book design is cool, maybe you’d like to nerd out about it?

Book designer Debbie Berne offers something really neat in The Design of Books, which came out last year (and which Berne both wrote and designed): a beginner-friendly but not boring or patronizing tour of, like, literally how books are put together. What are all the pieces called? What design decisions are made, by whom, and how?

The book’s subtitle is An Explainer for Authors, Editors, Agents, and Other Curious Readers, and I think that pretty much nails it. I love glimpses into parts of my world that are not the areas I spend the most time thinking about, and I love information that makes me appreciate new aspects of stuff I already adore; if you do too, maybe check out this book.

about the book

The Design of Books is, first of all, lovely. Its orange accents draw the cover inside the book, and its visual and informational components all work together like a charm. Berne refers to the book itself as an example throughout, an approach I found quite effective and frankly sort of charming. (Let’s take a look at books: For example, you are holding one in your hand, so take a look at the front and back flaps! and check out these words, here’s how the type was set!) The illustrations and figures are useful and engaging.

Chapters cover the parts and printing of a physical book, type, cover design, interior design (of books, not like your wallpaper and sofa), special issues around illustrated books, ebook design, and the design process for both traditional and self-publishing.

if your interest is piqued ...

Whether or not you’re just clicked through to your library to request The Design of Books, you might enjoy these links!

• Rhode Island School of Design’s database of pulp fiction covers
• “Clinch Cover Legends Sharon Spiak and Shirley Green: An Interview with the Greats,” by Chels of Reformed Rakes (a romance podcast)
  
• “Goodnight Moon,” an entry in Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s project Looking at Picture Books
  

Happy reading!