Beginning with the seemingly simple question of what a book is, this seminar is dedicated to ways of talking about books. Moving between theory, literary reflection, and design practice, we will consider the book as medium, form, idea, and product. Each session centers on a particular aspect: material form, authorship, readership, structure, time, and space.

Short readings by writers, artists, and designers (listed below) will serve as openings for reflection on the book’s conventions and possibilities, on how meaning is shaped by form, and on how books circulate, communicate, and persist.

Alongside this, we engage directly with physical examples from the library collection: Handling books, comparing them, and speaking about their design decisions becomes a method for developing a more attentive and articulate approach to book form. The aim is less to define ‘the book’ than to build a vocabulary for noticing how books work—and for understanding why they continue to matter. Let’s talk about books!

By the end of the seminar, students will have:

• Gained a broad conceptual understanding of the book as a medium, form, idea, and product.
• Learned to analyze books through hands-on observation, paying attention to structure, pacing/sequencing, materiality, and typography.
• Developed familiarity with historical and contemporary reflections on the book from literature, theory, and design practice.
• Practiced articulating observations and design judgments in discussion, short responses, and informal presentations.
• Strengthened their critical vocabulary, enabling more precise conversations about book design and its cultural implications.
• Compiled a set of notes and examples that can support future book-related design projects.