The Best Coffee Table Books for Everyone and Anyone | 2023
Coffee table books are welcome all year round, so they make the perfect birthday, holiday, or no reason at all gift, becoming one of those gifts that keep on giving. And better yet, you can find a so-called coffee table book suitable for just about anyone, regardless of any age and interest. (And no actual coffee tables required, either — they do just fine on a shelf, too!) Gift Guide Go-To has rounded up coffee table book gift ideas for the art lover, the traveler, for kids, for the science-minded, and many more.
For the Car Lover
This is a must-have book for the auto enthusiast; it’s packed with gorgeous car photography and insight into the history and mechanics of the many featured automobiles.
For Kids who Love Trivia
This is one of those coffee table books that will spend more time spread open on a lap than it will lying flat in its place. “Listified” is packed with fun and fascinating trivia that kids will love and that will charm and amaze adults as well.
For the Mind that Craves Information
It’s staggering just how much information the editors of this handsome volume managed to pack into its pages. From the history of ancient cultures to the natural world to coverage of transportation up to and through the space age to a deep dive on many matters military and beyond, this is a genuinely informative book.
For the Art Connoisseur
The word comprehensive is barely sufficient for “30,000 Years of Art: The Story of Human Creativity Across Time & Space,” which takes readers on a chronological art history journey starting tens of thousands of years ago. through time. Pieces of art both big and small, famed and unknown grace the pages of this excellently-curated coffee table book.
For the Advanced LEGO Enthusiast
This unique book is both a step-by-step building guide to many enjoyable LEGO creations as well as a study of and homage to many of humankind’s greatest feats of engineering and architecture.
For the Bibliophile
What is human history without its collected knowledge kept safe? This beautiful book features hundreds of years of history, art, and culture as it has been captured in the truly remarkable books celebrated herein.
For the Science Minded
Replete with dazzling photographs, witty writing, and bursting with information about the most basic but essential building blocks of the universe, this enjoyable book is the antidote to that insipid chemistry class you took in high school.
For the Adventurer Looking to Explore America’s Parks
Watch out, because flipping through the pages of this book may soon have you packing your hiking gear into a backpack and making your plans to visit a few of America’s stunning national parks. And because the book is loaded not only with striking photos but also with lots of useful and actionable information on the parks, you’ll be well-prepared when you get there.
For the Zoologically Inclined Reader
Kids and adults alike will love this comprehensive and well-curated coffee table book dedicated entirely to all nonhuman living things. From whales to centipedes to bears to birds to fungi to a few “critters” you’d probably prefer to never meet in person, it’s a fun and fascinating read.
For the True Techie
We all have that friend who simply can’t help but ask “how does this thing work?” as they look under the hood or unscrew the case. This is the coffee table book for them.
For the Horse Lover
This comprehensive collection of images of one of the last herds of completely wild horses is nothing short of breathtaking. The pages are filled with stunning black and white images of the horses of Sable Island, and the book tells a story of hope and nature’s power.
For the Rugged Outdoorsperson
The information collected in this book just might save your life one day. And it can make campouts, treks, and mountaineering adventures more enjoyable even when life is not on the line. “Bushcraft” also allows for armchair enjoyment while the outdoorsman or outdoorswoman is stuck indoors.
For the Military History Buff
It’s unfortunate but true: military history has played one of if not the largest roles in human history as a whole, so it’s a good idea to have a good understanding of what all the fighting was about. And when and where it took place, what weapons and tactics were used, who was involved, and of course who won.
For the Modern Art Aficionado
In the last 150 years or so, we have seen art both lead and reflect the larger culture of the times — in fact, at times it has been hard to tell if the artists were the vanguard or the mirror. Either way, this comprehensive look back at art from the era of Impressionism right up to our times makes it easier to appreciate and understand their works.
For the Music Lover
For many music fans, many flips of these pages will bring favorite songs immediately to mind. And images of album covers unknown to them may serve as a gateway to a new favorite record or even to a new favorite band or musician.
