Coffee Table Surfing Books
Coffee table surfing books are good for surfers, beach houses, waiting rooms, surf shops, guesthouses and anyone who likes looking at waves without having to paddle out. Some are proper surf history books, some are big wave photography books, and a few are just nice salty-looking books for the table.
Surf Books, Wave Photography & Beach House Coffee Table Books
These are coffee table-style surfing books from Amazon, with the bigger surf photography and best-known books near the top. No deep sales pitch here — they just look better than a pile of old bills.
Clark Little: The Art of Waves
Big seller pick. Clark Little’s shorebreak photography is pretty hard to beat. Heavy Hawaiian waves, close-up ocean power and the sort of photos that make you stare for a while.
The History of Surfing
A proper surf history book and a strong one for anyone who wants more than just pretty photos. Good for surfers who like knowing where it all came from.
Surf Shack: Laid-Back Living by the Water
A surf lifestyle and beach-house book with laid-back interiors, coastal homes and the kind of places most surfers wouldn’t mind waking up in.
Big Wave Surfer: The Greatest Rides of Our Lives
A big wave surfing book full of proper heavy-water moments. Best enjoyed from the couch, where the hold-downs are much shorter.
Surfer Magazine: 1960-2020
A big surf culture book covering decades of Surfer Magazine. Good for anyone who grew up on surf mags, or wishes they did.
Surfing. 1778-Today. 45th Edition
A serious surf coffee table book with history, photography and design. One of those books that looks good and actually has plenty to read.
LeRoy Grannis: Surf Photography of the 1960s and 1970s
Classic surf photography from one of the greats. Longboards, California surf culture and the sort of images that still feel right.
Surfing. 1778-Today
A large-format surfing book covering surf history, culture, photography and boards. A solid coffee table choice for proper surf people.
Fifty Places to Surf Before You Die
A surf travel book with famous waves and destinations around the world. Dangerous reading if you are trying not to book flights.
Surf Tribe
A surf culture and portrait-style book with surfers from around the world. More about the people and lifestyle than just perfect waves.
Lonely Planet Epic Surf Breaks of the World
A surf travel book from Lonely Planet, covering famous surf breaks and wave destinations. Good for planning trips you may or may not ever take.
The Stylish Life: Surfing
A stylish surf lifestyle book with classic surf culture, design and photography. Good for the coffee table, even if the coffee table is a bit beaten up.
Kelly Slater: A Life of Waves
A book on Kelly Slater, surfing and a life spent around waves. Hard to leave him off a surf book page, really.
Surf Craft: Design and the Culture of Board Riding
A good one for board design fans. Covers surf craft, board riding culture and the shape side of surfing.
Waiting For The Perfect Wave
A surf shack-style coffee table book with a simple black and white look. Good if you want something surfy without going full wall-of-colour.
Coffee Table Book: Surf
A small surf-themed coffee table book. More decorative than deep surf history, but still fits a beach house or surf room nicely.
Surf Lessons: Stories Of An Eastern Surfer
More surf reading than pure coffee table photo book, but still a good one for surfers who like stories from the water.
Surf Rider: Decorative Coastal Coffee Table Book
A decorative surf-style coffee table book for staging, shelves and beach-house decor. More “looks the part” than surf textbook.
Sun Surf Sand: Coastal Coffee Table Book
A coastal-style coffee table book with a surf and beach feel. Handy for decorating a guest room, beach house or rental space.
Surf: Coastal Decorative Book
A decorative coastal surf book for coffee tables and shelves. Good filler if you want the room to look a bit more beachy without trying too hard.
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