Coffee Table Books

Source of following information: The best Coffee Table books of 2014
'Coffee table books' is the term given to books which are purchased more as ornament than for reading purposes - the kind of books that people leave out on the table when they have company, almost as a show of class and wealth.

Though it was difficult to choose, a selection of books have been listed as the best to gift as coffee-table books in 2014 (note that there are more books listed at the source):

The Story Teller; Duane Michals.
Not as popular as his counterparts, though his photography on this book was well renowned for its childlike innocence (interesting fact that the photographer used to gift birds nests for his friends birthdays).

Tattoo; Pascal Bagot, Joe Cummings, Anna Felicity, and Friedman Sebastien Galliot.
Its popularity is more or less in tune with the rising popularity of the art of tattoos - something in the past seen as a delinquents' feature is becoming more accepted and even appreciated in everyday society.

Oxford Atlas of the World: 10th Edition; National Geographic.
The only world Atlas which is updated annually - it takes a look at issues around the world alongside physical formations of our planet. Possibly a rise in popularity as the problems we experience today are coming to the front.

The Art of Pin-Up; Dian Hanson.
Vintage is becoming more of an in-style as we venture in a circle - fashions and aesthetics are repeated, and the pin-up fashion is no exception to that rule.

Transcuba; Mariette Pathy Allen, Mariela Castro Espin, Allen Frame, and Wendy Watriss.
A study of transgender culture pertaining to cuba - issues that are cropping up worldwide that would make you seem like a thoughtful person if you appear to be in the know-how.


By observation, the most popular coffee-table books seem to be an attempt to make the owner seem more thoughtful than they are - seem more involved in socio-political studies now that the issues are creeping out into the limelight. It would be interesting to see if people have actually read these books.