The Book Design Review

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Infinite Jest (10th anniversary edition)

A redesign of what is either the greatest book of the last decade or the best paperweight, depending on with whom you speak.

Much better than the previous US paperback:

An interesting decision to put "Only $10" on the cover. I'm thinking that you're the kind of person who reads Wallace or you don't.

Your Winter Vacation

I just spent about 6 days in New Orleans. We don't usually talk about things other than book design here, but I have to say this: New Orleans has had enough of your pity. They've had enough of your sympathy. They need you to go there and spend money. Please.

Walt Disney

Posted for two reasons:

1) Remarkably restrained. At first glance, I thought it might be because this was an unauthorized biography and someone got nervous that all sorts of Disney-type imagery would result in a little legal problem. But according to the NY Times review, previously-unknown access was granted to the Disney archives. So maybe they (Disney) did some steering...

2) That mustache kicks some serious ass. My father-in-law has the same 'stache and I'm envious.

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Grand Illusion

Recipe for the design of a nasty political biography:

1. Take one really unflattering photo (the Times reviewer beat me to the phrase "constipated-looking").

2. Add ominous title in the largest font size you can find.

3. Mix.

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Sunday, November 05, 2006

The Blind Side

This book has been getting a whole bunch of attention, but I haven't seen any commentary on the jacket yet.

There are many things that are right about this cover. The handlettering? Good idea, especially in conjunction with the play diagram. And it invokes the idea of coaching, which is important here because there are several people involved in the life of the subject of the book, a formerly homeless teen who is now a top pro football prospect.

But there are a few things that jump out at me as not quite ideal. White on black might be appropriate if coaches still used chalkboards; something tells me black on white would be more accurate with respect to the whiteboards and markers coaches now use. And the title is simply lost. Since the subject of the book, Michael Oher, plays left tackle, what about putting the title there? That is the blind side, after all.