Ask HN: What's your favorite coffee table book?

2 points by tucif 4 years ago | 6 comments

Looking for "coffee table books" from which you can learn something by reading just a couple of pages, optionally with some imagery.

Something in the lines of: Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe (xkcd), The secret lives of color by Kassia St.Clair.

a3n 4 years ago |

The Edward Tufte books from his course.

tucif 4 years ago | |

Data visualization books seem perfect for this purpose, thanks!

ggm 4 years ago |

"the whole earth catalog"

"the rudiments of wisdom" by Tim Hunkin

"A Museum of Early American Tools" by Eric Sloane

"Pillar to Post" by Osbert Lancaster

"Prehistoric Man" by Zdenek Burian

tucif 4 years ago | |

Really nice list, the rudiments of wisdom looks great for what I’m after, thanks.

ggm 4 years ago | | |

It was the endpage for the 'Observer' colour magazine (sunday paper in the UK) when I was a child, made perfect 'bog' reading. I love the book!

ncmncm 4 years ago |

Earth From Above and variations are all winners.