I recently spent six months teaching revision strategies (and strategies for emotionally navigating the revision process) to creative writers across genres through the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. One of the resources I drew on and recommended to writers most often during those months was fellow Minneapolis writing teacher Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew’s book Living Revision: A Writer’s Craft as Spiritual Practice.

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.