13 Best Art Books
We analyzed 6+ expert sources, curated book lists, and recommendations from successful people to find the 13 best art books according to the internet — not just one person's opinion. Each book on this list was mentioned by at least two independent sources, and the ranking is based on how frequently each title appears across all sources studied. This consensus-based approach ensures you get recommendations backed by multiple experts, not a single reviewer's bias.
Goal: Find the best Art books according to the internet (not just one person's opinion).
Method:
- Search for "best art books" and study the top 6+ pages.
- Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
- Rank the results neatly here.
13 Best Art Books
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Art & Fear
Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
Just Kids
Also recommended by
3 people
Emma Watson recommended this bookEmma Watson
"I have had [this book] on my bedside forever." - Emma Watson
Emma Watson's recommendation of this book 
Seth Godin recommended this bookSeth Godin
"It is not going to change the way you do business but it might change the way you live." - Seth Godin
Seth Godin's recommendation of this book 
Shauna Niequist recommended this bookShauna Niequist
Shauna Niequist recommended this book on Twitter.
Shauna Niequist's recommendation of this book
The $12 Million Stuffed Shark
The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art
Also recommended by
3 people
Vinod Khosla recommended this bookVinod Khosla
"A look at the economics and the marketing strategies that enable the modern art market to generate such astronomical prices." - Vinod Khosla
Vinod Khosla's recommendation of this book 
Brianne Kimmel recommended this bookBrianne Kimmel
Brianne Kimmel recommended this book on Twitter.
Brianne Kimmel's recommendation of this book 
Trung Phan recommended this bookTrung Phan
"About the Contemporary Art industry." - Trung Phan
Trung Phan's recommendation of this book
The Artist's Way
Morning Pages Journal
Also recommended by
3 people
Tim Ferriss recommended this bookTim Ferriss
"Nearly every morning, I sit down with a hot cocktail of turmeric, ginger, pu-erh tea, and green tea. Next, I crack open [this book]." - Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss's recommendation of this book 
Brian Koppelman recommended this bookBrian Koppelman
"The closest thing to magic I’ve come across. That if you really do it every day in a real disciplined practice, something happens to your subconscious that allows you to get your most creative place." - Brian Koppelman
Brian Koppelman's recommendation of this book 
Russell Brand recommended this bookRussell Brand
"I love it. A practical, spiritual, nurturing book." - Russell Brand
Russell Brand's recommendation of this book
The Art Spirit
Also recommended by
2 people
Jack Dorsey recommended this bookJack Dorsey
"About creativity through the lens of an art student." - Jack Dorsey
Jack Dorsey's recommendation of this book 
Ron Conway recommended this bookRon Conway
"Notes, articles, fragments of letters and talks to students, bearing on the concept and technique of picture making, the study of art generally, and on appreciation." - Ron Conway
Ron Conway's recommendation of this book
Bright Stars
Great Artists Who Died Too Young
Do It
The Compendium
Meadow Arts
The First 20 Years
Tengo un Dragón Dentro del Corazón
The Photographs of Carlota Guerrero
The Art Book
The Artist's Guide
How to Make a Living Doing What You Love
The Philosophy of Andy Warhol
From A to B and Back Again
The Story of Art
Sources
- 1
10 More Books Every Artist Should Read | Skillshare Blog
skillshare.com
- 2
100 Best Art Books of All Time (Updated for 2021)
shortform.com
- 3
The 9 Books Every Artist Should Have on Their Shelf | Artwork Archive
artworkarchive.com
- 4
The Loveliest Art Books For Your Coffee Table - Interiors & Culture
countryandtownhouse.co.uk
- 5
Best Art Books
pennbookcenter.com
- 6
Michael Bracewell's top 10 art books | Art and design books | The Guardian
theguardian.com
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.
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