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Inspired by those of you that like reading maps over on the "How many people can actually read a map?" thread:
I love map reading as well so I went over to Amazon to look for a book that has an OS (other mapping services may be available...) map extract on one page and corresponding landscape photographs on the other - sort of a glossy geography textbook.
When I was growing up we had all manner of thick, heavy hardcover books perfect for putting on the coffee table (or pillow, for pre-sleep enlightenment) and leafing through in idle moments.
So, what would you/do you have on your bookshelf ready for coffee-table reading?
(And if you know of a map/photo book per my description above I'd love to know about it.)
I had a shackleton and an everest book. Both sold on Amazon as mint earlier this year.
Coffee Table Book = Never Read Waste of Paper
[url= http://www.smallhousecatalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/photo2-223x300.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.smallhousecatalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/photo2-223x300.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
clicky picky for more
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paris-Roubaix-Journey-Through-Phillipe-Bouvet/dp/1934030090/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347959734&sr=1-1 ]Paris - Roubaix[/url] and [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Volcanoes-Jacques-Durieux/dp/0810916991/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347959660&sr=1-4 ]Volcanoes[/url]
PR was quite useful as I rode half the route earlier this year
Peter Nelson's book on treehouses seems to always excite curiosity on our coffee table...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Treehouse-Book-Peter-Nelson/dp/0789304112/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mountain-High-Europes-Greatest-Climbs/dp/0857386247/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347961591&sr=1-1 ]Mountain High Europes Greatest Road Climbs[/url]
I sometimes visit a bookshop in Greenwich which sells loads of coffee table style books, at really low prices. You can pick up huge books full of pictures for just a couple of quid usually. Plenty on art and history, although photography ones tend to be more expensive.
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[url= http://www.thebikefactory.co.uk/productdetails.asp?productid=37368 ]Clickity Click McClick[/url]
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You want something that looks pretty, looks like it may be interesting.....but never actually gets read? You need a STW subscription 🙂
Where do you put your coffee then?
I rest my coffee table on this
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helmut-Newton-Sumo/dp/3836517302/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347967237&sr=1-1 ]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helmut-Newton-Sumo/dp/3836517302/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347967237&sr=1-1[/url]
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Helmut Newton is an excellent choice, I'd look for a book of Ansel Adams best bits to go with that.
Best Book Ever
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This is a long term favoutite of mine, stunning photography
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1902538242