Le Corbusier's influence has, of course, been well-documented: The master architect—and, as seen here, snappy dresser—inspired generations of designers, urban planners, and artists with his work. Phaidon's Le Corbusier: Le Grand offers a fittingly monumental tribute to the man, including 2,000 images, letters, and other archival material, much of it previously unpublished. You don't have to be versed in architecture to appreciate it, nor do you have to speak French; the publishers have included a folio of English translations gratis. You might, however, need to hit the gym: The tome weighs 20 pounds.
About $185, available at phaidon.com