Best Books: Reference, Coffee Table, Art, Crafting, and Brain Games/Activities

I am kinda taking it easy, right this second, as I am recovering from Covid and it’s not been an easy one for me. I have been reading a lot, but I lost the book I am currently reading this morning (?!) and so I somehow wandered to my laptop and started looking for new best books lists. I’m a little odd, like that. So here are some lists of even more types of books that I read and collect. I must be running out of categories, right? I always think so.

With no further ado, here are titles I could find recommended on the internet for best books in the categories home reference, coffee table, art, crafting, and brain-games-slash-activities. Here’s to even more reading!

BEST HOME REFERENCE BOOKS (there are some self-help-y kind of books hidden in here. We’ll winkle them out eventually.)

Image from Amazon.comWonderbookStuff You Should KnowRemarkable DiariesFor the Love of BooksThe Book of Unusual KnowledgeCleaning Plain and SimpleHome Safety Desk ReferenceHome Furnishing TechniquesThe Household HandbookNew World DictionaryOxford English Dictionary (compact)Scrabble DictionaryBartlett’s ThesaurusEncyclopedia BritannicaAtlas of the World, National GeographicAtlas Obscura ***Oxford Dictionary of QuotationsShakespeare’s InsultsThe Elements of Style, StrunkMan’s Search for Meaning, Victor Frankl On Writing , Stephen King ***The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, CoveyThe Holy Bible ***How to Win Friends and Influence People, CarnegieGetting Things Done, FallowsThe Art of War, Sun TzuThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying UpEats, Shoots and Leaves, TrussThe Chicago Manual of Style, University of Chicago ***Thinking, Fast and Slow, KahnemanHow to Read a Book, Adler and DorenMindset, DweckMerriam-Webster Collegiate DictionaryOn Food and Cooking, McGee Bird by Bird , Anne Lamott ***One Writing Well, ZinserThe Joy of Cooking, Rombauer Mythology , Edith Hamilton ***The Body Keeps the Score, KolkA Brief History of Time, Hawking The Hero with a Thousand Faces , Joseph CampbellThe Qur’an, MuhammedQuiet, Susan CainA Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill BrysonThe 4-Hour Workweek, FerrissNever Split the Difference, VossPocket Ref, GloverMLA Handbook for Writers of Research PapersThe Power of Now, TolleThe Emotion ThesaurausPublication Manual of the American Psychological AssocialtionJust Mercy, StevensonHow to Read Literature Like a Professor, FosterA Manual for Writers of Research PapersThe Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksRoget’s International ThesaurausGrit, DuckworthThe Alchemist, CoelhoA People’s History of the United States, ZinnPlayers Handbook: Dungeons and DragonsCatechism of the Catholic ChurchTao Te Ching, Lao TzuBartlett’s Familiar QuotationsHow to Cook Everything, BittmanThe C Programming Language1000 Places to See Before You DieBrewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and FableGray’s AnatomyThe Associated Press StylebookWhat to Expect When You’re Expecting **1001 Book You Must Read Before You DieSalt Fat Acid Heat, NosratThe Atlas of Middle EarthTalking to Stranger, GladwellThe Sibley Guide to BirdsDon’t Make Me Think, KrugThe Dictionary of Imaginary PlacesWriting Down the Bones, GoldbergCunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical HerbsThe New Drawing on the Right Side of the BrainMe and White SupremacyThe New Oxford Annotated BibleSystemic Theology, GrudemThe Visual Display of Quantitative InformationThe Dictionary of Modern English UsageGarner’s Modern American UsageBulfinch’s MythologyMastering the Art of French Cooking, Julie Child **Presription for Nutritional Healing ***A History of Western PhilosophyThe Library Book, Sue OrleanYale Book of QuotationsAmerican Heritage Dictionary of the English LanguageMerck Manual of Medical InformationWorld Almanac and Book of FactsOxford Atlas of the WorldThe Farmer’s AlmanacThe Usborne Geography EncyclopediaJunior Illustrated Maths DictionaryIllustrated Dictionary of MathsA Short History of the WorldIllustrated Dictionary of ScienceThe Usborne Introduction to ArtThe Usborne Science Encyclopedia ***The Usborne Encyclopedia of World History ***The Story of InventionsThe Story of ExplorationHow Things WorkThe Usborne Encyclopedia of World ReligionsThe History of the World in 100 PicturesThe Usborne Childrens’ EncyclopediaThe Usborne Illustrated English DictionaryUsborne Illustrated English ThesaurusUsborne Big Picture AtlasThe Timetables of History, GrunThe New Biographical Dictionary of FilmThe Dictionary of Drink and DrinkingDreyer’s EnglishThe Casell Dictionary of SlangCrosbie’s Dictionary of PunsNature Cross-Sections, OrrInteresting Stories for Curious PeopleUncle John’s Greatest Know on Earth Bathroom ReaderWhat If?, MunroThe Book of Common PrayerHow to Be a Person, NewmanFourteen Talks by Age FourteenGet It Together, Soria

