Ocean State Libraries

From the Publisher: We all know we're not supposed to judge books by their covers, but the truth is that we do just that nearly every time we walk into a bookstore or pull a book off a tightly packed shelf. It's really not something we should be ashamed about, for it reinforces something we sincerely believe: design matters. At its best, book cover design is an art that transcends the publisher's commercial imperatives to reflect both an author's...

Long dismissed, disparaged, and rated inferior to its elite kin (the trade paperback and hardcover), the mass-market paperback finally gets its due. Assembling an expansive and vibrant gallery of breathtaking cover art - beginning with its early forms in the 19th century through the latter part of the 20th century - Steven Brower offers an illuminating tour of the history and design of one of the book family's livelier members.

"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. 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...

Peter Mendelsund has enjoyed years as a much-sought-after book cover designer and art director. Cover abounds with Mendelsund's completed book jackets along with ephemera from his previously unseen creative method, including jacket sketches, interior art and editorial illustrations, and scores of rejected drafts. These images are punctuated by Mendelsund's reflections on his work and his process, as well as by texts from writers with whom he has worked...

"Robert Kirkman and Skybound team up with the Hero Initiative to present 100 all-new covers envisioning the horrors of the bestselling The Walking Dead. This art book features brand-new pieces by The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, Paolo Rivera, Ryan Ottley, Rafael Albuquerque, and more! This book will never be reprinted and all proceeds go to the Hero Initiative and comic book creators in need!" --