What's on your (virtual) coffee table?

(Click for the full-size picture; sorry for the bandwidth)

One of the best ways to get to know someone is to look at their bookshelf. Or at least their coffee table. I heard a story (can't remember where) about a new manager who was taking over a role where he knew the team was unhappy about the situation. Rather than do the usual "let me introduce myself" speech, this manager walked into the conference room with a pile of books he was reading, or that had been favorites, and laid them on the table and said something like, "Here, take a look at these and you'll know more about me than I could ever explain. Borrow anything you like."

I thought that was a very cool story. I consider a lot of what's on my bookshelf to be private, but that's what coffee tables are for... to have books for visitors to look at and play with, that you're willing to share with the outside world, and that you like having close at hand.

People have been asking for some of my favorite books, so rather than list them all with links (sorry, too lazy tonight), I put them on the coffee table and took pictures. If there are any you can't see the titles on or can't find on Google or Amazon, just ask and I'll get a link. You'll notice there's very little fiction. That tells you two things about me--I'm far more often reading non-fiction, but also I have a policy to pass on all fiction books that I read, so I keep very few around. But there are a couple of favorites I will keep forever including Neil Gaiman's Stardust, and a book of short stories by Dan Simmons.

The two other books not shown, but that I usually keep around (I keep buying copies for people) are Girlfriend in a Coma, by Douglas Coupland. And Sailing to Byzantium a book of stories by Robert Silverberg that includes my favorite sci-fi story, of the same name as the book. That I love sci-fi is now rather obvious...

For fun, I keep coming back to the Bunny Suicides (not for everyone, but I love them.)

Of all the books on my coffee table (real or virtual), my most precious is my autographed copy of Machine Beauty by David Gelernter, although I'm amazed that not that many people seem to love the book as much as I do. The small-world freakish thing is that almost half a decade after I first read it, I end up with a co-author (Eric) whose work is talked about in the book.

Another unexpected favorite is Within the Stone, by Bill Atkinson. You probably know him as one of the original creators of the Macintosh (including creation of the ground-breaking MacPaint and Hypercard software), but here is an example of coder-turned-artist. These photos are some of the most spectacular I've ever seen--he pioneered a way of both taking and digitally preparing the photos for print. This book is great for photography, nature, or fractal fans.

The rest of the books are those I'm either reading (or referring to) currently for the work that I do, or that I just like having around for inspiration or ideas. Usually they're stacked next to or around the coffee table. I also didn't include some of the ones I most often link to (like those from Don Norman or Roger Schank).

So, what's on your virtual or real coffee table?