Check out this totally hilarious Video by Designer Aaron Draplin of the Draplin Design Company. In it, he explains his total angst over the future of American Design. The thing that makes it so funny is that it’s both extremely honest… and very true, ha!

OK, if you enjoyed that then you’ll want to be sure to watch this video lecture taped at the Walker Art Center where he explains his origin in getting into design & also shares some of his design processes. Plus, he also explains, a little bit, about the above video… good stuff!!

WOW! What an honor! Chip Kidd’s new Graphic Novel, BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN, was recently reviewed by Todd Klein. Yes, THE Todd Klein! For the 3 or 4 people who don’t know who this guy is he’s a very well-known Comic Book Artist & Designer. His main focus seems to be the study & appreciation of “Comic Book Logos”. His career in comics mostly revolved around the art of lettering, at which, he became a True Master! So much so, that in 2002 he was asked to write the 2nd half of an Art Instruction Book titled, “THE DC COMICS GUIDE TO COLORING AND LETTERING COMICS”. He now writes a very popular BLOG & it’s there that he did his book review. So, please give it a quick read by clicking HERE! ( Thanks Mr. Klein )

This is just a quick post to share some amazing designs revolving around the idea of “Book Shelves” or “Bookcases”. Hey, as Book Lovers we all need this kind of storage so why not make it interesting! The last one is kinda funny because it involves some serious privacy issues, ha!

In October 2008, Author John Updike spoke with Sam Tanenhaus, the editor of the New York Times Book Review, about the craft of fiction and the art of writing.

Every now and then Chip Kidd runs into a super-famous person, like everyday ( Ha Ha, Just Kidding ). But here’s a recent photo where he did bump into Tom Brokaw, the iconic American Television Journalist and Author. Wow! What an honor. Chip said he was a very nice guy and was cool enough to pose for this quick picture.

Here’s a YouTube Video we came across that features a lecture given by Chip Kidd back in 2008. It is from an event at the University of Michigan’s School of Art & Design. The theme of the show was “A Number of People “. Hey, just watch it, you’ll get an idea what that means, ha! The video also contains some background to the design of a few Book Covers and Dust Jackets along with some interesting info on the Authors. Enjoy, and please don’t forget to share on Twitter or Facebook!

OK, I hope the title to this post is not misleading. It’s NOT about clever “Book Design” but more about ways to enjoy reading & storing/displaying books in a clever way. Check out the photos, you’ll see what we’re talking about!

This “READ” Bookcase for the wall is very funny & would make a great weekend project. So, go to your local Home Depot, get some supplies, and then get on it! The next pic shows some interesting “Metal Art Bookends” we came across on Etsy ( the one with the Black Birds is my personal favorite ). Last, but not least, is this amazing new product, the “Reading-Pod”! This device allows you to add a special reading space outside. Yes, go ahead & admit it, you really really NEED it!

THE HIVE will be the next new book by Charles Burns & published by Pantheon. It is the second book of an on-going Trilogy Series with “X-ed Out” being the first installment. If you read that book then you will remember the main character named Doug.

Much has happened since we last saw Doug, the Tintin-like hero from X’ed Out. Confessing his past to an unidentified woman, Doug struggles to recall the mysterious incident that left his life shattered, an incident that may have involved his disturbed and now-absent girlfriend, Sarah, and her menacing ex-boyfriend. Doug warily seeks answers in a nightmarish alternate world that is a distorted mirror of our own, where he is a lowly employee that carts supplies around the Hive.

THE HIVE has a release date set for October 9th, 2012. So, Please look for it then at your favorite Book Store. Charles Burns will also be making many public appearances to speak about the book. Here are a list of events:

10/9: Philadelphia/Free Library
10/10: NYC/Strand
10/11: Boston/Harvard Bookstore at the Brattle Theater
10/17: Seattle/Fantagraphics
10/23: SF/SFJCC
10/24: Seattle/Town Hall
10/27: Boston Book Festival
11/10: Brooklyn Comic Art Festival
11/11: Montreal
11/12: Toronto
11/17: Miami Book Fair

Wait, There’s More! Oh yeah, the main reason for this post was to share an excellent review that appears in the very latest issue of Publisher’s Weekly Magazine that just hit newsstands on July 2nd, 2012. So please be sure to keep an eye out for that new issue.

OK, Because they seem to be very popular, plus, we all need a good laugh every now & then, here are some hilarious “Literary Book Humor” photos. Enjoy, and please remember to share them with your friends!