Quote- “Coffee table books have graced the tables of elegant homes for many years. As a matter of fact, the idea of using books as a display rather than strictly for reading dates back to the 1700s. Their purpose can range from a purely decorative pretension to an intriguing and informative conversation piece” (Honey Good).
I have been recently thinking about the coffee table book and the role it plays in our book culture. Often it is symbolic of the largest type of book and seen as heavy, expensive and one you would invest in for large glossy photos. Most people will have one or none, as they take space and are not portable. I looked at Michelle Obama’s new fashion coffee table book, which is £35 brand new. It is a great book but the question is posed, how many people will buy it?
Honey Good, which is a social media site run by Susan Honey Good, posted an article about the coffee table book. Good said at one point, coffee table books were called “nonbooks” and lost favour, but are now popular again. My quote is by Good who says coffee table books can “range from a purely decorative pretension to an intriguing and informative conversation piece”. It is interesting how they act as both “decorative” and sometimes an “informative conversation piece too”. They not only add style to a home and lounge décor, but give an idea what topics interest the owner. As I mentioned fashion is a great topic for a coffee table book, because the colours are able to be extra glossy and large on the pages.
Coffee table books can lean more to being read too. I once had a large book on world libraries, which had two hundred photos as well as fairly extensive text. If space is not as much of an issue, these books can be great to enjoy, study or consult. As Good mentions, the coffee table book would have only been bought by wealthier people in the 1700s. As time has moved on, these books offer both a way to showcase the art of both the book itself and its contents, and is a discussion point if the book is in the lounge area. Publishers still have high volumes of sales in this area and the books can be keepsakes for life.
I find coffee table books can be too heavy and specific in what they cover to buy them, but do see the importance of them and like to see the way public spaces like cafes and libraries use them. Next time you see a coffee table book, just think of the way the art and words have been used, to create a unique text and add character to the room it is in. I hope you have a book filled Christmas and maybe even gift a coffee table book. There is a large selection of both well-known and lesser-known authors who create these books. Some editions even sell for hundreds or thousands of pounds, if it is a particularly limited edition or unique version.
Work Cited-
Blackwells. “Blackwells”. Blackwells. Date accessed: 17th November 2025. URL: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781846016516.
Honey Good. “Honey Good”. Honey Good. Date last updated: 16th October 2024. URL: honeygood.com/are-coffee-table-books-still-in-vogue/.