When it comes to coffee table books, my personal motto is “just say no to Tom Ford.” If you regularly read any modern interior design blogs, subscribe to any modern design magazines or follow any modern décor boards/accounts on Pinterest or Instagram I guarantee you’ve seen this super-expensive Tom Ford coffee table book at least two dozen times:
No disrespect to Tom Ford, I’m just using him as an example. I could have just as easily used Vanity Fair, Louis Vuitton, Vogue, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, etc. as examples of ‘frequently displayed’ coffee table books in modern decor. As for me, I think a coffee table book should reflect on your personal interests, something that authentically represents you. Fortunately I have found two new coffee table books that reflect the interests of both my wife and I: ‘Muhammad Ali Fighter’s Heaven 1974’ and ‘Humans of New York Stories’ – and note neither of these books costs hundreds of dollars!
Muhammad Ali Fighter’s Heaven 1974
You have to respect a man who is willing to stand up for what he believes in and risk his fame, fortune and even freedom for the cause. Beyond his accomplishments in the ring, this is why I, and so many others, love the icon Muhammad Ali.
“Muhammad Ali Fighter’s Heaven 1974” is a must have for any Ali or boxing fan. The book is an absolute treasure of candid never before published black and white photographs of Ali as he prepares for the “Rumble in the Jungle” with the undefeated George Foreman. The only drawback I see to this book is that I wish it included even more photographs, 176 pages is kind of light for the asking price of $50. That said, its Muhammad Ali so what can you do?
- Publication: Reel Art Press // 8.23.2016
- Format: Hardcover, 8.5 x 11 IN
- Pages: 176 pages // 106 Black & White
- List Price: $49.95
Humans of New York – Stories
I did my best to resist it for a long, long time, but I caved and became a follower of Humans of New York (HONY) on social media. As corny as it may seem to some, I’ll freely admit I do enjoy and look forward to reading all those uplifting, funny, heartwarming, micro-fashion and unfortunately sometimes overwhelmingly sad stories shared on the blog.
In ‘Humans of New York – Stories’ author Brandon Stanton beautifully compiles hundreds of photos and stories sharing people’s deepest or most superficial thoughts on life, death, love, addiction, music, religion, relationships, health, philosophy, abuse, work, success, failure, etc. Although each story and picture only provides a small glimpse into the participant’s life, I feel this is a timeless book and can serve a great coffee table addition for a long tome to come.
- St. Martin’s Press // 10.13.2015
- Format: Hardcover, 8.5 x 11 IN
- Pages: 432
- List Price: $29.99