ART BOOKS (from coffee-table to craft to history. Maybe it’s too heavy on fashion. I would appreciate really amazing, specific recommendations here and in the coffee table book category):

Image from Amazon.comThe Book of Symbols, TaschenOdd Apples, William MullanMy Yorkshire, David HockneyGenji: The Prince and the ParodiesLate Constable, Royal Academy of the ArtsNigeria: Original Cover Art of Nigerian MusicThe Story of Art, E. H. Gombrich (special edition)Nadine Ijewere: Our Own SelvesPortrait of an Artist: Conversations with Trailblazing Women ArtistsBright Stars: Great Artists Who Died Too YoungMeadow Arts: The First 20 YearsTengo un Dragon Dentro del Corazon, Charlotte GuerreroSalvador Dali: The Impossible CollectionAbsolutely Augmented RealityArt: The Definitive Visual GuideThe Beauty of Life on Earth with David YarrowNew York by New York100 Painters of TomorrowThe Art of MondoIbiza BohemiaBilly Name: The Silver AgeThe Impossible Collection of WarholThe Deftness of Davinci (The Graphic Work?), TaschenDali les Diners de GalaBroad Strokes: 15 Women Who Made Art and Made HistoryArt KaneAn Emphatic Lens, Robert DoisneauRothko: The Colour Field PaintingsZadik Ben David: Human NatureTurner’s SketchbooksRoyal Academy of Dance: Celebrating 100 YearsThe Short Story of Art, Susie HodgeThe Stones of Venice, John RuskinDesigning Design, Kenya HaraWays of Seeing, John BergerInteraction of Color: 50th Anniversary EditionThe Elements of Typographic StyleMegg’s History of Graphic DesignThe Art Museum: from Boulee to BilboaThe Practice and Science of DrawingOn Painting, AlbertiA World History of ArtAn Introduction to Art TechniquesArtists’ Painting Techniques1500 Color Mixing RecipesAnatomy for the ArtistMorpho: AnatomyThe Art Museum, PhaidonThe Art of Spirited Away/PonyoThe Legend of Zelda, Breath of the Wild, Creating a Champion1000 Portrait Illustrations100 Illustrators (2 vols), TaschenThe Star Wars Archives, Episodes I-III (or Clone Wars)Living and Sustaining a Creative Life, LoudenCatching the Big Fish, David LynchDo It: The CompendiumArt & Fear, Bales and OrlandCreative Block, KrysaTaking the Leap, Kay LangArt/Work, Melber and BhandariThe Artists’ Guide, BattenfieldArt, Inc., Lisa CongdonNew York by New YorkThe United States of Fashion, VogueThe Big Book of ChicFrida Kahlo: The Complete PaintingsPeter Beard, TaschenVogue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume InstituteGreat Escapes USA: The Hotel BookBedtime: Inspirational Beds, Bedrooms, and BoudoirsThe Rhianna BookRalph Lauren in his Own FashionDe Gournay: Hand-Painted InteriorsVogue on LocationBreaking Ground: Architecture by WomenPortraits of Interiors, Axel VervoodtPalm Beach, AssoulineZuber, Brian ColemanBill Cunningham: On the StreetAtlas of Mid-Century Modern HousesWilliam Morris’s FlowersThe New Black VanguardMother and Child, FrankLagerfeld: The Chanel ShowsThe Carlisle, AssoulineBeautiful People of the Café SocietyHotel du cap Eden RocGreco Disco, HallBorn to Party, Forced to WorkLinda McCartney: The Poloroid DairiesAvedon, Gideon LewinTonne Goodman: Point of ViewRobert Doisneau: The Vogue YearsJohn Galliano for DiorFrancois Halard: A Visual DiaryA Booklover’s Guide to New YorkDior and His Decorations

COFFEE TABLE BOOKS:

