10 Coffee Table Books That I Love

I have to admit something…I love coffee table books. What is about these huge tomes that draw me in? I just love seeing beautiful pictures of faraway places (Steve McCurry) or how a photographer conjures up a dream-like scene (Annie Leibovitz and Tim Walker). I’ve been collecting coffee table books for the past seven years, I started this hobby while I was Editor-in-Chief of My Modern Met. Below are a list of books I actually have (see photo above), as well as ones I’m longing to collect.

Have:

Pictures by Tim Walker: Tim Walker creates dreamlike scenes that will make you want to live in his world.

Murakami: Takashi Murakami is one of contemporary art’s most innovative figures. Here you’ll find a great collection of his work including his original paintings and sculptures.

Lonely Plant’s Beautiful World: Through 300 photos, get ready to experience some of the most breathtaking places in the world. Warning: Will make you want to travel.

Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton: Based on the Facebook page which has over 16 million fans, is a heartfelt book of inspiring photographs and stories.

Steve McCurry: The Iconic Photographs: Follow Steve McCurry’s extraordinary career in this beautiful and memorable book.

The Life and Love of Dogs by Lewis Blackwell: Any dog lover will want to collect this book, which is filled with hundreds of incredible images of our furry friends.

JR: Can Art Change the World? by JR: Street artist JR gives his first major and in-depth retrospective of his work. Inside you’ll find his own collection projects as well as collaborations he’s done with other artists or institutions, like the New York Ballet.

Want:

Portraits by Martin Schoeller: In this 260 page hardcover book, you’ll find 150 color and black and white photos of political leaders, Hollywood stars, business entrepreneurs, and contemporary music royalty.

Elliott Erwitt XXL Special Edition: Elliott Erwitt is a master at capturing the moment. In this collector’s edition, you’ll find everything from an iconic Marilyn Monroe photo to portraits of silly dogs.

SUMO by Annie Leibovitz: This book traces Annie Leibovitz’s 40 year career. Included is everything from John Lennon and Yoko Ono entwined in a last embrace to Richard Nixon’s helicopter lifting off from the White House lawn after he resigned as president in 1974.