The 27 Best Coffee Table Books for Men in 2022
By Staff Writers | Updated March 26, 2022
They say a home without books is a body without soul. And let’s face it, we all want soul. Great books—ones that inspire & entertain, add depth and dimension to our homes. They offer insight to our tastes and interests. Engaging us in ways touchscreens just can’t. But weeding through the stacks of fresh publications is a big commit, so we hit the books & curated a proper list for you: The 27 Best Coffee Table Books.
For pretty near every human interest, from the iconic and legendary to the unknown and long-forgotten, there is a book that’s been written. In many cases, a fresh, creative, high-quality book that digs a little deeper and shines a light on something we love.
When we find these books, we want to share them. With family, friends, and houseguests. Because they make our house feel like home.
In assembling this list, we covered lots of material—spanning film, fashion, and photography to rock music, sports and pop culture. Definitely guy stuff but far from typical. Check it out.
David Fincher: Mind Games
$40
From feature films Alien 3, Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Social Network, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and more, Academy Award– and Golden Globe–nominated director David Fincher makes movies that melt brains. Mind Games is the definitive critical and visual survey of his work, taking readers deep into the process of a true Hollywood original.
Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office
$21
Drawing on hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews with the cast and creators of The Office and illustrated with 100 bts photos, this new book is billed as the hit show’s definitive oral history. It features a foreword by Greg Daniels, who adapted the series for the U.S. and is “narrated” by star Brian Baumgartner aka Kevin Malone. Out November 16.
There and Back: Photographs from the Edge
$40
Academy Award–winning director of Free Solo and National Geographic mountain photographer Jimmy Chin has collected his works into a new collection titled There and Back: Photographs from the Edge that features more than 200 original images from his global adventures with the world’s top alpine athletes. From Tibet’s Chang Tang Plateau to Antarctica’s Queen Maud Land, Chin’s images take you up close to the action.
Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos
$24
From the hosts of the popular Talking Sopranos podcast, this new oral history captures some of the iconic show’s most important voices, covering the beloved series from every angle with the people who lived it: the creators, actors and writers who shaped a truly classic show. Edie Falco, Steven Van Zandt, David Chase, and Lorraine Bracco all share their tales.
Soled Out: The Golden Age of Sneaker Advertising
$63
More than a decade in the making, Soled Out is the definitive – and only – collection of sneaker advertisements from the footwear industry’s golden age. Written and compiled by Simon ‘Woody’ Wood, founder of Sneaker Freaker magazine, this 720-page volume collects nearly 900 vintage ads.
The Joy Of Pizza
$28
The Joy Of Pizza is a sweeping, in-depth exploration of the world’s most beloved food. A guide to the craft and an ode to its simple origins. Written by Dan Richer, master pizzaiolo and owner of Razza—voted by The New York Times as NYC’s Number One Pizza Place (even though it’s in Jersey) it goes deep, giving readers step-by-step instructions to make incredible pies at home.
Formula 1: The Impossible Collection
$995
With over 175 illustrations and images, Formula 1: The Impossible Collection chronicles the milestones that lifted Formula One from a gentlemen’s club in 1950 to a global sport with hundreds of millions of fans around the world. Highlighting technical innovations, remarkable drivers’ achievements and exciting race finishes, this volume illuminates the immortal f-1 names & moments that make up a truly remarkable heritage. The book is housed in a luxury clamshell case & presented in a red canvas tote bag to preserve its craftsmanship.
Patented Chronicles A Century Of Product Design
$32
Phaidon’s forthcoming book Patented is an unprecedented history as well as an essential field guide to more than a century of products and industrial design told through 1000 U.S. Patents. From the Vespa Piaggio scooter to the iPhone 1, it also includes designs from creators like Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames, & Isamu Noguchi.
Spirited: Cocktails From Around The World
$45
Carefully assembled & edited by Adrienne Stillman, author of Where Bartenders Drink, Spirited is a full-color reference guide to more than 600 cocktails from around the world. From certified classics to the truly exotic, it merges images, recipes, infographics and cultural texts to present an authoritative global guide to booze.
Nike: Better is Temporary
$58
Created as a true collector’s edition, Nike: Better is Temporary is a landmark publication charting Nike’s transformation from rebellious upstart to global phenomenon. It is an immersive visual survey offering a deep, behind-the-scenes exploration into Nike’s ethos-driven design formula, and places industry-defining innovations and globally recognized products alongside previously unpublished designs, prototypes, insider stories, and more. Hardcover, 320 pages.
Bob Marley: Portrait of the Legend
$35
There are many books on the amazingly influential & tragically short life of Bob Marley. This new one is a visual history, created to honor Marley’s 75th birthday, it’s an expansive oversize tome that collects over 150 original photographs of the Trenchtown rocker—a visionary who would become the forefather of reggae and one of the greatest musical and sociopolitical icons of twentieth-century pop culture. Release date: October 13.
Paul Thomas Anderson: Masterworks
$36
Writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson has been described as “one of American film’s modern masters,” and with 25 Academy Award nominations to his credit, his legacy is unrivaled. Masterworks spans his entire career so far—Boogie Nights (’97), Magnolia (’99), Punch Drunk Love (’02), There Will Be Blood (07), The Master (’12), Inherent Vice (’14) and more, exploring his influences, his style, and the recurring themes in his movies.
Whatever It Takes: Tom Morello Biography
$27
There may be no other guitarist who’s worked with both Bruce Springsteen & Wu-Tang. But that’s Tom Morello. Impossibly versatile & just as influential. Especially to guitar nerds. As the cofounder and axe-man of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and Prophets of Rage, Morello has made some of the loudest & most important rock-n-roll of the modern era. In this new biography he shares his incredible journey as a guitarist, songwriter, singer, and political activist.
