Comments on Bigelow's Rameumptom: Mormon Coffee-Table Book Ideas?

The mind bloggles...I'd very much enjoy a coffee t...

2008-08-19T16:18:00.000-06:00

The mind bloggles...

I'd very much enjoy a coffee table book with some of the more interesting characters of Mormon history and present. Each subject would have a page of illustration (full bleed photo or collage) opposite a page of text. Names like Porter Rockwell, Orson Hyde, J. Golden Kimball, Butch Cassidy, Earl Bascom, Samuel Brannan, Osmonds, etc. There's a plethora of colorful stories attached to our history; it'd be fun to see them assembled in a picture book.

One on Mormon pageants, with pictures.One on missi...

2008-07-21T23:09:00.000-06:00

One on Mormon pageants, with pictures.
One on missionaries, both young and old.
You could probably do one just on Temple Square.
One on the Tabernacle Choir
One on BYU (past and present)
One on BYU Idaho
One on BYU Hawaii

One on the MIA/YoungMen/YoungWomen
One on the Relief Society
One on members of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles (that didn't end up as president of the church)

Women--especially mothers--are a huge part of the ...

2008-07-17T22:12:00.000-06:00

Women--especially mothers--are a huge part of the LDS market so why not try something aimed at them? Maybe a RS presidents bio book or mothers of the prophets book. That last one has already been done in regular book form but the coffee table would probably be a huge hit for mother's day. And what about Christmas or Easter themed stuff? I love all the different nativities at the Temple Square--that event seems ready made for a coffee-table book.

Here's a few ideas:"Mormon Missteps" A look at his...

2008-07-05T22:04:00.000-06:00

Here's a few ideas:

"Mormon Missteps"

A look at historical blunders made by the church and church members. Episodes such as the Deseret Alphabet, the failed footings for the Salt Lake Temple, the overgrazing of the benches along the Wasatch front, etc..

I felt closer to the church, and historical church figures, when I saw them as real humans who made mistakes.

"Mormon Inventions"

Don't we have quite a few? The odometer, television, Word processing software, online credit card processing,... etc.. etc..

I would buy a book about Elfie Huntington the Utah...

2008-06-25T19:32:00.000-06:00

I would buy a book about Elfie Huntington the Utah photographer in a New York minute, if only someone would publish one. Preferably a big coffee-table sized one with large images. BYU has a collection her work, I believe, but it's not published anywhere I can find.

Scott,I was just interviewed by a missionary coupl...

2008-06-24T09:03:00.000-06:00

Scott,

I was just interviewed by a missionary couple here in Santa Fe for a BYU project of member biographies. I have no idea if this project is world wide or what, so i have not ideas of the number of peole involved. This could be psrt of the research part of your idea.

How about a "Why Mormons Don't Drink Coffee" coffe...

2008-06-23T23:58:00.000-06:00

How about a "Why Mormons Don't Drink Coffee" coffee table book? (Ever see the Seinfeld episode where Kramer conceptualizes the coffee table book about coffee tables?)

All humor aside, consider a collection of very short biographies of the most unlikely, or perhaps most unusual Mormon converts, replete with lots of pictorials. You could highlight the usual suspects but then mix in a bunch of lesser known people. It might be research-intensive and involve lots of interviews but I think it would have broad appeal.

Collaborate with the Church Museum of Hiatory and ...

2008-06-21T10:32:00.000-06:00

Collaborate with the Church Museum of Hiatory and Art. Look at the art from the International Competions. Then curate various themes from the artwork's subject matter such as the Savior, pioneer history, family, etc.

Seriously, consider a book with a mini-biography o...

2008-06-20T19:07:00.000-06:00

Seriously, consider a book with a mini-biography on all the prophets from Joseph Smith to Thomas Monson. Something along those lines.
-Daze

I think a book about the Mountain Meadows Massacre...

2008-06-20T19:02:00.000-06:00

I think a book about the Mountain Meadows Massacre would be appropriate, or maybe not.
-Daze

The rights issues may not work, and this may have ...

2008-06-20T18:34:00.000-06:00

The rights issues may not work, and this may have already been done, but it seems to me that the work of Minerva Teichert cries out for the full coffee-table treatment.

Maybe too big budget, but a "Day in the Life" type book focused only on Mormons could be really cool. I'd cheat a little and go from a noon Saturday to 10 p.m. the next Sunday.

And the obvious one after temples would be historical structures, locations and monuments.