Category Archives: Books

Book Beats

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Thanks to André Leslie for this story on a clever concept from Köln, Germany’s web radio station EinsLive . One radio station in Germany has found a unique way to make literature appealing again to their listeners. The late-night show, … Continue reading →

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Go Gargantuan or Go Home

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Earth Platinum, the brainchild of Gordon Cheers, published at the end of February in an edition limited to 31 copies, is the world’s largest atlas. The book is 6 feet (1.8 m) high and 4.5 feet (1.4 m) wide. When … Continue reading →

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I Kidd You Not

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

If you’re a fan of TED and of book design, then you will love cover designer Chip Kidd’s terrific video . The talk just posted online, underscores the importance of print in the digital age: “Much is to be gained by … Continue reading →

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Is Your Library Mysterious

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Well-timed to coincide with the National Archives’ release of the 1940 Census, the Milstein Division of the New York Public Library has posted this charming video teaser about the library’s research facilities. The Milstein Division collects materials documenting American History … Continue reading →

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Heavy Reading

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

At first glance they appear to be well-worn old library books, but these heavy tome are actually created from salvaged building bricks. The faux literary works are the work of Melbourne, Australia artist Daryl Fitzgerald , who stencils cover art … Continue reading →

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5,000 Books (more or less)

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Madrid-based artist Alicia Martín’s amazing installation at Casa de America cultural center in the heart of Madrid appears to pour out of the building like an avalanche of literature. This piece is part of an ongoing series of installations around … Continue reading →

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Birth of a Book

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

I absolutely love this short film, Birth of a Book, which is a brief vignette on the actual creation of a real book using traditional printing methods. The film was shot, directed and edited by Glen Milner for the Daily … Continue reading →

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Nearly Orwellian

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The Orwell Prize is Britain’s most prestigious award for writing. Each year a select committee awards the prize—actually four prizes—for work that aims to achieve George Orwell‘s goal “to make political writing into an art”. The long lists for the … Continue reading →

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It’s 1984 All Over Again

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

George Orwell’s groundbreaking novel 1984 is about to get a new movie make-over. Rumor has it that Imagine Entertainment, run by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, is developing a new take on Orwell’s iconic, dystopian classic. And, too add the … Continue reading →

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We Love Margaret Atwood (even more)

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The prophetic, bestselling author Margaret Atwood is galvanizing public support for striking library workers in Toronto, Canada, while challenging shortsighted proposed cuts to library budgets. This week, Ms. Atwood said that “People support libraries, but sometimes don’t understand that it … Continue reading →

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