The Thing The Book: A Monument to the Book as Object

by Jonn Herschend, Will Rogan

What exactly is a book? This wildly inventive and thought-provoking volume asks that question of more than 30 of today's top creative visionaries, from Ed Ruscha to Miranda July, John Baldessari to Jonathan Lethem. Each traditional element of a book—from endpapers to footnotes—is assigned to a different artist or writer invited to use the space as a creative playground. The result is a collaborative group art project like no other. A ribbon bookmark by David Shrigley, page numbers by Tauba Auerbach, endnotes by Rick Moody—each contribution surprising and brilliant. This one-of-a-kind book will entrance anyone who appreciates art, literature, and the surprising possibilities that emerge when the two collide.

Genres: Books About Books, Art, Nonfiction

156 pages, Hardcover

First published September 23, 2014

Reviews

[nic (つ . •́ _ʖ •̀ .)つ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think one either hates this book, or loves it. I personally loved it. :D

There were parts that really confused me, no question about that, and some stuff which just left me thinking, "WHAT is going on?" The point of the book is to explore the conventional elements of the book as an object, and to pick apart those different elements through spinning experimental twists on them. Unlike what we'd expect from a book (as a linear progression of text), you never know what to expect on the next page of this one. Some articles were slightly mundane or flew over my head, others left me trying to stifle my laughs in the library, and one or two encapsulated exactly how I feel about the beauty and importance of books in a digital age.

Yes, it can be pretentious, but it was also profound. They achieved their objective in making the book to be a sort of conceptual artwork, with different components going on at the same time to represent, perhaps, the active faculties of our brain when imagining and trying to comprehend a text - for instance, the quirky stop-motion flip drawings at the top of the pages! I enjoyed this a lot, and I think it's definitely worth a read!

🌹 date finished: 9 jan 2019 🌹

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not often you read the index to a book, but the index in 'The Thing The Book' is an item in itself, as are the alternative contents page, the footnotes, the endnotes and everything else in between (including the marker ribbons) - all contributed by different artists and all self-reflexively examining the conventions and elements of 'the thing' that is a book.

Experimental and enjoyable, visually interesting, with wit and humour... it ends with lovely little tribute piece about a guy who frequently appeared as the last name in the San Francisco phone book in the 1960s and 70s by adding extra Z's to front of his last name.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe too clever and too eclectic, this is a contemporary art take on what a book is as an object. The best part are some of the collections of book covers as well as the part about the people competing for the last spot in the phonebook by adding extra z's to their names in the yellow pages of 60s and 70s San Francisco.

[Madison Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In love with the concept of this object. The essays were poignant and striking, and really make me think about what makes a book a book, rather than just a collection of words. Is an e-book a book? I want to read more physical books now, because of this physical love letter to the medium. Art is one hell of a thing. Inspired.

[Matt A · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very laborious walk through the land of ivory tower snobbery. I certainly consider myself a bibliophile and a lover of the written work, the exact target demographic of this work, yet I found it a tedious task to finish and an eager sell after.

[Diana León · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro diseñado para los amantes del detalle, cada hoja fue pensada detenidamente y los añadidos al libro/objeto son exquisitos

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many clever aspects to the object (i.e., "the thing") that made up this book itself that I feel bad not giving it the full 5 starts. From the disclaimer on the flap and Jonathan Lethem's brillant footnotes to the ribbon book marks and Miranda July's pornographic errata sheet, I loved each element of how this thing, this book was put together. I didn't really get the sense that the body selections were as carefully curated, however. This isn't to say I didn't enjoy many of them immensely, but there were several that seemed to have nothing to do with books and reading, which seemed to undercut the whole purpose of the project. Nonetheless, I'm thrilled to own this and have it on my bookshelf, which is the bigger point they are trying to make to begin with.

[Bradley Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about the book itself as an object. Some scholarly essays, some photo essays, some art pieces, an index to nothing, an errata to a harlequin novel.... this book celebrates everything that makes books wonderful with actual physical things that make up a book. There are many contributors, so the collection is all over the place: sometimes somber and serious, other times cheeky and absurd. I found this in the window of a used bookstore in Omaha, NB.

[Dave Rothacker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book's design is superb. The authors did a fantastic job of creating the object, the book. Unfortunately for me I didn't understand three quarters of the writing inside. If you love art you'll appreciate it more than I.

[Bobby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting concept but the execution is uneven: some pieces are quite engaging, others felt rather dull/pedantic to me. I think people who are into "modern art" may appreciate it more than book lovers.

[Mills College Library]

700.49 T4434 2014

[P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS. As a concept, the design, the production, the content. Will be keeping on my desk for reference!