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

[tucif]

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]

The Edward Tufte books from his course.

https://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/courses

[tucif]

Data visualization books seem perfect for this purpose, thanks!

[ggm]

"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]

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

[ggm]

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]

Earth From Above and variations are all winners.