I’ve been pestering everyone I know with links to this article by Craig Mod so now it’s your turn…

http://craigmod.com/journal/ipad_and_books/

Basically he agrees with (and makes much clearer sense about) my long-time thesis that the form of book is controlled by content and if we are to consider giving up the ‘printed book’ we have to reconsider content before deciding the on a new delivery mechanism. He focuses on the iPad as the revolutionary new tool, and while I can’t disagree, it is really irrelevant. Information publishing is past the point of no return and we need to loosen the shackles that paper and ink have imposed for several thousand years (I know, I know, but I included papyrus and stone and wax and whatever…)

These two slidesfrom his article take me right back to Scott McCloud who was fascinating me with this topic back in 2000:

Scott McCloud’s ‘paths and trails’

Craig Mod’s take on the paths and ‘infinite book” concept

Anyway a ‘must read’ for anyone who loves book and reading but has never stopped to think about what a wonderfully versatile thing the book is… and why it must change…