Coffee-Table Books for Fans of All Types

Holiday gift books run the gamut for TV lovers (a guide to the world of “Ally McBeal”), art aficionados (a new biography on Diego Rivera) and film fans (a personal look at the life of Gary Cooper by his daughter).

Television

“ALLY McBEAL: THE OFFICIAL GUIDE,” by Tim Appelo, HarperEntertainment ($18.95): Illustrated with more than 400 photographs, this official companion guide to the Emmy-winning series offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the show and the staff; Elaine’s best inventions, including the face bra; a complete guide to each episode of the first two seasons; interviews with the actors; and the scoop on the show’s music performed by Vonda Shepard.

“THE SIMPSONS FOREVER!,” created by Matt Groening, edited by Scott M. Gimple, HarperPerennial ($12.95): Update of the best-selling “A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family.” This companion to the longest-running comedy series currently on the networks features couch gags, Homerisms, a salute to musical moments and a tribute to Troy McClure, who was voiced by the late Phil Hartman.

“BARNEY FIFE AND OTHER CHARACTERS I HAVE KNOWN,” by Don Knotts with Robert Metz; foreword by Andy Griffith, Berkeley Boulevard ($13): Autobiography of the Emmy-winning comic favorite from “The Andy Griffith Show.” Knotts chronicles the events that shaped his life and career.’

“MEET THE MERTZES,” by Rob Edelman and Audrey Kupferberg, Renaissance Books ($16.95): Unauthorized look at the lives and careers of Vivian Vance and William Frawley, who played Ethel and Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy.” The biography chronicles the actors’ dislike for each other, Vance’s nervous breakdown and Frawley’s drinking problem.

“THE SHOWRUNNERS: Inside the Billion-Dollar, Death-Defying, Madcap World of Television’s Powerbrokers,” by David Wild, HarperCollins ($25): The journalist for Rolling Stone spent a year following a group of “showrunners”--writers and producers labeled by networks as bankable commodities, such as Paul Simms of “NewsRadio” and “Seinfeld” writers Peter Mehlman and Larry Charles.

Movies

“THE STORY OF ANNA AND THE KING,” by Cecelia Holland, HarperEntertainment ($23): Companion to the upcoming film starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat. The coffee-table paperback includes the history of the real story of Anna and the King, as well as an account of the making of the film, which arrives in theaters later this month.

“TOY STORY: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE,” Jon Richards, project editor, DK Children’s Books ($14.95): With the sequel “Toy Story 2” burning up the box office, kids will enjoy this guide to their favorite characters from the animated film.

THE BEST AMERICAN MOVIE WRITING 1999,” edited by Peter Bogdanovich, St. Martin’s Griffin ($14.95): A collection of 25 essays on film chosen by Bogdanovich, culled from a wide range of magazines and journals; included is “A Box Filled With Magic,” by Martin Scorsese, “I Fired Capra,” by Gore Vidal, and “Nine Great Movies” by Roger Ebert.

“AMERICAN BEAUTY: THE SHOOTING SCRIPT,” by Alan Ball; introduction by Sam Mendes, Newmarket Press ($16.95): Script of the acclaimed dark comedy starring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening. Included is a foreword by the film’s director.

“PETER BOGDANOVICH’S MOVIE OF THE WEEK,” by Peter Bogdanovich, Ballantine Books ($11): Bogdanovich recommends a year of movies, including “An American in Paris” for the first week of January, “Adam’s Rib” for Valentine’s Day week and “Holiday” for Christmas week.

“GARY COOPER OFF CAMERA: A DAUGHTER REMEMBERS,” by Maria Cooper Janis with an introduction by Tom Hanks, Harry Abrams ($35): An affectionate look at “Coop,” the Oscar-winning legend, by his only child, Maria. Included are more than 100 rare photographs and delightful stories about her tall, handsome father.

“THE BIG PICTURE; WHO KILLED HOLLYWOOD? & OTHER ESSAYS,” by William Goldman, Applause Books ($23.95): Irreverent essays on Tinseltown. The Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid” and “All the President’s Men,” takes on actors, directors, producers, screenwriters and even the Academy Awards.

“CONVERSATIONS WITH WILDER,” by Cameron Crowe, Knopf ($35): This delicious book finds Wilder, the Oscar-winning writer, director and producer of such classics as “Sunset Boulevard” and “The Apartment” talking extensively about his career with Crowe, the writer-director of “Jerry Maguire.” Wilder talks about Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Jean Arthur, Gary Cooper, James Cagney and Dean Martin, his collaboration with screenwriters Charles Brackett and I.A.L. Diamond.

“SIN IN SOFT FOCUS: PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD,” by Mark Vieira, Harry Abrams ($39.95): Beautifully illustrated coffee-table book. Vieira writes about the bawdy, often naughty films of the early 1930s in which such filmmakers as Rouben Mamoulian, Ernst Lubitsch, Cecil B. DeMille and William Wellman managed to sidestep the Hollywood Production Code adopted in 1930.

Theater

“JULIE TAYMOR: PLAYING WITH FIRE,” by Eileen Blumenthal and Julie Taymor, Harry Abrams, ($49.50): A look at the career of the innovative Tony-winning director of “The Lion King.” Blumenthal follows Taymor from her theatrical apprenticeship in France, where she studied mime, to Oberlin College, where she worked with director Herbert Blau.

Art

“FRENCH ART TREASURES AT THE HERMITAGE: SPLENDID MASTERPIECES, NEW DISCOVERIES” by Albert Kostenevich, translated by Frank Althaus, Harry Abrams ($75): A lavishly illustrated book showcasing the Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg’s collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by such artists as Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and Gauguin.

“PAPER DREAMS: THE ART & ARTISTS OF DISNEY STORYBOARDS,” by John Canemaker, Disney Editions ($60): A must-have for animation buffs. This compelling, illustrated book focuses on how the storyboard is the first step in the creation of a Disney animated film.

“MY FAVORITE THINGS: 75 WORKS OF ART FROM AROUND THE WORLD,” by Sister Wendy Beckett, Harry Abrams ($29.95): The popular British nun shows her stuff. Sister Wendy writes about her favorite works of art, including pieces by Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

“DIEGO RIVERA,” by Pete Hamill, Harry Abrams ($49.50): A bio written by the famed political journalist and novelist. Hamill offers historical insights in this book of the life and work of the famed Mexican painter, nationalist and political activist.

Music

“THE VIBE HISTORY OF HIP-HOP,” edited by Alan Light, Three Rivers Press ($27.50): Lavishly illustrated history of the popular music genre, featuring essays by the likes of Steve Greenberg, J.D. Considine and Grandmaster Flash. Also included are comprehensive discographies and a four-song CD.

“DUKE ELLINGTON,” by Scott Yanow, foreword by Dr. Billy Taylor, Friedman/Fairfax Publishers ($27.50): Pictorial biography of the great jazz artist and composer, written by a Times contributor.