This winter is the perfect time to rediscover the pleasure of reading: a comfortable sofa, a warm drink and the chance to enjoy some must-reads from a well-stocked bookcase. Covering subjects ranging from music to architecture, eba presents its most carefully curated selection, which will delight the most avid readers.
eba’s selection: the must-reads of 2021
Francis Wolff, Pourquoi la musique? (‘Why Music?’), Fayard publishing house
This work is an essential for any self-respecting music lover. Originally published in French by the Fayard publishing house, Pourquoi la musique? (‘Why Music?’), by the philosopher Francis Wolff is a comprehensive analysis of the creation and function of music in human society. The author talks about the transcendence of sounds, the beauty of dance, its collective meaning. He explains why there’s music wherever there are humans.
Odile Fillion, Jean Nouvel: mes meubles d’architecte (‘Jean Nouvel: My Architectural Furniture’), Flammarion publishing house
The iconic exhibition of the prize-winning French architect is the subject of Jean Nouvel: mes meubles d'architecte (‘Jean Nouvel: My Architectural Furniture’). It was held in 2016 at the Museum of Decorative Arts of Paris, whose restoration he supervised. His works include the design of the Arab World Institute, the Quai Branly Museum and the Cartier Foundation. In this book, Jean Nouvel shows himself to be a creator of elemental furniture that seeks – in his own words – the perfect balance between function, materials and essence. Besides being a wonderful guide to interior layouts, the work – like any exhibition brochure worth its salt – is an absolute gem of undeniable beauty.
Philippe Lombard, Le Paris de François Truffaut (‘Paris Through the Lens of François Truffaut’), Parigramme publishing house
Le Paris de François Truffaut (‘Paris Through the Lens of François Truffaut’) follows the trajectory of the most beautiful scenes from the director’s films. In the heart of the French capital, Truffaut returns to the neighbourhoods of his childhood, between Pigalle and Place de Clichy. This work visits the family apartment from The 400 Blows and even the Gaumont Palace from Bed and Board. This book lets you comfortably rediscover the popular, colourful, joyful, dynamic, actual and informal Paris that the filmmaker immortalised in his films.
Primo Levi, If This Is a Man, Robert Laffont publishing house
Published in 1947, If This Is a Man by Primo Levi narrates the author’s time in the Nazi extermination camp of Auschwitz between 1944 and 1945. Primo Levi shares his questions about human nature with us while trying to maintain a neutral point of view during the cruel episodes he witnessed. It’s a book to get a first-hand understanding of the extent of inhumanity during World War II.
Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy, Payrot publishing house
Published in 1912 by Bertrand Russell (British mathematician, logician, philosopher, epistemologist, political campaigner and moralist), The Problems of Philosophy is the bedside book for readers who want to rethink their understanding of the world, question what they believe to be true and start looking at their daily environment in a completely new way. He holds the idea that all reality is in the mind, that is, there is no such thing as a shared reality – everything consists of impressions, shared constructs that society has agreed on.
Gérard Denizeau, Van Gogh, Maître de la couleur (‘Master of Colour’), Larousse publishing house
In the field of painting, eba’s selection focuses on the most famous painter of the 19th century: Vincent Van Gogh, specifically through the work of art historian Gérard Denizeau. The author brings together art history, artistic analysis and art commentaries to reveal the secrets behind the 45 major works of the Dutch painter’s oeuvre. The book talks about the circumstances behind their creation and his artistic production, how his contemporaries received the works and the reasons why his paintings are a must in any experience in art. This is a work to share and understand the rapture of gazing at Starry Night or Almond Blossom.
Stendhal, The Red and The Black, Le Livre de Poche publishing house
Published in 1830 and written in 52 days, The Red and The Black continues to fascinate readers even today. The novel focuses on Julien Sorel, an ambitious young man from the countryside, who meets the lovely Madame de Rênal. But the protagonist has neither a noble title nor a private fortune and his beloved is married, which causes their estrangement…It’s a love story that’s doomed from the start with the ingredients of contemporary TV series: betrayals, secrets and intrigue. There’s also Stendhal’s impeccable wording, brimming with irony and hilarity. The Red and The Black is a wonderful introduction to the subtleties of French literature which never goes out of style.
Robert Capa, Robert Capa, Actes Sud publishing house
His photos have gone round the world, particularly those taken in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. Perhaps one of the most famous war photographers, Robert Capa, whose real name was Endre Friedmann, rejected the limitations of the genre. This work by Actes Sud, published in 2004, is a retrospective of his career through 68 black and white photos.
Modular bookcase: an attractive and functional storage system
With this selection of books ready, the next step is to search for the perfect storage system to display and access them easily.
Santos steps outside the kitchen and enters a new room in the house: the lounge. The Spanish kitchen manufacturer expands its range of products by presenting its new shelving system, which is aesthetically appealing and functional – key features of each and every one of its designs.
eba presents the high-end bookcases by Santos, which are essentially a modular system that combines open shelves and closed panels, bringing together storage and aesthetics in complete harmony. On the one hand, open shelves are perfect for displaying decorative items and a well-stocked library while closed tall units keep any item that breaks the harmony out of sight, while maintaining the elegance and aesthetic coherence of the lounge.
Just as with Santos kitchens, the inside and outside of these bookcases are completely modular, both in terms of height and finishes, to create a bespoke living room furniture that adapts to the environment and its contents.
