Beautiful Maths and Science Books for your Coffee Table

Beautiful Maths and Science Books

This curated selection of beautiful maths and science books showcases some of the most brilliant coffee table books to buy for creative thinkers, artists, designers, and scientists alike. With each designed to engage the eye and intellect, these maths and science books offer rich insights into the intersection of creativity and discovery. Enriching additions to any designer’s library, these breathtaking volumes combine the unique worlds of art and science in ways that are sure to spark curiosity and creativity.

Oliver Byrne's Elements of Euclid

Oliver Byrne’s Elements of Euclid: The First Six Books with Coloured Diagrams and Symbols

In one of the most stunning expositions of mathematical publishing, Oliver Byrne combines Euclid’s geometric theories with vibrant colour proofs, turning what was already a cornerstone academic text into a pedagogical work of art.

Scattered across each page in brilliant reds, blues and yellows are triangles, squares and circles combined in a myriad of combinations with intersecting lines and numbers. These intricate figures express the proofs of many iconic geometric equations that form the bedrock of mathematical study.

Mathematics and Art

Mathematics and Art: A Cultural History

This brilliant book offers a cultural history of the meeting point between math and art from ancient times to the modern day. It guides readers through the practice of mathematics and philosophical ideas in both fields. Gamwell reveals the in-depth connections between artistic expression and mathematical concepts; her exploration is beautifully illustrated throughout with mathematical diagrams and artworks.

Tracing the development of mathematics from antiquity through the Enlightenment, Gamwell covers significant contributions from ancient traditions, moving then to modern times. This brilliant book looks at the lives and cultural contexts of various influential mathematicians and artists.

Emily Vanderpoel's Colour Problems

Emily Vanderpoel’s Color Problems: A Practical Manual for the Lay Student of Color

An essential publication on colour theory from a pioneering female scientist, this unique work explores the world of colour, reimagining foundational theories for practical use in art, science, and design.

First published in 1902, Color Problems is a seminal work of Emily Noyes Vanderpoel, a pioneering artist, scientist, and scholar. Developing the scientific theories established by Newton, Goethe, and their later compeers, Chevruel and Rood, this unique guide presents accessible colour theory to appeal across the disciplines, breaking down critical ideas in a series of experimental and visually stunning illustrations.

Science Illustration

Science Illustration: A History of Visual Knowledge from the 15th Century to Today

Embarking on a visual journey through the world’s groundbreaking discoveries, this large volume celebrates the fusion of science and art, showcasing over 300 stunning illustrations that capture the pivotal discoveries that have transformed our understanding of the world. From Galileo’s watercolour moonscapes to Einstein’s handwritten equations, these visuals offer a unique perspective on the insights of over 700 scientists, spanning anatomy, physics, chemistry, astronomy, and beyond.

Maria Merian's Metamorphosis

Maria Merian’s Metamorphosis: One Woman’s Journey of the Discovery of Transformation in Butterflies and Moths

Originally published in 1705, this brilliantly illustrated volume documents Maria Merian’s research expedition to Suriname in 1699. Over the period of two years, the German naturalist observed many South American butterflies and moths, meticulously recording her findings in a series of 60 stunning full-plate illustrations.

Her groundbreaking entomological observations, coupled with her unique artworks, emphasise her invaluable role as a pioneering woman in science.

How Zoologists Organize Things

How Zoologists Organize Things: The Art of Classification

From ancient myths to modern science, this book explores the intersection of art meets science, showcasing how early zoologists and naturalists used art to make sense of the animal kingdom.

Collecting material from medieval folklore to Enlightenment-era charts and modern visualizations, these stunning illustrations reflect the evolving relationship between humans and nature.

A perfect gift for those drawn to math, science, and the artistry of discovery, this book reveals how much we’ve learned—and how much we still have to uncover.

Henry Gray's Anatomy

Henry Gray’s Anatomy: Surgical and Descriptive

A scientific and artistic triumph, Gray’s Anatomy is one of the most iconic anatomical texts ever to be printed.

One of the most distinguished texts on medical anatomy, the thoroughly illustrated pages of Gray’s Anatomy have provided generations of readers with an invaluable reference to the human form.

A must-have for medical students and artists alike, this edition features the original text and illustrations from the first edition in 1858.

Beautiful Maths and Science Books for your Coffee Table