Designer: Jamie Keenan

title: 13 Things That Don't Make Sense

author: Michael Brooks

publisher: Doubleday

available at Amazon.com

13 Things That Don't Make Sense

It works graphically, it works conceptually. The white space is great, the color is great, the hierarchy is great.

If this cover were a summer resort, I’d rent a room and never go home again.

— , 2008-07-15 17:39:00 -0400

I saw this book yesterday and couldn’t stop looking at it.

— GH , 2008-07-16 00:45:00 -0400

Shape is from a book titled “Impossible Worlds: 2 in 1 Adventures with Impossible Objects”

http://www.amazon.com/Impossible-Worlds-Adventures-Objects-Evergreen/dp/3822854107/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216214889&sr=1-2

— Auguste , 2008-07-16 02:29:00 -0400

My childhood fascination with M.C. Escher returns!

— Dean , 2008-07-16 03:18:00 -0400

it’s big. it’s red. it’s fun to look at.
(like an art school painting about sex, but cleaner)

— , 2008-07-16 05:18:00 -0400

Shalls: All I see is a huge white vajayjay in the center of this image now, 14 things that don’t make sense!

— Auguste , 2008-07-16 08:10:00 -0400

I don’t like that the shape is cropped at the sides — hopefully that’s just the scan and not the actually cover art, because it really mucks up the geometry.

And I think the shape is older than any book you’ll find on Amazon.

— , 2008-07-16 09:08:00 -0400

There is something with the title. It seems really tight on the right. Otherwise, and besides the crop issue which i agree with—It’s a nice concept. Keenan does some tasty things. This is not my favorite mainly because the shape is so popular. It almost feels expected. Some of the execution and balance seems rushed. Don’t hit me.

— Ian Shimkoviak , 2008-07-16 09:37:00 -0400

Hmmmm… it’s okayyy. It’s a great blend of concept and graphic. But I’m not really loving the positioning, cropping, and spacing happening here. It’s a really simple concept and design, which makes it all the more surprising that it doesn’t sit properly. The feng shui is jerky somehow.

— C-Dog , 2008-07-16 12:46:00 -0400

I think this has much more balance—

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/0141007621/ref=sib_rdr_fc?ie=UTF8&p=S001&j=0#reader-page

By David Pearson

— ERIC , 2008-07-16 18:59:00 -0400

I agree with the comments on cropping, but I didn’t say as much myself because I couldn’t image quite how to fix it- if it’s scaled down and floating I think it is less interesting and the text become very small. I keep wanting to rotate it, but then the edges start becoming parallel with the edges of the book, which feels awkward too. The Pearson link above is certainly less fun to look at. Suggestions on cropping?

— , 2008-07-17 04:12:00 -0400

OK, so two of the corners are a little cropped. It’s still a beautiful and fascinating cover. Of course, this classic optical illusion reinforces the book’s theme. And I like the simple, uncluttered red-and-white layout.

— , 2008-07-17 05:12:00 -0400

There’s three sevens in there. What’s it mean?

— Mark B. , 2008-07-17 07:24:00 -0400

What’s strongest about this to me is that it wisely doesn’t try to work in the 13 things that don’t make sense, which would be a fool’s errand. Yet how many anthologies and other kinds of works do exactly that—attempt to give equal attention to all 16 writers, all 13 things that don’t make sense, etc. There’s strength in simplicity and focus…

— Joseph , 2008-07-17 12:58:00 -0400

The cropping and the spacing is a little off, and it’s a little heavy on the base.
Like the idea, though.

— boblet , 2008-07-18 11:06:00 -0400

If anyone would like an article by the author, explaining all 13 things… http://space.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18524911.600

— , 2008-07-18 11:23:00 -0400

i want my artwork back!

— m.c. esher , 2008-07-19 06:51:00 -0400

Hah, an impostor! Or a dead Mr. Escher..hmmm… which could it be? Misspelled name, and if that is you speaking from the other side, Mr. Escher; tough shit!

— boblet , 2008-07-19 07:42:00 -0400

lol…

— C-Dog , 2008-07-20 11:20:00 -0400

Does Covers.fwis get a commission on books sold via Amazon? I was wondering why the books link to Amazon?

— , 2008-07-20 14:10:00 -0400

I would be interested in seeing another crop. Maybe just one side or more of it. At first glance it seems heavy even though I don’t believe its supposed to be. The pointing down of the shape and the heavy base make it feel like its falling and makes me lose interest. What if it was moved up? I do love the hierarchy and the colors.

— Arthur , 2008-07-21 04:10:00 -0400

Ralph, yes they do. At least they said as much a few months back when they got their first check from Amazon for their referrals.

A brilliant move on their part if I do say so myself.

— C-Dog , 2008-07-25 04:23:00 -0400

Keenan nailed it. Nailed it hard. To the wall. Right there. Wham, bam, thank you Ma’am.

The concept. The execution. Brilliantly done. This doesn’t need a critique, this needs a full physical. It needs to be picked apart and broken down on a molecular level. Once that’s done maybe we can all rip it off and feel better about things.

Just lovely

— , 2008-07-28 20:36:00 -0400

These things always take up too much of my time :) I can’t stop staring…..Great cover!

— , 2008-08-15 02:56:00 -0400

That the impossible shape bleeds off the page is an excellent touch as well.

— , 2008-09-16 14:47:00 -0400

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— red pepper , 2010-01-28 06:02:46 -0500