What is the point of a coffee table book?
Large, lavish, full of pictures and minimal words, you may be wondering what the point of a coffee table book is. This may be because you’re contemplating publishing one yourself and are deciding if it’s worth the time and effort.
As the name suggests, coffee table books are books to, well, display on a coffee table. Loved by interior decorators and stylists, these image-led books have gained a reputation for being decorative objects used to speak to the perceived taste and refinement of their owner.
However, on closer inspection, coffee table books serve a deeper purpose beyond being mere decorative objects filled with page after page of high-quality photography.
Well-produced coffee table books serve to visually document significant moments in [cultural] history. They do this by reflecting the cultural mood and influences of specific periods in time. They also serve to celebrate renowned cultural personalities and brands. And in the case of cookbooks and how-to guides, their main aim is to inspire readers to try out new things and visit places and spaces they may never get to in person.
At first glance, coffee table books can come across as superficial. Books peddling style over substance, but the underlying purpose of this type of book is so much more. Coffee table books can take us on a visual journey into the creative, social, and cultural narratives of different cultures from around the world. They give us a glimpse into the moods that define places different from our own. I will say, though, it does depend on who is telling the story. And, whether the storyteller has the right to tell the story and if they can objectively tell the story.
As a side note, cultural diversity is lacking in coffee table book publishing, which impacts the types of stories we get to see and hear. Depending on who is curating the story, a coffee table book can counteract and challenge negative stereotypes about people, places, and cultures. The point of a coffee table book is that these books can invite us to view things from a different perspective. In doing so, they start important conversations to bridge the gaps in understanding.
The coffee table book’s origins have a fascinating history, which I uncover in my post What is a coffee table book, and why is it called that?
– Tapiwa Matsinde
[Image credits: The image shown belongs to Cup of Couple, sourced via Pexels. If downloaded and used elsewhere, please credit accordingly.]
