Breaking the Page: Preview Edition

by Peter Meyers

Do books need to change as they move from paper to screen?

I've written "Breaking the Page" to answer that question. My investigation isn't a blank survey of what technology makes possible. It's a study conducted on behalf of those who care most about books: writers and readers.

I cover the fundamental aspects of the reading experience. How we become aware of books and come to know what's inside them; how we comprehend, retain, and recall what we have read; how we share with others the parts we love.

As a guidebook "Breaking the Page" aims to serve those with a professional interest in bookmaking. I have included many specific design ideas, including new kinds of opening sequences, text and video integration techniques, and multi-scale document designs.

But I think general interest readers will also find the discussion worth their attention. The transformation of the book has implications that range from the personal to the political. Books shape how we raise our kids. They control how ideas spread and how we change the kind of person we have become. Understanding this epic shift from paper to screen...

- what we gain,
- what we lose,
- what is to be done

...is a topic worthy of its own book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

125 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 2, 2011

Reviews

[Anisha Inkspill]

I’m reorganising my Kindle library, and discovered this, the title grabbed me and the cover suggested it was about a subject that interests me, reading books.

It kind of was but more about the tech than the actual act of reading, but what comes through is the enthusiasm and excitement for eBooks, I can completely relate to this.

There are many suggestions Peter Meyers makes but his ideas make the reading experience more like playing video games. And I don’t know, for me reading sits in a different realm to playing video games: when I read, the words in the book are the only interaction I have. This is a very different experience to when I play games, listen to audiobooks, watch movies and stream programs, with these there are multiple levels of interaction. So, I would be sorry to see eReading technology making less use of it being just about me and the words on the (screen) page.

[Ale Muñoz]

Pretty interesting. Can't wait for the final book.

[Naticia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely raised my standards of ebook reading. And definitely made me rethink how we create our own ebooks! I can't wait for the full version.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction on what to expect when working with digital books. There's a lot to consider when designing and downloading a new app or ebook.

[Xinwei Wang · Rating 2 out of 5]

Attracted by the nice title, yet found out it's a collection full of obvious observations and random personal opinions.
Breaking the page, yet picking up nothing new.