Product Description

A curious, engaging, and creative rethinking of what a book can be, from the creator of Wreck this Journal.

In this uniquely skewed look at the purpose and function of "a book," Keri Smith offers an illustrated guide that asks readers to creatively examine all the different ways This Is Not a Book can be used. With intriguing prompts, readers will discover that the book can be:

A secret message-tear out a page, write a note on it for a stranger, and leave it in a public place.

A recording device-have everyone you contact today write their name in the book.

An instrument-create as many sounds as you can using the book, like flipping the pages fast or slapping the cover

. This Is Not a Book will engage readers by having them define everything a book can be by asking, "If it's not a book, what is it then?"-with a kaleidoscope of possible answers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4587 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780399535215
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Keri Smith is a freelance illustrator by trade, her work being seen in the Washington Post, the New York Times, People, The Body Shop, and Hallmark.

Customer Reviews

Freeing!
This Is Not A Book is much like its predecessor (Wreck This Journal), except that it pushes the boundaries of your comfort zone much further. A handful of exercises exhort you to put yourself forward publicly in one way or another, or to risk losing your copy of the book to the results of an exercise. For example, one exercise encourages you to leave This Is Not A Book someplace overnight and see what happens.

Others have less of an element of social or fiscal risk to them. An "Idea Formulation Generator" has you make three separate lists of terms (things found in nature, objects you use every day, and words you like), combine one from each list randomly, and use to come up with an idea for a new concept or product. The pages are filled with images, frames, white space, thought bubbles, and anything else needed to leave room for your experiments. The only problem I found is that there were a few places where the layout neglected to leave a blank page in the right place, resulting in conflicting exercises.

If you just can't get yourself to leave your comfort zone and try wacky things, then Keri Smith's publications (I can't really call this one a book, can I?) are not for you! Or maybe they're aimed particularly at you, because you'll need the most help loosening up. (In that case, try Wreck This Journal first, to get your feet wet.) This Is Not A Book is a great method for forcing yourself to think outside the box, color outside the lines, etc., and that's definitely a boost to creativity!

[Review copy provided by publisher]

This Is Not A Review for This Is Not A Book
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1G29VZ925I49 Keri Smith's new creative wonder "This Is Not A Book" is officially released today September 1, 2009, and MotherHenna.com is doing a filmic adventure as a review just for you! Come play! Get inspired, and then go make art -- coz that's what it's all about it!