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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature Hardback - 2020

by Peter Mendelsund; David J. Alworth

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From the publisher

Why do some book covers instantly grab your attention, while others never get a second glance? Fusing word and image, as well as design thinking and literary criticism, this captivating investigation goes behind the scenes of the cover design process to answer this question and more.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

As the outward face of the text, the book cover makes an all-important first impression. The Look of the Book examines art at the edges of literature through notable covers and the stories behind them, galleries of the many different jackets of bestselling books, an overview of book cover trends throughout history, and insights from dozens of literary and design luminaries. Co-authored by celebrated designer and creative director Peter Mendelsund and scholar David Alworth, this fascinating collaboration, featuring hundreds of covers, challenges our notions of what a book cover can and should be.

Details

  • Title The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
  • Author Peter Mendelsund; David J. Alworth
  • Binding Hardback
  • Pages 292
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Ten Speed Press
  • Publication date 2020-10-06
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Illustrated, Index
  • ISBN 9780399581021 / 0399581022
  • Weight 3.25 lbs (1.47 kg)
  • Dimensions 11 x 8.6 x 1.3 in (27.94 x 21.84 x 3.30 cm)
  • Category Art & Art Instruction
  • Library of Congress subjects Graphic arts, Book design
  • Dewey Decimal Code 002.09

Media reviews

Citations

  • Kirkus Reviews, 09/01/2020, Page 0

About the author

Peter Mendelsund is the former art director at Alfred A. Knopf, the creative director of The Atlantic, and the author of a design monograph called Cover, as well as What We See When We Read, which has been translated into fourteen languages, and the novel Same Same. His writings have appeared in the New York Times, the Paris Review, and other magazines.

David J. Alworth is the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University. He teaches and writes about modern and contemporary literature, media, art, and design. He is the author of Site Reading: Fiction, Art, Social Form and his essays have appeared in Public Books and the Los Angeles Review of Books, as well as in various scholarly journals.

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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature

by Mendelsund, Peter,Alworth, David J.

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Ten Speed Press, 10/6/2020 12:00:01 A. hardcover. Acceptable. 1.2600 in x 11.1400 in x 8.7800 in. DAMAGED - Binding is broken and loose.
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature

by Mendelsund, Peter,Alworth, David J.

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Ten Speed Press, 10/6/2020 12:00:01 A. hardcover. Very Good. 1.2600 in x 11.1400 in x 8.7800 in. Very Good Condition - May show some limited signs of wear and may have a remainder mark. Pages and dust cover are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting.
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature

by Mendelsund, Peter,Alworth, David J.

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399581021 / 0399581022
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Ten Speed Press, 10/6/2020 12:00:01 A. hardcover. Good. 1.2600 in x 11.1400 in x 8.7800 in. Bruise/tear to cover.
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature

by Mendelsund, Peter,Alworth, David J.

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Ten Speed Press, 10/6/2020 12:00:01 A. hardcover. Like New. 1.2600 in x 11.1400 in x 8.7800 in. LIKE NEW!!! Has a red or black remainder mark on bottom/exterior edge of pages.
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Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
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Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature

by Mendelsund, Peter; Alworth, David J.

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Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press, 2020. Hardcover. Very Good/Published Without Dust Jacket. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. 290 pp. Tightly bound. Lower corners lightly bumped. Text is free of markings. No ownership markings. Remainder mark (one dot) on the bottom fore-edge. Published without dust jacket. This copy is smyth sewn. Smyth sewing is a method of bookbinding where groups of folded pages (referred to as signatures) are stitched together using binder thread. Each folded signature is sewn together individually with multiple stitches and then joined with other signatures to create the complete book block. This is the traditional and best method of bookbinding.
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature

by Peter Mendelsund,David J. Alworth

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Ten Speed Press, October 2020. Oversized Hardcover . Good. small ~1-inch tear on top front spine; spine is intact, thought
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature

by Mendelsund, Peter

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The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers & Art at the Edges of Literature

by Mendelsund, Peter & David J. Alworth

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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NY: Ten Speed Press, 2020. VG/. 1st edition, 1st printing. Why do some book covers instantly grab your attention, while others never get a second glance? This copy is an ex-library book, with minimal stamps and labels. Quite a nice copy!
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The Look of the Book Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
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The Look of the Book Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature

by Mendelsund, Peter; Alworth, David J.

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  • Hardback
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399581021 / 0399581022
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Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed, 2020. Hardcover. Very Good. Minor shelf wear. Bottom edges of boards bumped and creased. Else fine. Internals are bright and clean copy. Why do some book covers instantly grab your attention, while others never get a second glance? Fusing word and image, as well as design thinking and literary criticism, this captivating investigation goes behind the scenes of the cover design process to answer this question and more. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW As the outward face of the text, the book cover makes an all-important first impression. The Look of the Book examines art at the edges of literature through notable covers and the stories behind them, galleries of the many different jackets of bestselling books, an overview of book cover trends throughout history, and insights from dozens of literary and design luminaries. Co-authored by celebrated designer and creative director Peter Mendelsund and scholar David Alworth, this… Read more
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The Look of the Book : Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
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The Look of the Book : Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature

by Mendelsund, Peter, Alworth, David J

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Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Used - Very Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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