Art, Music & Photography Books | Get Inspired

Music, photography and art books celebrate creativity in all its forms. Combining insight with visual appeal, these reads invite deeper engagement with the creators and ideas that have shaped contemporary culture.

If you're looking for more remarkable stories, browse our collection of non-fiction books or try something eye-opening with the best books available today. 

Celebrating the work of women artists across generations, A Woman’s Eye, Her Art by Drusilla Modjeska explores the vision and influence of modernist female figures who have defined the art world. Richly illustrated and thoughtfully curated, it offers an opportunity to discover remarkable works while considering the stories and achievements behind them.

Night People is the memoir from Mark Ronson, the producer behind some of the biggest names in modern music. Before Lady Gaga, Adele and Bruno Mars, there was a young outsider who was finding his feet in the electric chaos of 1990s New York. Night People is his story: the clubs, the characters, the hip-hop scene and the nights that never seemed to end.

Featuring reflections and previously unseen photographs taken by Paul McCartney, 1964: Eyes of the Storm offers a rare perspective on a pivotal moment in music history. Documenting the rise of Beatlemania through McCartney’s own lens, the book captures the excitement and extraordinary experiences that accompanied The Beatles’ first wave of global fame. 

Together, these books demonstrate the many ways art, music and photography can capture a moment and leave a legacy. 

Art books can spark creativity and deepen our appreciation of visual culture. This selection brings together practical guides, artist-focused works and thought-provoking explorations of the arts. 

Katy Hessel’s The Story of Art without Men shines a light on the women artists who have shaped art history but are often overlooked. Spanning centuries and movements, it offers a fresh perspective on the development of art through the work of remarkable creatives.

In his self-titled book, Ben Quilty, one of Australia's most celebrated contemporary artists, explores his life’s work from the past two decades. Beautifully illustrated, Ben reveals his creative process, influences and the themes that have defined his art practice. 

A Drawing a Day from Tamara Michael encourages readers to develop a regular creative habit through accessible prompts and exercises. Designed for all skill levels, it demonstrates how small, consistent acts of creativity can build confidence and technique over time. 

Combining practical advice with encouragement, We Need Your Art by Amie McNee is a thoughtful look at why creativity matters, inviting readers to embrace their artistic instincts and recognise the value of creative expression in everyday life.  

Keri Smith’s Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour reimagines the bestselling interactive journal with fresh prompts and activities. Hands-on, it encourages readers to let go of perfectionism and engage creatively in unexpected ways.

Like to see more? You can find additional titles in our collection of art books.  

Music books offer a chance to go beyond the songs, uncovering the stories and creative processes that shape the artists and albums that fans adore.

The exceptional story of Wings, told by the people who lived it. After the collapse of the Beatles, Paul McCartney retreated to a Scottish farm and rebuilt himself, starting over with a new wife, new bandmates and something to prove. What followed was a decade of chaos and unlikely triumph. Drawn from hundreds of hours of interviews and packed with rare photographs, this book is a definitive account of one of rock's astounding second acts. 

Singer, songwriter and Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes has always known how to tell a story. In Unlovable, he tells his own. From a childhood marked by trauma and violence to selling over 35 million albums and the private battles that fame could never fix, Unlovable is a survival story. 

In My Name Is Barbra, Barbra Streisand reflects on a phenomenal career. Starting with her childhood in Brooklyn to the bright lights of Broadway and then Hollywood, this memoir is a candid and captivating account of one of the entertainment industry's most influential figures, and one her fans have been waiting a lifetime to read.   

Paul Kelly is one of Australia's most treasured storytellers, and How To Make Gravy is his memoir told the only way he knows how: through song. Taking the lyrics of a hundred tracks as his starting point, Kelly reflects on a life spent writing and performing. It’s a portrait of a creative mind and a love letter to the country that shaped him.

Activist and U2 frontman Bono has spent decades writing about life through song. In Surrender, for the first time, he tells it straight. Starting with a Dublin childhood and the sudden loss of his mother, and continuing through U2's unlikely rise to become one of the greatest rock bands in the world, this reflective and honest account offers insight into the experiences that shaped both the artist and the work that followed.

Browse our collection of music books for more stories behind the hits and hitmakers. 

Photography books reveal beauty and meaning in both the unusual and the everyday. This selection brings together practical guides and thoughtful explorations with visual storytelling. 

George Adams’ Complete Guide to Australian Birds combines detailed photography with expert information on Australia's remarkable birdlife. Designed for both beginners and experienced birdwatchers, it offers an accessible way to identify and learn about hundreds of species found across the country. 

First published in 1972 and based on his landmark BBC television series, John Berger's Ways of Seeing asks us to question not just what we see but how and why we see it at all. 

Photographs are everywhere, and yet how often do we stop to question what they do to us? In On Photography, Susan Sontag does exactly that. Across six sharp and searching essays, she examines the power of the image to shock, seduce, idealise and deceive, and the ways we use photography to construct our sense of reality. It’s essential reading for anyone who picks up a camera.

Our collection of photography books offers many other great titles. 

Discover the latest titles, offering creative inspiration and previously unexplored ways to engage with culture and visual storytelling.

These widely read and frequently recommended books continue to influence readers with their insights into artistic expression.

Wherever your interests lead, there is always something different to inspire your next read. Learn more about those who have shaped our world with biographies and memoirs. Delve into the past with history books. Or continue your journey of discovery through our selection of travel books.