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10 coffee table books you need in your home
Our pick of the books that best encapsulate style and substance
Add to your growing collection of books and redecorate at the same time
Francis Bacon or the Measure of Excess
Next year's Francis Bacon exhibition at the Royal Academy will prompt heightened interest in the artist once again, so make sure you're ahead of the game with this new book about him written by his close friend Yves Peyré. Francis Bacon or the Measure of Excess offers a touching tribute to the Irish painter, as well as providing insightful analysis into his work and creative process.
Francis Bacon or the Measure of Excess, £35.07, Amazon
Kim Gordon: No Icon
Kim Gordon is one of the most influential figures in modern music, having co-founded the ever-influential Sonic Youth. In her new book, a personally curated scrapbook, she shares a candid look at her life so far through personal photographs, magazine and newspaper clippings, fashion editorials, and advertising campaigns, interspersed with her song lyrics, writings, artworks, private objects, and ephemera.
Kim Gordon: No Icon, £26.50, Amazon
Accidentally Wes Anderson
A compilation of photos of farflung, whimsical places that look straight out of a Wes Anderson film, this visual catalog highlights 200 of the most idiosyncratic and beguiling destinations on earth. Some you might already be aware of, while others will be new discoveries to add to your bucket list.
Accidentally Wes Anderson, £17.77, Amazon
In Bibi’s Kitchen
A thoughtful journey through East African food, grandmothers from South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia and Eritrea share recipes and stories about their local cuisine. Evocative photography combined with context about the lives lived by the contributors, In Bibi's Kitchen will be you return to for both culinary and travel inspiration.
In Bibi’s Kitchen: The Recipes and Stories of Grandmothers from the Eight African Countries that Touch the Indian Ocean, £17.78, Amazon
Paul Smith - 50th Anniversary Book
Paul Smith celebrated the 50th anniversary of his brand in 2020 by launching this fascinating monograph, featuring 50 everyday objects that inspire him, from tulips to dominoes. As well as giving readers an insight into the designer's influences, the book reminds us to look beyond the traditional mediums of art and design to find meaning and pleasure in the ordinary.
Paul Smith - 50th Anniversary Book, £49.95, Paul Smith
The New York Times Explorer: 100 Trips Around the World
You'll never be without travel inspiration again with The New York Times Explorer, which showcases 100 adventures worth exploring. Each journey goes beyond the obvious destinations and recontextualises old favourites, featuring a first-person narrative alongside stunning photography and practical advice. Colour-coded tabs and a ribbon will help you bookmark your preferred stops in each region.
The New York Times Explorer. 100 Trips Around the World, £22.99, Amazon
Tim Walker: Wonderful Things
If you missed the V&A's magical Tim Walker exhibition, there's still a way to step inside his fantastical world with this beautiful book. Wonderful Things is filled with 100 photographs of Walker's work, alongside conversations between his collaborators, spanning set designers, stylists, hair and make-up artists, models and muses. If you want to escape into a more imaginative, dream-like world, this is a good start.
Tim Walker: Wonderful Things, £25, V&A
Slim Aarons: Women
Slim Aarons' name is synonymous with high society glamour, capturing a golden age of wealth, beauty and privilege with his unmistakable photography. In his perennially chic coffee table book, Slim Aarons: Women, we see 200 photos of his muses, including Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Diana Vreeland and Marilyn Monroe, each captioned by one of his closest colleagues.
Slim Aarons: Women, £48.96, Amazon
Provence Glory
We might not be able to reach our favourite travel destinations right now, but we can still read about them and pore over their beauty through Assouline's well-designed book series. Provence Glory, among the latest to the franchise, explores the sun-drench, lavender-scented region in the South of France, creating an evocative portrait that will prove respite on grey UK days.
Provence Glory, £95, Assouline
Everything: A Maximalist Style Guide
Abigail Ahern is one of interior design's most creative and popular names right now. Everything: A Maximalist Style Guide is a celebration of her more-is-more approach to the home, a joyful form of self-expression characterised by beautiful colour palettes, luxurious textiles, patterns and embellishment. Here, she explains how to use maximalism wherever you live to create a beguiling space you won't want to leave.
Everything: A Maximalist Style Guide, £22.65, Amazon
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