Coffee Table Books

Born in South Africa, Zanele Muholi came to prominence in the early 2000s with photographs that sought to envision black lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex lives beyond deviance or victimhood. Muholi's work challenges hetero-patriarchal ideologies and representations, presenting the participants in their photographs as confident and beautiful individuals bravely existing in the face of prejudice, intolerance and, frequently, violence. While Muholi's intimate photographs of others launched their international career, their intense self-portraits solidified it. The illustrations include images from the key series Muholi has produced over the past twenty years, as well as never-before-published and recent works.

This book, and the exhibition it accompanies, presents the full breadth of Muholi's photographic and activist practice. It features six newly commissioned essays as well as a glossary and chronology.

With 1,000 adventures for all ages, it s never too soon or too late to begin the things you ve only dreamed of doing.
We all have things we d like to do one day but work, family, school, money, and responsibilities get in the way. This invaluable guide to fun, fantastic, and life-affirming activities features an eclectic range of ideas such as self-improvement, sports-related endeavors, natural wonders, cultural experiences, culinary delights, and more. From glassblowing in the Czech Republic to swimming with dolphins in New Zealand, "The Bucket List" is the perfect gift for the passionate traveler an around-the-world, continent-by-continent listing of beaches, museums, monuments, islands, inns, restaurants, mountains, and more.
Each activity is location-specific and as geographically unique as bird-watching in Kenya or driving through clouds in Sri Lanka, as well as other to-dos that can be done anywhere, such as sketching a sunset behind an architectural monument. In addition to classic outdoor pursuits, the book contains advice on how to achieve some of the most popular goals for people of all ages: direct a movie, learn to play an instrument, make pottery, protect an endangered species, name a star, try a new cuisine, or learn a new language. Whether you are more active or laid-back, serious-minded or lighthearted, you are bound to discover new, stimulating activities."

Australia has wildly differing topographies and climates, and its best residential architecture draws on those site conditions in inventive ways. This book illustrates the strength of the country's shift from British-influenced Georgian-style homes to more indigenous structures attuned to the land - a movement led by Australian architects such as Glenn Murcutt, Richard Leplastrier, and Gabriel Poole in the 1970s. Witness a range of new houses that grapple with the locales in which they are built. Up north, down south, and on the coast, from small and low-budget to multimillion-dollar dwellings, the focus is on the use of raw materials, energy efficiency, adaptable spaces, and embrace of the great outdoors for which the country is known. Drawings and interviews with the architects shed light on how they apply their intelligence and creativity to produce striking buildings that are uniquely Australian. AUTHOR: Steve Huyton is a an architectural writer for international magazines and a blogger at Total Design Reviews.

The bible of Polish dumplings, Pierogi is the essential cookbook for learning about this popular food.

With over 15 million people of Polish descent in the United States alone, pierogi have become a ubiquitous and instantly recognisable comfort food.

Both traditional and modern, Pierogi is divided into ten chapters across 50 recipes. In North, South, East, West and Central we delve deep into the regions of Poland, along with the dumplings, traditions and stories that define them. In the Modern, Vegan, Festive, Creative and Gluten-free chapters, we find a fun take on dumplings for a contemporary audience. Throughout, the recipes are interspersed with mini-essays on some of the key ingredients used to make pierogi.

With beautiful location photography, thoughts on the history and development of pierogi, and tips and tricks for perfecting them, Pierogi is a deep-dive into this compelling and culturally significant food.

Where would we be without the tomato? From South America, on through much of Europe, Northern Africa and Southern Asia, almost every culture and cuisine has found ways of making tomatoes their own. Fresh and also tinned, tomatoes have proved themselves to be an endlessly versatile ingredient, much loved by all. In Tomato, best-selling author and professional chef Claire Thomson offers up her best 80 recipes with tomatoes as star of the show.

