Best Museum Industry Books of 2026

All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me is a captivating memoir by Patrick Bringley, a former museum guard who spent a decade at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bringley takes the reader on a journey through the museum's hidden treasures and the subculture of museum guards. As he guards delicate artifacts from Egypt to Rome, he comes to appreciate the beauty of the museum and the people who make it possible. This book is a must-read for art lovers and those interested in the inner workings of one of the world's greatest institutions.

The Power of Mental Discipline: A Practical Guide to Controlling Your Thoughts, Increasing Your Willpower and Achieving More by Ian Tuhovsky is a simple, step-by-step self-discipline book that teaches readers how to break bad habits, develop mental discipline, and achieve their goals. The author emphasizes the importance of willpower in achieving success, and offers practical tips and strategies to help readers build mental toughness, positive discipline, and change their mindset. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to develop greater self-discipline and achieve their goals.

The sixth edition of Museum Registration Methods is a comprehensive guide to registration and collections management for museums, covering everything from acquisition to deaccessioning. With contributions from a variety of museums and specializations, this edition includes updated sections on digital practices while still maintaining its strong foundational areas. The book is straightforward and useful for both seasoned professionals and newcomers to the field. It also includes a comprehensive resource list, glossary, hypothetical scenarios, and model collection forms. Overall, this book is an essential reference for all types and sizes of museums, making it a unique and valuable addition to any museum industry bookshelf.

The Feather Thief is a fascinating book that takes readers on a journey into the underground world of fly-tiers and plume peddlers. The book tells the true story of Edwin Rist, a twenty-year-old American flautist who stole hundreds of rare bird specimens from the Tring Museum in London. Kirk Wallace Johnson's relentless pursuit of justice for this bizarre and shocking crime is gripping and showcases man's destructive instinct to harvest the beauty of nature. Overall, The Feather Thief is a captivating exploration of obsession that will leave readers wanting more.

A Legal Primer on Managing Museum Collections, Third Edition is a comprehensive guide that offers detailed explanations of the law, suggestions for preventing legal problems, and numerous case studies of lawsuits involving museum collections. Written by Marie C. Malaro, an attorney who has devoted most of her career to advising and educating the museum community, and co-author Ildiko Pogany DeAngelis, this revised and expanded third edition addresses the many legal developments that have occurred during the past twenty-five years. It is an authoritative resource for museum professionals seeking to navigate the complex legal landscape of collections management.

Introduction to Public History: Interpreting the Past, Engaging Audiences is a foundational textbook that provides a fresh perspective on the dynamic field of public history. The book is organized around the questions and ethical dilemmas that drive public history in a variety of settings. It is ideal for undergraduate and graduate classrooms with future public historians, teachers, and consumers of history in mind. The authors offer a mix of theories, conceptual building blocks, and case studies, making it an excellent resource for those interested in the field.

The Brutish Museums is a thought-provoking book that delves into the debate on cultural restitution, repatriation, and the decolonization of museums. The Benin Bronzes, a collection of metal plaques and sculptures that depict the history of the Royal Court of the Obas of Benin City, Nigeria, are at the heart of this discussion. The author, Dan Hicks, offers an urgent and brilliantly enraged treatise on justice, making this book a real game-changer. Hicks' work has already influenced museums worldwide to return their Bronzes to Nigeria, heralding a new era in understanding the objects of empire we once took for granted.

Effective Exhibit Interpretation and Design is a book that examines the importance of integrating exhibit design and development with live interpretation to create an impactful visitor experience. The book showcases the outcomes of eight institutions that collaborated with the author to approach exhibit and live interpretation design collaboratively. The book argues that interpreters are just as vital as the exhibits themselves and that neglecting to give live interpretation an equal seat at the table impoverishes the ultimate visitor experience. It is an essential read for museum professionals who aim to create a memorable experience for their visitors.

The Manual of Museum Exhibitions, now in its second edition, provides a comprehensive guide to the exhibition process for museums of any size. The book covers everything from the purpose of exhibits to financial planning and interactive multimedia. The authors, Barry Lord and Maria Piacente, draw on years of experience and expertise to offer practical methodologies and technical advice. They also address the changing landscape of museum exhibitions, including the rise of virtual exhibits and the shift towards participatory engagement. Overall, this book is an essential resource for museum professionals looking to stay innovative and adapt to evolving audience demands.

Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach by Beverly Serrell is an essential reference tool for all museum professionals. The book provides guidelines on the process of exhibit label planning, writing, design, and production, exploring the theoretical and interpretive considerations of placing labels within an exhibition. The author's insights from almost four decades of providing advice on exhibits for all manner of museums make this book unique. Serrell's guidelines enable museums to create a multimedia experience for visitors akin to an interactive documentary. The book is a valuable resource for anyone needing to write interpretive labels for an exhibit.