Best Taschen products in the Non-fiction category

On this page you'll find a ranking of the best Taschen products in this category. To give you a quick overview, we've already ranked the most important information about the products for you.

1. Virgil Abloh. Nike. ICONS

From the Air Jordan 1 to the Air Presto, Nike and Virgil Abloh deconstruct 10 sneaker icons and create new stars in sneaker heaven with their collaboration "The Ten". Experience insights into technical ingenuity and Abloh's investigative design process - each shoe is a piece of product design, a readymade and a garment. 

Virgil Abloh. Nike. ICONS (English, Virgil Abloh, 2020)
Non-fiction
CHF58.90

Virgil Abloh. Nike. ICONS

English, Virgil Abloh, 2020

2. Sneaker Freaker. The Ultimate Sneaker Book. 40th Ed

In 2002, Australian Simon "Woody" Wood was simply looking for a way to get sneakers for free. Two weeks later, he became the proud publisher of Sneaker Freaker and never had to go barefoot again.

From its early origins as a punk-style fanzine to its current glossy format with an online edition, this fiercely independent magazine has documented every collab, quickstrike, hyperstrike, and Tier-Zero sneaker, every limited edition, reissue, and trendy innovation of the past 20 years, from classic adidas kicks to ultra-luxurious designer sneakers.

Magical product descriptions like "The suede on the tongue and heel is as dark and mysterious as a gaze into a bottomless abyss. The mint nubuck is pure dynamite, the gray leather is the spark, and the sturdy mesh toe box is the exclamation point. Bang!" hint at how the synapses in the sneaker universe are laced together.

Woody's original mandate that Sneaker Freaker should be "both fun and serious, meaningful and purposeless" is exemplarily fulfilled by The Ultimate Sneaker Book: Over 500 pages filled with insider knowledge that leave no outrageous historical detail unmentioned and present countless fan memorabilia in a sleek manner, documenting the history, present, and future of footwear from around the world, all commented on and shaped in sneaker lingo.

In addition to a confident march through sneaker history, the Nike Air Max and Air Force, Adi Dassler, Converse, Dapper Dan, Dee Brown, and Michael Jordan are discussed in detail, alongside obscure gems like Troop, Airwalk, and Vision Street Wear.

This volume is the definitive reference work for sneakerheads, visual manna, and an orgiastically bubbling source of sneaker knowledge—simply put, it’s the Ultimate Sneaker Book.
 

Sneaker Freaker. The Ultimate Sneaker Book. 40th Ed (English, Simon Wood, 2024)
Non-fiction
CHF29.70

Sneaker Freaker. The Ultimate Sneaker Book. 40th Ed

English, Simon Wood, 2024

3. Case Study Houses

With 36 prototype designs, the Case Study House programme created paradigms of modern living whose influences extended far beyond the Los Angeles area. This essential introduction includes 150 photographs and floor plans to explore each of these model homes and their architects - including Richard Neutra, Charles and Ray Eames, and Eero... 

Case Study Houses (English, Elizabeth A. T. Smith, Peter Gössel, 2016)
Non-fiction
CHF19.90

Case Study Houses

English, Elizabeth A. T. Smith, Peter Gössel, 2016

4. 1000 Chairs. Updated version

Sit back, relax, and look at some of the most iconic chairs in history: this reference book - a must for chair design addicts and seating collectors - presents all the relevant information about the designer and his work for each chair, from Alvar Aalto to Eva Zeisel, from Art Nouveau to International Style. Freshly updated, this issue presents archetypal seating furniture from the 19th century to the most innovative designs of the present. 

1000 Chairs. Updated version (German, Bags, Charlotte & Peter Fiell, 2017)
Non-fiction
CHF20.90

1000 Chairs. Updated version

German, Bags, Charlotte & Peter Fiell, 2017

5. Gourmand, Eggs

Dalí's muse, Hitchcock's worst fear or simple ingredient, the egg and its cultural and culinary history are the subject of a compelling narrative that stretches back to antiquity. The first volume in TASCHEN's Gourmand series celebrates the fusion of food and art with a collection of original recipes. 

Gourmand, Eggs (German, The Gourmand, 2023)
Non-fiction
CHF38.90

Gourmand, Eggs

German, The Gourmand, 2023

6. The Book of Colour Concepts

From the 17th century to the advent of the digital age, colour theories have been illustrated with luscious wheels, polychrome charts, and meticulous diagrams. Gathering over 65 works from around the world, this illuminating edition traces the endless hues and shades of a subject that inspired Newton, Goethe, Sanzō Wada, the Bauhaus, and many more. 

