10 books to give (and be given) for Christmas 2025

The Monocle Book of Designers on Sofas
Curated by Virginia McLeod for Monocle

From Bjarke Ingels to Ronan Bouroullec, from Sabine Macelis to Federica Biasi. Monocle meets 50 celebrated designers from across the globe who get cosy on their couches (with their pets, partners and children) and tell us about their sofa choices – why they designed it, why they chose it, how they use it. Original photographic portraits and in-depth interviews transport us into the homes of some of our favourite creatives.

☞ For those who want fresh insights into the work, lives, passions, and style of these inspiring minds.

Discover our selection of five design monographs

Storie fantastiche per oggetti reali
Words by Carlo and Livia Castiglioni, illustrations bt Andrea Galanti – Lazydog

A book that reimagines the iconic pieces of the Castiglioni brothers as whimsical fairy tales for the young at heart. Through the words of Carlo and Livia Castiglioni – who preserve their legacy and spirit – lamps, seats, and other iconic objects become the protagonists of imaginative stories that reveal the poetry, wit, and ingenuity embedded in every design.

☞ For those who want to discover the magical yet deeply human side of design, and be charmed by the Castiglioni world of inventions.

Inside Ibiza
Text by Emma Roig Askari and photos by Ricardo Labougle – Vendome Press

Few people know that Ibiza has inspired some of the greatest architects of the 20th century - Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, Josep Lluís Sert - thanks to its humble yet brilliant vernacular architecture. Traditional “can” houses, built with local materials like lime and stone, follow simple, modular designs. These structures are both functional and poetic: they respond to the climate, blend into the landscape, and turn space into a perfect balance of necessity and beauty. This lesser-known side of the island is captured beautifully in the book Inside Ibiza.

☞ For those who want to experience Ibiza differently, where interiors and homes reveal more than any postcard

See also the book featuring stunning sicilian houses

Down Under
Formafantasma – NERO and C-mine

Down Under by FormaFantasma is an editorial project that blends narrative fiction, design, and scientific research. An illustrated fairy tale guides readers through the hidden layers of the Earth, while essays and interviews with scientists reveal the wonders of the natural world. The book invites reflection on our deep interconnectedness with all living beings.

☞ For those who wish to explore the boundary between storytelling and science, imagination and reality, and discover new perspectives on our planet.

Giocattolini
Franco Matticchio – Marinoni Books

Introduced by the affectionate, musical words of Vincenzo Mollica, Matticchio’s “little toys” turn into talismans: fragments of childhood, poetic relics, small epiphanies that illuminate what usually hides within simple things. A book that plays with memory and imagination, revealing once again the inexhaustible grace of Matticchio’s line—poised between illustration and painting, between dream and quiet smile.

☞ For those who love the poetry of small things and objects that, if you look closely, seem on the verge of waking up.

Discover other collections that have become art books

Milano Proiezioni astratte
Paolo Ventura – Corraini

"For me, Milan is a city drawn in the sky by hundreds of cables and wires that cross each other, run parallel, following and turning, holding the buildings together like motionless marionettes. A big pair of scissors could cut one of those cables, and everything would collapse." This book is a tribute by Paolo Ventura to his hometown, a visual history of Milan's architecture created by using photography, painting, and collage.

☞ For those who want to see Milan as they never have before, suspended between reality and imagination.

Discover Milan you've never seen before with a selection of five books

Bars Vol. 01
Softer Volumes

BARS Vol. 01 explores the design of the world’s best bars from multiple perspectives, from lighting and materials to acoustics and layout. The volume gathers over 50 hand-picked venues across 20 countries, where excellent drinks meet carefully crafted interiors. Precise photography and clear descriptions make it a valuable resource for creatives, architects, hospitality professionals and interior designers.

☞ For anyone looking for their next beautifully designed spot to enjoy a drink!

Explore the new geography of modern hospitality

How Many Women are in the room?
Curated by Cinzia Ferrara, Laura Moretti, Carla Palladino – The Printing Office in coedition with AIAP

How Many Women Are in the Room? is a symbolic question and an invitation to remain vigilant about female representation – both in design and beyond. This volume documents the fifth edition of AWDA, gathers the selected and awarded projects and is completed by essays from international activists, designers, scholars, and researchers who reflect on issues related to women’s labor, gender equity, and cultural and social disparities.

☞ For those who want to explore the presence of women in design, through projects and new perspectives.

Discover our selection of books on female representation in design

La sicurezza degli oggetti
Contributes by Roberto Alajmo, Stefania Carini, Matteo Curti, Anna Siccardi and journalists from Il Post.
Curated by Il Post and Nicola Sofri. Illustrations by Klaus Kremmerz.

This book looks at everyday objects with the curiosity and narrative style of Il Post. It explores how our lives are shaped by intimate and often essential relationships with things whose appearance and history we barely notice, or that we label as “design objects,” forgetting that everything has a design and that the most successful ones are the result of careful attention to function, and of long periods of study and experimentation.

☞ For those who love to understand how the world works, one object at a time.

Atlante dei Videoghiochi
Andrea Davide Cuman and Cristian Confalonieri – Topic
Illustrations by Marta Signori.

From arcade cabinets to home consoles, PC gaming, and mobile adaptations, the Atlas of Video Games charts a wide and in-depth map of the gaming world. Following, one year later, the Atlas of Board Games, it embraces the same guiding principle: uncovering the stories behind the most iconic titles to build a rich and comprehensive narrative of such an influential cultural phenomenon.

☞ For those who love exploring video games as a cultural and narrative medium.

Read also the interview with Kurolili