Goodbye Gutenberg: Hello to a New Generation of Readers and Writers

by Valerie Kirschenbaum

This bold work responds with great originality and imagination to the problem of changing interest and technology in book making by comparing ancient design methods with modern techniques and illustrating the many ways in which books can be read and used. A blueprint for change, the volume rethinks book cultures of the past, claims that a new renaissance is just over the horizon, and shows how it will function. Combining the written word with the latest multimedia advances, this artistic masterpiece synthesizes the best of the written word from such notable writers as William Blake and Edgar Allen Poe with 860 gorgeous, full-color images from ancient and medieval cultures for a scintillating, multisensory experience. This book will have a place in the design studio, museum gift shop, classroom, and home library of art, history, and language enthusiasts.

Genres: Books About Books, Nonfiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a reason why books aren't written like this: because it's distracting. Even the pages she uses as examples, even across cultures, aren't as busy and fragmented as hers. I really wanted to like this book, but there are so many arguments for NOT doing this that i would just get tired trying to point them all out. I'll just list a few of my thoughts here:

> Fonts and colors have connotations that influence someone's perception of the text beyond the words themselves.
> The page changed with Gutenberg because the book's function in society also changed. it's not like he was doing it to be a dick.
> Incorporating so much design into a text makes it harder to adapt with new graphics trends (or goddamn simplicity) and dates the work.

[Kass Johns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too difficult to read. Typeface changes are abrupt and off-putting. Was originally purchased because I am a lettering, Calligraphy artist, and a big fan of the history of printing. This book did exactly the opposite of what a book should do... it should make the reading of it desirable, not painful. Only serves as a passe experiment that went awry.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/200...

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing concept for any educator.