The 30 Coffee Table Books to Delight This Holiday

Fellow history lovers may recognize the name Ken Burns from his many documentaries uncovering the truth about America's past. Now, the celebrated filmmaker has put together a collection of stunningly visceral and enriching photograghs from celebrated and obscure photographers to showcase another side of America's mythology.

What does art history look like from the perspective of women? Art historian Kay Hessel gathers together 500 years of art created by women into one collection. This book (smaller format, so it can also fit nicely on a bookshelf) promises to be an eye-opening exploration for any art lover.

How do you like your eggs? With so many ways to cook it, the egg is an everyday staple in many household refrigerators. This original collection of essays, photos, and recipes asks us to reconsider this modest ingredient.

This book, a rather rare book that you are unlikely to see in most bookstores, is brought to you by rock climber and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, named this year by Time as one of the most influential people in the world. Any surfer, climber, or lover of cult California culture will get lost in this photographic journey of the Golden State during the exciting time of postwar culture change.

For those who spend the year counting down the days until December 25th, you'll fall in love with this celebratory collection of prose and images that delves into the origins of all your favorite holiday traditions. Keep a little bit of Christmas cheer with you on your coffee table with this insightful and festive book.

This new book, with a foreword by Sarah Jessica Parker, is a stunning dive into the art forms of both ballet and fashion, and includes examples of collaborations between the New York City Ballet and the top fashion designers of our age, including Virgil Abloh, Anna Sui, and Valentino.

With remarkable honesty and vulnerabliity, Paul McCartney reflects on his lustrious songwriting journey through the decades. He touches on his relationship with songwriting partner, John Lennon, as well as the behind-the-scenes origin story for hit songs such as "Yesterday" and "Let It Be." Even the most loyal McCartney fan will find something new and refreshing in these pages.

Okay, warning: This is a splurge. But there’s a reason it was one of Oprah’s “favorite things” in 2019. A kind of holy book for tree lovers, this coffee table book is the result of more than 20 years of dedicated study by landscape architects Cesare Leonardi and Franca Stagi represented by quill-pen drawings that reflect true-to-scale trees in various states of change throughout different seasons and times of day.

Celebrated photographer Bob Willoughby captured intimate and candid shots of Hollywood film stars such as Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn in an era when backstage access like that was rare. This is the ideal book for those enthralled by the glamor and mystique of Old Hollywood.

More than any other country, the French are known for their joie de vivre lifestyle and through the eyes of American expat Ajiri Aki, this visually breathtaking photography collection celebrates the simple things in life: fresh flowers, warm baguettes, and thrifted antiques. Join her as she shares the insightful lessons she's learned while living in Paris.