Coffee Table Books for the Adult-ish Traveler

There are few things as adult-ish as a well-designed living space. When you stop strewing your Ikea coffee table with old magazines and straw wrappers, and start creating a “lewk” that’s more your style, it’s time to invest in a coffee table book. Sometimes pricey, these are not the tomes you curl up with in your cozy chair. They’re often hefty, artistic and fun and, if chosen correctly, a true representation of your own sense of style and interests.

The New York Times: 36 Hours

There are several different books among the 36 Hours series you can choose from, including those dedicated to Europe, the United States and Canada and Latin American and the Caribbean. Carefully curated, each one gives you great information alongside beautiful photos.

The Swimming Pool in Photography

Every traveler knows an amazing hotel pool is something worth at least a few Insta photos, and now you have a book filled with all the glamorous pool photos you could need. The 240-page collection includes stills from famous photographers, capturing pools all around the world.

Inside North Korea

Appeal to your political and cultural side as well as your taste for travel. This book takes intrepid travelers into the one spot on the planet never quite truly open to explorers. From the most mundane spots in the country to the grandest, see it all.

Supersonic: The Design and Lifestyle of Concorde

Lastly, if you’re an av geek, you’ll want to devour every inch of this ode to the Concorde. Read all about its futuristic journeys and amazing, though brief, history, all the while longing for it to make a return.