The Culture of Luxury Books

Hello friends - the question - book or e-reader - and some other thoughts about it by Sophie White today as I attempt to get myself back together after vacation. Don't forget that the Show Us Your Books: Anniversary Edition link up is Tuesday, October 13. Enjoy! 

***************************************

In a world where the modern reader seeks convenience, such devices as tablets have slowly risen to replace paper books to introduce digital copies of the written word. For many, this is a sign of the rise of modern books, and it has since been forecast that paper books will soon be replaced completely.

Bibliophiles may disagree. With the role books has had over the centuries, some book lovers may think that they will never be completely erased, for culture is what they represent. But with today’s highly visual audience, publishers have raised the bar on books’ graphic appeal, introducing a niche of artistic designs and covers that attract collectors, putting more focus on luxury books.

The art of the printed word

The key to getting modern readers interested these days seem to be through a highly attractive book cover design. For bibliophiles, this is taken one step further and would include the overall design of the book. Still, for those looking to peek into high style and art, luxury books have found their place.

Whatever the case, it cannot be denied that books still hold their own magic for readers. There are also different types of books that don’t fit very well for digital copy. This would include highly photo-centric books that are best enjoyed in glossy volumes for full appreciation. These books are items of luxury and are considered as objects of art themselves, to be proudly put on display in the home.

A different sensory experience

One of the most important things a book can have is to capture and immortalize different facets of life – whether through pictures or words – and this is deftly achieved in books that hold both in equal importance.

Luxury books can claim to give readers a different, dignified experience for the senses. With beautiful, memorable photographs that can capture everything from art to fashion and travel, luxury books are themselves a reflection of culture.

The modern audience includes people who consume visual components every day – from advertisements on the street to social media pictures as well as television shows. With so much going on in daily life, books offer an escape and a sight into other worlds.

Printed books in the digital age

With the on-the-go lifestyle many people lead these days, it can be really useful to have a tablet from which to access different books anytime at any place. But the appeal of physical books will never truly go away for the most dedicated reader.

What is even more undeniable is the appeal of volumes of books laid out across shelves in one’s own home. It signifies a sense of comfort and relaxed coziness that book lovers value when they read. This is why home libraries are considered as valuable personal spaces of culture across the world.

Even as e-books rise higher in popularity, books will only evolve to become even more sought-after for creating personal collections in one’s own space. This is why books may never truly go out of print even as the juggernaut of modernism continues to roll.

Sophie White is a blogger based in Australia with a wide array of interests that have to do with high style and its appreciation. She is a bibliophile and true book lover, as well as having a keen eye for the latest in fashion and good food.  With her passion for sophistication and quality, she partners with Assouline, an independent publisher of lifestyle luxury books with boutiques around the world.