If you have a coffee table but it doesn’t have any cool coffee table books on display, can it really be considered a coffee table?
To bring out the fullest potential of any coffee table, it should have a few coffee table books on it!
Not only are these books a great way to give your guests something to read between conversations, but it’s also a great opportunity for some geeky self-expression that’s subtle yet classy.
Despite geeky subject matters, the following coffee table books are insanely awesome, beautiful, interesting, complex. Your guests will be slipping out of conversations just to read them.
Here are my picks for the best geeky coffee table books full of personality and worth displaying in your home!
15. The 100 Greatest Retro Videogames
Authored by Future Publishing Limited
First published in 2019
192 pages — 3.70 on Goodreads
There’s a magical allure to the history of retro video games that makes it an intriguing subject for a coffee table book.
The 100 Greatest Retro Videogames: The Inside Stories Behind the Best Games Ever Made is a run back through the greatest vintage games, complete with developer interviews, behind-the-scenes tales, and fun trivia facts about each game.
Related: The Best Geeky Gift Ideas for Retro Gamers and Enthusiasts
14. Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years
Authored by Titan Comics
First published in 2018
144 pages — 3.72 on Goodreads
Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years is a journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first decade of films, starting with Iron Man up to Captain Marvel .
Each film comes with interesting facts and trivia, never-before-seen photos, exclusive interviews with stars and directors, and where they found inspiration for their stories.
Related: The Best Books on Norse Mythology (And Everything About It)
13. The LEGO Architect
Authored by Tom Alphin
First published in 2015
192 pages — 4.27 on Goodreads
It’s mind-blowing how people can make incredible structures and scenes using nothing more than LEGO blocks.
The LEGO Architect is an exploration of awesome architecture created with just plastic bricks. It’s more than just beautiful photographs—you’ll also learn about different architectural styles!
Related: The Most Impressive Nerdy LEGO Sets for Geeky Adults
12. Harry Potter: The Blueprints
Authored by Jody Revenson
First published in 2022
288 pages — 4.83 on Goodreads
Harry Potter: The Blueprints is a behind-the-scenes look at all the locations featured in the Harry Potter films, including Hogsmeade, the Triwizard Tournament, and, of course, Hogwarts.
This book is a deep dive exploration of how each location was conceptualized, roughed out, and brought to life—complete with actual blueprints and photographs.
11. Star Wars: The Blueprints
Authored by J. W. Rinzler
First published in 2011
336 pages — 4.67 on Goodreads
One of the coolest things about the Star Wars franchise is all the technology that goes into making the spacecraft and vehicles.
Star Wars: The Blueprints is a compilation of technical drawings from the Lucasfilm Archives, consisting of over 250 blueprints and 500 photographs and illustrations. It’s a visual treat that all Star Wars fans—and even non-fans—can appreciate.
Related: The Best Star Wars Gifts (For Men, Women, and Kids)
10. Runescape: The First 20 Years
Authored by Alex Calvin and Jagex
First published in 2021
224 pages — 4.50 on Goodreads
Runescape: The First 20 Years is an illustrated, behind-the-scenes dive into one of the most iconic MMORPGs of all time.
No other graphical MMORPG has survived as long as it has—over two full decades—and this book is a beautiful journey through all the ups and downs, fleshed out with never-before-seen artwork and exclusive developer interviews.
9. Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Comic Book Universe
Authored by Tim Leong
First published in 2013
196 pages — 3.96 on Goodreads
If you love comics but aren’t loyal to either Marvel or DC, this wide-reaching coffee table book is exactly right for your living room.
Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Comic Book Universe is filled with all kinds of graphics, charts, photos, and trivia facts that will surprise any comic book nerd.
8. The Game Console 2.0: A Photographic History From Atari to Xbox
Authored by Evan Amos
First published in 2018
312 pages — 4.40 on Goodreads
If you’re an avid console gamer, this beautiful book is perfect for your coffee table. It’s loaded with photos, histories, and trivia of over 100 different video game consoles from the last 50 years.
Even if you already have a strong grasp of gaming’s history, the visual nature of this book offers tons of appeal.
7. DC Comics Encyclopedia (New Edition)
Authored by Matthew K. Manning and Andrew Irvine
First published in 2016
384 pages — 4.43 on Goodreads
For DC fans, the DC Comics Encyclopedia is basically a holy text—just make sure you get the New Edition that came out in 2021.
It breaks down details for every major character in the DC Comics universe and does so in a way that’s visually appealing, making it one of the best ways to learn about DC.
6. Marvel Encyclopedia (New Edition)
Authored by Tom DeFalco and Adam Bray
First published in 2009
250 pages — 4.41 on Goodreads
For Marvel fans, the Marvel Encyclopedia is a must-have book—just make sure you get the New Edition that came out in 2019.
It’s loaded with information on all of the most beloved characters from the Marvel universe, and there’s plenty of gorgeous artwork to go along with all that info.
5. The Photography of Game of Thrones
Authored by Helen Sloan
First published in 2019
416 pages — 4.67 on Goodreads
The world of Game of Thrones is a dark and violent place filled with betrayal, dragons, white walkers, and all kinds of other stuff that want to kill you.
Even if you were disappointed by how it all wrapped up, you can’t deny that the world was visually stunning—and this book is full of gorgeous behind-the-scenes photos with insightful commentary.
4. Forging Worlds: Stories Behind the Art of Blizzard Entertainment
Authored by Micky Neilson
First published in 2022
328 pages — 5.00 on Goodreads
Say what you will about Blizzard as a company, but it’s impossible to deny that Blizzard games have some of the coolest artwork in gaming history.
Forging Worlds: Stories Behind the Art of Blizzard Entertainment is a retrospective on how the company approached its art over the last three decades, from concept art to animation to final release—and that’s just scratching the surface.
3. Anime Architecture: Imagined Worlds and Endless Megacities
Authored by Stefan Riekeles
First published in 2020
256 pages — 4.43 on Goodreads
Anime films are some of the most beautiful animated films in the world, with an art style that gives more attention to detail than other animated films, particularly when it comes to cities and environments.
Anime Architecture: Imagined Worlds and Endless Megacities contains archived storyboards, concepts, and drafts of incredible anime film scenes that are simply stunning.
Related: The Best Geeky Cookbooks for Anime, Gaming, and Movie Fans
2. The Art and Soul of Dune
Authored by Tanya Lapointe
First published in 2020
240 pages — 4.51 on Goodreads
When Dune released in 2021, it stunned the world with its visual effects and cinematography, with so much work going into every single frame of the film. It was simply astonishing.
The Art and Soul of Dune provides insight into how it all came to be, complete with exclusive interviews, dazzling photos, and special commentary. This is one of the most visually striking coffee table books out there, period.
1. What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
Authored by Randall Munroe
First published in 2014
303 pages — 4.14 on Goodreads
What If? is a coffee table book that blends the absurd with the scientific. No question is too ridiculous to explore, and its attempts to answer ridiculous questions often lead to deeply meaningful insights.
What If? is more than just amusing. It’s evn more than just a conversation starter. This book will expand your mind and make you think things you never would’ve otherwise.
