable, useful, and enjoyable to look at. Price at time of publish: $35 This book was released in conjunction with a traveling art exhibit by the same name that’s available across the United States and in Europe through 2024. You’ll also be able to learn about Sendak’s personal collection and how it influenced his own work. It also includes an extended essay by Thomas Crow analyzes Sendak’s most famous work, “Where the Wild Things Are,” and interviews with some of his key collaborators such as Spike Jonze and Carroll Ballard. Price at time of publish: $55 Aside from detailed step-by-step guides, you’ll also find essays that offer more information on how to add complexity to your mixology skills and perfect your hosting techniques. We love that this large coffee table book has a minimalist cover, so that it can blend into any bar cart or table decor. However, this book is not completely beginner friendly, so if you’re looking for a more basic cocktail recipe book, this may not be the best pick for you. Price at time of publish: $33 With photos highlighting the pinnacle of fashion and countless celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Keira Knightley, “Wonderland” provides beautiful photography that will capture your attention—and keep it. Its simple beige cover pairs well with different design schemes, and will only elevate your aesthetic. Despite the impressive collection of photographs, this book is not as expensive as others on our list, making it a great deal. Price at time of publish: $90 The exterior and interior of this book reflect the high quality of most of Gaines’ brands and products. The pages are sleek but with a matte finish to reduce unnecessary glare like glossy pages tend to produce. The outer binding is sturdy and displays the Fixer Upper star sitting in her own home as an example of what you can accomplish with solid interior design. Homebody is a high-quality book that can guide you to the best design options for your home, and for a low price. Price at time of publish: $40 While there is some nudity that may not be suitable for younger audiences, this is a high fashion book and Tom Ford is known for tasteful but sometimes risqué campaigns. Despite the occasional controversy, these images are a historical part of fashion and are celebrated art forms. The book itself wears a black exterior with stark white lettering—sure to pair well with any living space. Price at time of publish: $140 In addition to the beautiful photography, you’ll find adventure recommendations like wildlife encounters, ancestral sites, dining hot spots, and hiking trails—just to name a few. The book is organized by latitude and longitude, but there’s also a country index if you’re planning a visit to a particular location. It’s in the middle of the pack in terms of price, so it would make a great gift for yourself or the person in your life who loves planning vacations. Price at time of publish: $35 Though some of the photos are dated, the photography stands out with its rich colors and prints—quite the opposite from its minimalist cover, which is neutral enough to blend into any surroundings. Alongside each photo series, you’ll find a brief history of the space and other fun tidbits that might pique your interest. Price at time of publish: $125 In addition to stunning portraits, what sets this book apart is the inclusion of call sheets (or unfiltered photo sets) from each shoot that show each person without any touch-ups or photoshopping—raw, unfiltered photos that really capture the essence of each person, as well as the photography process as a whole. Accompanying these photos are short stories by Gotts himself, explaining the happenings behind each photograph. This is a highly popular book and is available for a surprisingly low price. Price at time of publish: $75 One critique is perhaps there aren’t quite enough diverse perspectives in terms of socioeconomic class, race, and profession of each subject. That being said, this book certainly contains many inspiring stories and would serve as educational entertainment for both you and any guests who find themselves perusing this coffee table book. The cover and quality of the binding are top-notch, and this book is easy to clean with just a basic dust cloth. Price at time of publish: $50 Featuring photographs from the Titanic, the first plane flying overhead, and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, this book spotlights some of the biggest moments throughout history, bringing the past right into your living room. There are added notes to explain the context of different photographs, which helps the reader understand the gravity of each. Price at time of publish: $50 The book comes with a nice translucent dust jacket with quotes from inside written across it, while the actual cover shows photographs of the story subjects—visible through the dust jacket. The pages are slightly glossy and have a good thickness to them, and the book isn’t too big. If you’re expecting long stories like on the Instagram account, you might be disappointed, but as they say, a picture speaks a thousand words, and in this case there are quotes and short stories to supplement those pictures. Overall, this is a captivating coffee table book, and from the experience of one of our editors, it never fails to provide entertainment to visitors. Price at time of publish: $30 Emma Phelps, an updates writer for The Spruce, updated this product list with a few more recently published coffee table books. Emma has been writing about home decor, improvement, and organization for over two years.
