Why coffee table books can resist digitization?

Why digitalization can't replace coffee table books With the advent of the digital times, most paper book printing and fashion magazine printing are gradually transforming to digital. Do all book printing have no other way except to transform? The answer is: Of course not, there is at least one category of book printing that e-books and readers can't replace, and that's the ones that accompany you on the coffee table.We call this type of book coffee table book.

What’s coffee table book?

Photo by Amrita Singh,from https://www.abouther.com/ According to wikipedia’s explain:A coffee table book, also known as a cocktail table book, is an oversized, usually hard-covered book whose purpose is for display on a table intended for use in an area in which one entertains guests and from which it can serve to inspire conversation or pass the time. Subject matter is predominantly non-fiction and pictorial (a photo-book). Pages consist mainly of photographs and illustrations, accompanied by captions and small blocks of text, as opposed to long prose.

Why coffee table book can’t replace by digitalization?

While most of magazines and book publishing have transitioned from printed

books to digital publishing, one segment of book publishing is still dominated by book printing, and that is the "coffee table books printing" market.

“The appeal of art books and coffee table books today is getting stronger and stronger as books dematerialize in the digital space,” says Michael Coffey of Publishers Weekly. “The art book stands out more and more as an object.”

Coffee table books are usually big tomes, and are the kind of picture books that feature images of specific topics, and according to an article in Marketing Business, such books are growing in the printing industry. While other publications are going digital, paper coffee table books are seen as holiday gifts and home decorations.

"A really well-done coffee table book is like a work of art, with details such as color use and color repetition that can coordinate with the entire room, blend in, and make a big difference." New York Interior Design College Dean Ellen Fisher said in "Marketing Business".

In the 1950s, Paul Steiner, founder of Chanticleer Press, created the first coffee table books, the Photography Guide series, which was the first coffee table book to appear in the publishing world. Especially in the 1970s, when Mr. Steiner merged the "Audubon Society Application Guide" and "Pocket Guide" series, his series of coffee table books became even more popular.

At that time, nature-themed pictorial coffee table books were so popular that Temple Press published other series: Taylor's Guide to Gardening and Mary McCarthy's Guide to Florence in the Stone City. In the 1960s, the exhibition book series was introduced by David Ball, president of the environmentalist Sierra Club, who came up with the idea of A "modern coffee table book," which he hoped would be presented to readers in a photographic exhibition-like fashion. The first book in the series is American Geography, with images courtesy of Ansel Adams. Ultimately, 20 eco- and nature-themed coffee table books were published in this showcase book format.

Subsequently, this illustrated book expanded from nature to other themes, covering almost every conceivable aspect of artists, musicians, cities, countries, and fashion. Coffee Table Books are themselves designed for light reading, engaging readers with sophisticated quality and dazzling images. Coffee table books have always been part of popular culture.

"A physical book silently conveys the owner's tastes and preferences, allowing others to quickly understand and choose relevant topics," says Josh Baker, art director at Taschen, which publishes art, architecture, design and Photography

related books.

It's the ability of coffee table books to share their host's taste and style with guests that makes them so popular. There has been a steady stream of boutique coffee table books.

In addition, coffee table book printing are the key to the vitality of brick-andmortar bookstores. The Bookseller's special edition editor Tom Funan recently wrote in The Independent, "While other print books have been slumped by the onslaught of digital, pictorial and art books have withstood the test of the digital age. , this beautiful print book will survive in the digital age. For example, the latest book data shows that sales of personal art monographs have increased by 70% compared to the same period last year.” The price of a coffee table book ranges from $50 to the collector’s price. People are willing to shell out a few hundred dollars for beautifully designed books.

Coffee table books offer a reading experience that Kindle readers and iPad can't match, such as thick paper,sturdy binding and vast colorful photo.That’s why coffee table book can’t replace by digitalize.