From Burnt tomato salsa and Peach, tomato & feta salad, to Tomato beignets, Crab & tomato tart, and Lamb, tomato & black olive ragu, the gorgeous recipes will satisfy and delight. Celebrating juicy, seasonal produce at the height of tomato season, there are also dishes that work just as well (or better) with tinned tomatoes during the colder months, ensuring year-round feasting.

A fascinating cookbook for when you’re stuck with a glut, or simply if you want to explore new flavours and techniques, Tomato is a colourful and dynamic source of kitchen inspiration.

THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT BOOK OF POETRY FROM LANA DEL REY,VIOLET BENT BACKWARDS OVER THE GRASS

“Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grassis the title poem of the book and the first poem I wrote of many. Some of which came to me in their entirety, which I dictated and then typed out, and some that I worked laboriously picking apart each word to make the perfect poem. They are eclectic and honest and not trying to be anything other than what they are and for that reason I’m proud of them, especially because the spirit in which they were written was very authentic.”—Lana Del Rey

Lana’s breathtaking first book solidifies her further as “the essential writer of her times” (The Atlantic). The collection features more than thirty poems, many exclusive to the book:Never to Heaven, The Land of 1,000 Fires, Past the Bushes Cypress Thriving, LA Who Am I to Love You?, Tessa DiPietro, Happy, Paradise Is Very Fragile, Bare Feet on Linoleum, and many more. This beautiful hardcover edition showcases Lana’s typewritten manuscript pages alongside her original photography. The result is an extraordinary poetic landscape that reflects the unguarded spirit of its creator.

Frida Kahlo, Mexican artist and champion of justice and women's rights, transformed the pain and suffering of her life into enduringly powerful paintings. This XXL monograph brings together all of Kahlo's paintings in stunning reproductions.

Legendary tattoo artist, historian, and beloved raconteur Henk Schiffmacher takes us through 180 years of tattoos from Japan and New Zealand to the Bowery. This oversized, personal exploration of tattoo art gathers 800+ images from Schiffmacher's renowned collection of ephemera--including extremely rare flash sheets from giants in early tattooing, original drawings, and photographs--into one unprecedented collection.

A deluxe special edition of the ancient classic written by the Roman Emperor known as “The Philosopher”

Meditations is a series of personal journals written by Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome from 169 to 180 AD. The last of the “Five Good Emperors,” he was the most powerful and influential man in the Western world at the time. Marcus was one of the leaders of Stoicism, a philosophy of personal ethics which sought resilience and virtue through personal action and responsibility. Stoicism, viewed as a foundation of modern self-help, has inspired many personal development and psychotherapy approaches through to the present day.

Meditations is perhaps the most important source of our modern understanding of Stoic philosophy. Its twelve books chronicle different stages of Marcus Aurelius’ life and ideas. Although he ruled during the Pax Romana, the age of relative peace and stability throughout the empire, his reign was marked by near-constant military conflict and a devastating plague which killed upwards of five million people. Aurelius’ writings give modern readers an unprecedented look into the “spiritual exercises” which helped him through his tumultuous life and strengthened his patience, empathy, generosity, self-knowledge and emotional health. The private reflections recorded in the Meditations were never meant to be published, rather they were a source for Marcus’ own guidance and self-improvement, and jotted down by campfires or in military tents on the Roman front. The lessons, insights and perspectives contained within this remarkable work are just as relevant today as they were two millennia ago. This volume:

• Presents the timeless wisdom of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his Stoic philosophy, with new research on his life and times


• Contains valuable insights on topics such as resilience, moderation and emotional control


• Discusses how to live “in agreement with nature” and abide by strong ethical principles

Part of the bestselling Capstone Classics Series edited by Tom Butler-Bowdon, this attractive, high-quality hardcover volume includes:

• An original Introduction by Marcus Aurelius authority and Stoicism expert Donald Robertson, author of How To Think Like A Roman Emperor.


• A modernised, up to date version of the classic George Long translation.  

Meditations: The Philosophy Classic is a volume which will occupy a prominent place in any library for years to come.