Image from Amazon.comAt Home in the South, VerandaLouis Vuitton Trophy TrunksHoliday: The Best Travel Magazine That Ever WasUlysses: An Illustrated EditionAccidentally Wes AndersonWine SimpleDesign Remix: A New Spin on Traditional RoomsHowardina Pindell: What Remains to Be SeenBakhodir Jalal: A Line to EternityYayoi Kasuma: Festival of LifeSoul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black PowerFabric of a Nation: American Quilt StoriesHumans of New York: StoriesLatinx Photography in the United StatesBruce Springsteen: Live in the HeartlandActivist: Portraits of CourageAmerican BoysAmerican Cowboys200 Women Who Will Change the Way You See the WorldChinatown PrettyGreat Maps, The SmithsonianSpace Atlas, National GeographicMassimo Listri: The World’s Most Beautiful LibrariesInside North KoreaThe Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big and SmallBeaches, Gray MalinAnimal: The Definitive Visual GuideWriters and Their CatsTom FordPrabal GurungDream Design Live, ContrerasPantone: The 20th Century in ColorAndy Warhol: Polaroids 1958-1987Nopalito: A Mexican KitchenNew Native KitchenBavel: Modern Recipes Inspired by the Middle EastThe Sioux Chef’s Indigenous KitchenThe Art of the Cheese PlateThe Drunken BotanistAli, SchapiroRemembering Diana, Tina Brown30,000 Years of ArtWallpaper: A History, RizzoliS Is for StyleThe Kinfolk Home, WilliamsAlexander McQueenJean-Louis Denoit InteriorsBarack Obama: Hope for the WorldSurf Shacks, Vol. 2Jungalow: Decorate Wild, BlakeneyVenice, Serge RamelliThe Well-Loved House, Ashley WhittakerEvery Room Should Sing, Beata HeumanMay I Come In?, Wendy GoodmanYayoi KusamaGlamorous Rooms, Jan ShowersWhen Art Meets DesignLiving with Color, AtwoodLive Beautiful, CalderonThe Ultimate Sneaker Book, TaschenDoris Duke’s Shangri LaPlantopedia: A Definitive Guide to House PlantsFlower Flash, MonacelliModern Mix, Eddie RossPierre Yovanovich: Interior Architecture

BEST ARTS AND CRAFTS BOOKS (which is more hands-on and broad than the other list):

Image from Goodreads.comMartha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of CraftsMod Podge Rocks!Put Your Stamp On It, LewisFabrics A to Z, WillardLast-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts, HoversonNew Dress a Day, Marissa LynchOliver + S Little Things to Sew, Liesl GibsonSewing for All Seasons, Susan BielSunday Morning Quilts, Neiberg and ArkinsonEdgy Embroidery, Renee RomingerDecorating Cookies, Bridget EdwardsBy Hand, SantoHand in Hand, Jenny DohKnitting without Needles¸ Anne WeilWeaving within Reach, Anne WeilKnitting New Mittens and Gloves, Robin MelansonPom-Poms!, Goldschadt and WrightHow Crafting Saved My Life, Sutton FosterChic and Simple Chunky Knits, TeranishiPunch Needle Embroidery for Beginners, DavidsonThe Little Book of Cottagecore, Emily KentCreepy Cross-Stitch, SwearingenEasy Crafts for the Insane, Kelly Williams BrownModern Quilting, Arthur and QuinnThe Act of Sewing, Sonya PhilipEmpowered Embroidery, Amy L. FrazerKlutz Book of Paper AirplanesAdventure Girls!, Nicole DugganC.R.A.F.T.The Year of Cozy, AdarmeAnni and Josef AlbersHouse of Print, Molly MahonDO/MAKE, James OtterPercelain, MarchandCabinet of Curiosities, TaschenHandmade Houseplants, HoggCreepy Cute Crochet, Christen HadenRock Art Handbook, Samantha SarlesCrafting with Feminism, Bonnie BurtonDIY Projects for Cats and Dogs, Ray and LegrixBold and Beautiful Paper Flowers, Chantal LeroqueSubversive Cross stitch, Julie JacksonCat Castles, Carin OliverCut Paper Pictures, Clover RobinMake a Crochet Garden, Amy GainesTextile Collage, Mandy PattuloPaper to Petal, Thuss and FarrellFeminist Icon Cross-Stitch, Fleiss and MancusoWhimsical Stitches, Lauren EspyThe Art & Craft of Pyrography, Lora S. IrishCrafting with Cat Hair, TsutayaPlaying with Pop-Ups, Helen HiebertWashi Tape Crafts, Amy AndersonQuilting on the Go, Jessica AlexandrakisThe Feminist Activity Book, Gemma CorrellLiterary Yarns, Cindy WangTape It & Make It, Fabian MorganThe Quilter’s BibleBeginner’s Guide to QuiltingHow to Knit: A Complete Guide for Absolute BeginnersKnit Yourself CalmHow to Crochet: A Complete Guide for Absolute BeginnersCrochet Step by StepThe Royal School of Needlework Book of EmbroideryFlower Arranging, the Complete Guide for BeginnersArtists’ Painting Techniques, DKWatercolor for the Absolute BeginnerThe Urban WoodsmanComplete Pottery Techniques, DKEasy OrigamiThe Ultimate Guide to Modern CalligraphyThe Art of Pressed Flowers and Leaves, Jennie AshmooreCrafty Chica’s Art de la Soul, MurilloHand Dyed, Anne JoyceMake and Mend, Jessica MarquezThe Exquisite Book of Paper Flowers, Livia CettiPattern Studio, KulikThe Art and Craft of Geometric Origami, BolithoLettering and Modern Calligraphy, Paper Peony PressCollage Techniques, Gerald BrommerHow to Make Resin Jewelry, Sara NaumannBath, Buff and Beautify, Aubre AndrusCrafting Calm, SpaniolWildlife Ranger Action Guide, Mary Kay CarsonPlant, Sow, Make and Grow, Esther CoombsPranklab, FaircloughCrazy Contraptions, Laura PurdueTreat Yourself!, SiskinNature Play at Home, StrinistreEasy Paper Projects, Maggy WoodlyThe Papercraft Ideas BookThe Artist UniqueThe Modern Artist’s WayPaper CuttingPainting HappinessThe Big-Ass Book of CraftsArt Making with MomaHarry Potter: Crafting Wizardry52 Sketch PromptsOrigami Extravanganza!Brain Games Sticker by Number NatureMastering Hand BuildingPottery for BeginnersMasters: Collage, Lark BooksThe Elemental JournalStencil CraftCreative Lettering WorkshopMixed Media HandbookMixed Media Painting WorkshopInner Hero Creative Art JournalStart Journaling: An Art Journaling WorkbookCollage TechniquesExtraordinary Things to Cut and CollageAdventures in Mixed MediaThe Making It Guide to CraftingCrafting a Colorful HomeHappy Handmade HomeMartha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts

BEST ACTIVITIES AND GAMES BOOKS (You know, for flights and keeping your brain young):

Image from Amazon.comThe Fun and Relaxing Adult Activity BookUnbored GamesStress Relief Coloring Book, Adult Coloring BookThe LEGO Ideas Book, DKHarry Potter Coloring Book, ScholasticPlayer’s Handbook and Monster Manual, Wizards RPG TeamSecret Garden, Basford and KingEnchanted Forest, Basford and KingLost Ocean, BasfordDo the Work!, Bell and KateThe Moth Presents: A Game of Storytelling, The MothPapercuts, Electric LiteratureThe Yumiverse Mindful Coloring BookKitten Lady’s Cativity BookMurdle, Vol. 1The Geography Coloring BookAdventures from Scratch, Family EditionJournal 29 Interactive Book GameBurn After WritingThis Book Is a PlanetariumFinish This BookThe Escape BookNo Props, No ProblemWreck This JournalBe Happy: Just Add WaterYou’re Weird: A Creative Journal for MisfitsDubious DocumentsEscape Room PuzzlesCriminal Mind Puzzles, Brain GamesBrain Teasers for AdultsThe 125 Best Brain Teasers of All TimeThe Scotland Yard Puzzle BookChallenging Brain Teasers, MENSA and AARPMontague Island Mysteries and Other Logic Puzzles50 Logic Grid PuzzlesTricky Logic Puzzles for AdultsCryptograms, Jack MerrinBest of Wednesday Crosswords Book, New York TimesDifficult Riddles for Smart Kids¸ PrefontaineSafecracker 40 Math PuzzleWheel of Fortune Word Puzzles1000+ Sudoku Puzzles, FunsterWhat Am I?, Zack GuidoCode Breaker, Brain GamesCSI, Brain GamesLarge Print Word Searches, Brain GamesSherlock Holmes Puzzles, Brain Games399 Games, Puzzles, and Trivia Challenges, LindeJumbo Puzzle Book 2, USA TodayLower Your Brain Age in Minutes a Day, Brain GamesThe Greatest Collection of Riddles and Brainteasers, Zack GuidoThe Moscow Puzzles, KordemskyLogic Puzzles, Puzzle BaronLarge Print Crossword Puzzles, Brain GamesChallenge Accepted!, KravisKakuro Cross Sums, Vol. 3My Lady’s Choosing, Zageris and CurranWhat Lies Beneath the Clock Tower, Killjoy and NavarroTo Be or Not to Be, Ryan NorthThe Cypher Files, CassapakiThe Master Theorem, MMonday Crossword Puzzle Omnibus, The New York TimesTricky Logic Puzzles for Adults, Clontz120+ Variety Puzzles Book for Adults: Math Puzzles500+ Word Search Puzzles for AdultsOh My Sudoku!, J. D. CrossOn This Day: CryptogramsMurder Most Puzzling, Vanreiswitz100 Large Print Crossword PuzzlesThe New York Times Sunday Crossword Puzzles, Will SHortzCrush + Color seriesSudoku Over 900 PuzzlesLarge Print Wordsearch Puzzles 2Neon Coloring Kit: UnicornsHarry Potter: The Ultimate QuizHarry Potter: The Complete Quiz BookCityscapes Glow in the Dark ColoringThe Unofficial Michelle Obama Activity Book, JoyceColor Me DrunkPaint by Sticker MasterpiecesThe Anatomy Coloring BookGigantic Paper Planes