Books as Objects

April 2, 2013

The Point of the Paperback 11

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Here’s what I learned, after a month of talking to editors, literary agents, publishers, and other authors: A paperback isn’t just a cheaper version of the book anymore. It’s a makeover. A facelift. And for some, a second shot.

February 11, 2013

Judging Books by Their Covers 2013: U.S. Vs. U.K. 51

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We are undoubtedly swayed by the little billboard that is the cover of every book we read.

July 19, 2012

Prescriptivists vs. Descriptivists: The Fifth Edition of The American Heritage Dictionary 17

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For all its many virtues, the fifth edition is not perfect. Its one glaring flaw is an introductory essay written by the chairman of the Usage Panel, Steven Pinker, a Harvard University linguist and cognitive scientist who is also an avowed descriptivist. What’s that whirring noise I hear? Is it William Morris, who died in 1994, spinning in his grave?

February 8, 2012

Judging Books by Their Covers: U.S. Vs. U.K. 61

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We are undoubtedly swayed by the little billboard that is the cover of every book we read.

January 5, 2012

The Soundtrack of Our Books 15

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Publishers and authors have begun to experiment more with audio as a natural step in the promotion of their books. But recent trends suggest that readers are looking for even more direct ways to incorporate music into the reading experience.

August 15, 2011

The E-Reader of Sand: The Kindle and the Inner Conflict Between Consumer and Booklover 60

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It occurred to me that Borges would have been thrilled and horrified in equal measure by the Kindle. In fact, in a weird way, he sort of invented it.