Jimmy Page: The Anthology
$34
As a Guitar God spanning generations, Jimmy Page has amassed an extensive private archive of iconic guitars, stage costumes, and personal ephemera. He packs all of it into this new 400-page book. In it, he guides reader through hundreds of rare items, many of which are unseen, others of mythic status, such as the Gibson double neck guitar, his dragon emblazoned suit, his white embroidered poppy suit, and the outfit worn in the concert film The Song Remains the Same. Also included are handwritten diaries, correspondence, rare vinyl pressings, previously unpublished photos and lots more.
Rock Covers: 750 Album Covers That Made History
$22
Showcasing more than 750 iconic album covers that shaped rock history, this new collection from Taschen combines the classic covers with insightful fact sheets, insider interviews, and lists from leading collectors of their top 10 records. From Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd, The Cure, & Iron Maiden to Sonic Youth, it catalogs decades of rock music’s rich visual history.
Football: The Impossible Collection
$995
Celebrating 150 years of college football and 100 years of the NFL, Football: The Impossible Collection offers a comprehensive view of both college and pro football, showcasing the 100 most exciting, memorable, and significant events that shaped the sport. Created with noted sports journalist Michael MacCambridge, the book features dynamic photographs, rarely seen archival documents and vintage memorabilia, presented in a unique faux pigskin clamshell case.
NFL 100: A Century of Pro Football
$25
To celebrate the upcoming Golden Anniversary of the National Football League, NFL 100 celebrates a hundred years of history, tracking America’s most popular and highly watched sport from its humble beginnings in Canton, Ohio, to its current state of high stakes commercial influence. All the key moments and famous athletes are honored within the pages of this handsomely produced book.
Cabin Porn: Inside
$18
Created by DIY.org & Vimeo co-founder Zach Klein, the original Cabin Porn picture book has sold over a quarter-million copies. That’s a lot, so no surprise there’s a follow-up. Where the original book showed sexy exteriors from around the world, this one takes readers deep inside. To show you how these delightful little hideaway homes are decorated. 336 pages.
The Stan Lee Story
$180
The first pressing of this book sold out instantly. Now it’s back: a giant-format tome nearly ten years in the making celebrating the one and only Godfather of Comics, Stan Lee. From his childhood in Depression-era New York, to transforming Marvel into the world’s number one comics publisher, to his 21st-century reinvention as Chief Creative Officer of POW! Entertainment, Stan Lee remains the most legendary name in comic book history & this 624-page book proves it.
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
$16
The Washington Post called this book “the ultimate literary bucket list.” Covering fiction, poetry, science and science fiction, memoir, travel writing, biography, children’s books, history, and more, this book is not a definitive list of literary classic works but instead a celebration of story & discovery. It also offers recommendations from one work to another, so in all, there are actually 6000 books listed inside.
Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop
$24
Created by writer Vikki Tobak and featuring a foreword by Questlove, Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop is an inspired collection of photos that span decades of documentation from hip-hop culture. Featuring hundreds of iconic as well as unseen images from photographers like Glen Friedman, Ricky Powell, Lawrence Watson, Angela Boatwright and many more. There are also essays from the likes of DJ Premier, Fab 5 Freddy, and RZA.
Bong Appétit: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Weed
$27
Once you figure out how to handle edibles, it’s a welcome alternative to smoking flower. Inspired by the Vice Channel show of the same name, Bong Appétit the cookbook teaches you how to make your own THC-infused meals, dishes, and munchies. It includes 65 easy-to-follow recipes, techniques, and guidance for cooking with cannabis. It’s also packed with great, full-color photos.
The Star Wars Archives. 1977–1983
$170
Made with the full cooperation of George Lucas and Lucasfilm, this new premium-quality, oversized 604-page volume from Taschen covers the making of the original Star Wars trilogy—Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi—and features an exclusive interview with Lucas. The book is profusely illustrated with script pages, production documents, concept art, storyboards, on-set photography, stills, and posters.
Beastie Boys Book
$25
This is not your standard music memoir, the Beasties would never do that. Yes, Beastie Boys Book tells their whole story but alongside the band narrative you will find rare photos, original illustrations, a cookbook by chef Roy Choi, a graphic novel, a map of Beastie Boys’ New York, mixtape playlists, pieces by guest contributors, and many more surprises. Available for pre-order now. Release date: October 2018.
Ali
$32
In June, 1963, on assignment from Sports Illustrated, peerless portrait photographer Steve Schapiro traveled to Louisville to spend some time with Cassius Clay, the young Olympic champion boxer who even then was well on his way to becoming Muhammad Ali. The two spent five days together, with Schapiro gaining intimate access to this legend-in-the-making. Ali is a collection of the photographers best images—many of which have never been published before.
Where to Drink Coffee
$15
This is the only guide you need to find a proper cup. In Where to Drink Coffee, 150 top baristas and coffee experts share their secrets: 600 killer coffee spots across 50 countries. From cafés, bakeries, and restaurants to more surprising spots—a video store and an auto shop, the recommendations include insightful reviews, key information, maps, and easy-to-navigate geographical organization.
Playboy: The Complete Centerfolds, 1953-2016
$76
Starting with Marilyn Monroe from 1953, this complete, unabridged and titillating tome includes over 734 nude centerfolds from the pages of Playboy covering 6 decades. Consider it the definitive reference on the female form, a celebration of skin that captures the complete cultural and aesthetic arc of the Playboy centerfold.
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