The Book of Colour Concepts (English, Spanish, French, German, Alexandra Loske, Sarah Lowengard, 2024)
Non-fiction
CHF109.–

The Book of Colour Concepts

English, Spanish, French, German, Alexandra Loske, Sarah Lowengard, 2024

7. HR Giger. 40th ed

"At its core, Giger's art digs into the psyche and touches our deep-seated primeval instincts and fears. His art forms a category unto itself. The proof is in the intensity of his work and imagination, which I can only compare to Hieronymus Bosch and Francis Bacon in its ability to provoke and disturb." - Ridley Scott
Swiss artist HR Giger (1940-2014) became most famous for his Oscar-winning design of the monster for Ridley Scott's science fiction horror film Alien (1979). In retrospect, this was only the most prominent creature in Giger's extensive arsenal of biomechanical creatures. These included fused hermaphrodites of man and machine, sensuous bodies enclosed in womb-like contraptions, and painted demons, inspired by fantastic literature and Giger's nightmares.
These images gave expression to the collective fears of his era: fear of nuclear war, overpopulation and resource scarcity, and a future in which the survival of our bodies depends on machines. Its visionary power plays with the demons of the past while creating myths for the future.
Based on the comprehensive monograph begun shortly before the artist's unexpected death, this more affordable edition pays homage to Giger's unique vision. It tells the full story of his life and art, showcasing his sculptures, iconic film work and record covers, and the legacy he left behind in his own artist's museum in the Swiss Alps. In a profound essay, Giger expert Andreas J. Hirsch takes an in-depth look at the themes of Gigers work and his world. In addition, the book contains numerous documents from Giger's archive, quotes from contemporaries and critical reflections, as well as a detailed biography based on the records de.
 

HR Giger. 40th ed (German, English, French, Andreas J. Hirsch, 2022)
Non-fiction
CHF24.70

HR Giger. 40th ed

German, English, French, Andreas J. Hirsch, 2022

8. Marvel Comics Library. Spider-Man. 1962-1964

When
Stan Lee
first presented the idea of Spider-Man in 1962, his boss had numerous objections: People hate spiders. Teenagers
are not main characters, they are sidekicks. The protagonist should be glamorous and successful and not a friendless loser. But Stan persisted, and Martin Goodman allowed him to play the unlikely hero in
Amazing Fantasy
which was going to be cancelled anyway. And then,
with Spider-Man on the cover, the doomed issue's No. 15 shot to the top of that year's Marvel bestseller list, and the rest is history.Amazing Spider-Man
which appeared seven months later, broke with all comics traditions. Peter Parker lived in uncool Queens, was always broke, constantly worried about his Aunt May, had bad luck in love and was constantly shouted at by his boss J. Jonah Jameson, the editor of the
Daily Bugle
. Spider-Man had the quick wit and confidence that Parker lacked, but it wasn't always easy to utilise his powers. He often seemed on the brink of defeat against the rogues' gallery of classic foes that appeared in the early years: Vulture, Doctor Octopus, Sandman, Lizard, Electro, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio and the Green Goblin. A large part of Spider-Man's success can be attributed to his co-creator and illustrator
Steve Ditko
who had a knack for portraying teenagers and their problems. His drawings gave Spider-Man a light-footed dynamic, and even though many people may have been afraid of spiders,
swinging by the strings through New York made Ditko look like the coolest adventure ever
This compact edition - originally in XXL format.
 

Marvel Comics Library. Spider-Man. 1962-1964 (English, Ralph Macchio, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee, 2024)
Non-fiction
CHF61.90

Marvel Comics Library. Spider-Man. 1962-1964

English, Ralph Macchio, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee, 2024

9. Witchcraft. Library of esotericism

The third volume in the Library of Esoterica takes an exciting journey through the history of witchcraft, following magical practice from its origins to present-day incarnations. Featuring more than 400 works of art, insightful essays, and interviews with modern magicians, Witchcraft chronicles a... 

Witchcraft. Library of esotericism (German, Jessica Hundley, Pam Grossman, 2022)
Non-fiction
CHF36.90

Witchcraft. Library of esotericism

German, Jessica Hundley, Pam Grossman, 2022

10. The Nasa Archives: 60 Years in Space

When NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, began operations in 1958, it was also an act of mental hygiene for a shocked and hysterical American nation, over which Russian sputniks had been flying overhead for a year. A few years later, the little group of rocketmen, technicians and test pilots, who received early support from PR professionals, had blossomed into a leading technology company and a myth factory. Astronauts became the new national heroes, and programmes such as Mercury, Gemini and finally Apollo captivated millions, distracted them from the nuclear arms race and armed conflicts such as in Vietnam and turned Cape Canaveral into a national pilgrimage site.
The moon landing, the famous image of the "Blue Marble", which raised awareness of "Spaceship Earth", the shuttle flights and countless probe missions through the solar system and beyond its borders with Voyager, but also disasters such as the loss of the Challenger and Columbia teams wrote technology, science and media history. Who doesn't remember the images of Armstrong and Aldrin on the moon, of space shuttles taking off and landing, of the construction of the ISS space station, of astronauts on space missions, of the fascinating views of the universe provided by the Hubble Space Telescope, or of the Mars panoramas of the rover vehicles? Today, millions of people around the world follow NASA's work via social media; the first high-resolution photo of Pluto alone brought NASA more than 320,000 interactions and over 152,000 new followers on its Facebook profile within one day.
Based on our XL edition, produced in collaboration with NASA, this compact volume uses hundreds of historic photographs and rare concept images - resampled and reworked using the latest techniques - to trace the history of the National Space Station.
 

The Nasa Archives: 60 Years in Space (English, Piers Bizony, 2022)
Non-fiction
CHF28.90

The Nasa Archives: 60 Years in Space

English, Piers Bizony, 2022