Random House just re-released Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-Winning Novel, “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay” in Soft Cover Paperback ( it’s the one shown on the left, the other Cover on the right is for the eBook Edition & Audio Book ). So, we thought we would present this wonderful video of a Speaking Lecture Mr. Chabon did at the Dominican University of California in 2010. In it, Michael talks almost exclusively about the creation of this iconic novel & how he came about writing it, it’s very entertaining for sure & lasts for about an hour. So, go fix yourself some Popcorn, grab a drink, get comfy, and enjoy.

Here’s a quick post to share this photo of some amazing Dinnerware a Friend of ours named David saw on the Internet the other night. It’s a very clever design idea & would also make a lovely table setting… that is, if you’re crazy goo-goo about Books and Reading! OH YEAH, Here are some really cool Pieces of Tableware, mostly Dinner Plates & Saucers, designed by GOLDBOOK CHINA to look just like opened books laying on a table. Click the Company name for availability & ordering. Order me a few sets while you’re at it, Christmas is always right around the corner.

They say that “Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery”, so I thought this would be a fun idea for a post. Chip Kidd is pretty well known for creating the logo used for Steven Spielberg’s JURASSIC PARK Movie. Well, actually he had first designed it for the Book Cover to Michael Crichton’s novel that the film was based on and then Universal Pictures optioned it for the use as their Official Movie Logo, cool! It was a big part of the movie, not only for Advertising, Billboards, Movie Posters, etc… but it was also featured prominently IN the movie because it was the “Logo for the Dinosaur Theme Park” and they kind of made a point about the evils of mass-marketing ( Lunch Boxes, T-Shirts, Mugs, etc. ). Anyway, the rest is history and this classic logo has become sort of iconic. So much so, that there have been a million parodies! Here are just a few… for laughs, ha ha! Enjoy.

OK, I don’t mean for today to be “Video Day” here at CHIPKIDD.COM ( Ha Ha! ). But while surfing through YouTube last night I came across this extremely excellent video of the Opening Sequence to THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Movie (2011) and the visuals are just completely incredible! It reminds me of the ones you see in many James Bond 007 films. It’s pretty cool. Plus, the modern-day cover version of Led Zeppelin’s Classic, “The Immigrant Song” ( circa 1970 ), is great too.

WAIT! THERE’S MORE! I should also note that this movie is based on the Stieg Larsson Trilogy Book Series published by Random House Knopf. The book covers were art directed by Peter Mendelsund & down below is a link to the special “Millennium Trilogy Deluxe Boxed Set” published after the huge success of these books. I mention it here because Peter did an excellent video for it that you can see ON the Amazon page. I wanted to share that too but you can’t embed or share it. You have to watch it on Amazon. So please be sure to check it out.

Elysabeth Alfano, the Host of the excellent Web TV Series “Fear No ART” from Chicago, sits down with acclaimed Graphic Novelist, Chris Ware, in his home library for an understanding of this influential artist. Now, while parts of the interview cover Chris Ware’s entire career they also use many of the graphics that can be seen in his next book, “Building Stories”, which has a release date from Pantheon Books around October 2nd, 2012.

“Building Stories” imagines the inhabitants of a three-story Chicago apartment building: a 30-something woman who has yet to find someone with whom to spend the rest of her life; a couple, possibly married, who wonder if they can bear each others company another minute; and the building’s landlady, an elderly woman who has lived alone for decades. Taking advantage of the absolute latest advances in wood pulp technology, Building Stories is a book with no deliberate beginning nor end, the scope, ambition, artistry and emotional prevarication beyond anything yet seen from this artist or in this medium, probably for good reason.

Fans of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will totally love this wonderful lecture series by Poet J. D. McClatchy. His witty English-language libretto of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” has become a holiday favorite at The Metropolitan Opera. He has now translated seven of the libretti, including The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and Cos Fan Tutte. To celebrate the publication of his translations, Mr. McClatchy is joined by Met singers for an evening of readings and Classical Music performance. This video was recently published & it was recorded at the 92nd Street Y on December 1st, 2010.

For more information about the special events happening at the 92nd Street Y please CLICK HERE!

OMG! Look who Chip Kidd ran into the other night, the delightful Brooke Shields! Yes, she’s still just as beautiful as ever. Well, maybe even a little bit more. Plus, She was really really nice and agreed to this fun photo. ( Thank you Mrs. Shields )

This photo is an amazing piece of BATMAN Comic Book History! This item is in the collection of a guy named Richard, who came to one of Chip Kidd’s Book Signings for “Batman: Death By Design”. It’s a patent application for the Batman logo in the UK and it’s dated 1944. Fun! ( Thanks Richard )

Many people work behind the scenes at Random House to bring each book to the widest possible audience. In this brand-new promo video, you’ll meet some of them and learn more about what’s involved, from editorial and design through production, marketing, sales, and distribution. This video was posted just last month at the Official Random House YouTube page & if you watch it I think you’ll experience two things: One, what it’s like to bring a book to life, and two, how many very talented people it really takes just to get things done.