The cutting edge of analog books

On Sunday in the Guardian, an article by Patrick Kingsley somewhat provocatively titled “Could this new book kill the Kindle?” posited that the next Kindle-killer may operate on something a little more old fashioned than e-ink.

Kingsley writes about a new sort of book (yes, a book) that is all the rage in Holland called the “flipback.” Okay, what the hell is a flipback? Kingsley describes the flipback he is reading–The Other Hand by Chris Cleave–thusly:

Nearly 370 pages long in its original format, the flipback version has more than 550 – but still fits easily in my pocket. The book’s not called The Other Hand for nothing. It’s so small that I can perch it in one fist, and keep my other hand free for shopping. How? The paper is wafer-thin.

So, it’s just a new format (or, as an e-book engineer might call it, “platform”)? That’s it?

Well, yes, apparently. UK publisher Hodder & Stoughton plans to publish 12 titles in this format. Publishers in Spain and France are already on board with versions of their titles as flipbacks (no word about plans from US publishers).

Analog books have not been getting a lot of press lately for their design innovations and, frankly, this format seems more like a novelty than anything–why is this news? What’s the incentive for publishers?

As Kingsley notes, the format was introduced just 2 years ago in Holland and has already sold more than a million books. It seems the format has a few features that lends itself well to modern life:

Unlike an ordinary paperback, the book lies open without intervention on my part, due to its special spine.
It’s handy on a rush-hour tube, too. Page-turning with paperbacks will see you elbowing your neighbour in the pancreas in no time. But the minuteness of this little beauty, with its pages that flip rather than turn, help me keep my elbows to myself and pancreases everywhere safe.

All well and good, but the lack of the letter “e” up front suggests that this format, despite it’s pleasing hand fit, strong sales for a novelty, and good press, might be doomed.

Or am I missing something? Does the idea of this new format appeal to you? It seems ideally suited to commuters reading on trains and buses–commuters, what do you think? Would being able to buy books as flipbacks push back the eventual day in the future in which you break down and buy an iPad, Nook, or Kindle? I look forward to your comments…

14 Comments

Birdswords at 5:22 am on March 22, 2011
As a kindle owner and user there is nothing to equal it’s versatility, its range. It has problems around ordering books, and its rather indifferent dictionary. Get one letter wrong and you cannot get your link to the books for purchase. Get your He(m)mingway wrong and you’ve had it.
But it is not a pocket fitter. Its not small enough. The flipback book is. As a publisher I have designed the flipback book in my head for my travels on crowded trains. So while I was trying to resolve the problem of how to carry something so small but readable they came up with the flipback book. I shall therefore be doing a flipback book in some form for our sardine packed readers. It is not just a gimmick. It is fullfilling a miniature need. But I will also be designing it for me.
Birdswords at 5:22 am on March 22, 2011
As a kindle owner and user there is nothing to equal it’s versatility, its range. It has problems around ordering books, and its rather indifferent dictionary. Get one letter wrong and you cannot get your link to the books for purchase. Get your He(m)mingway wrong and you’ve had it.
But it is not a pocket fitter. Its not small enough. The flipback book is. As a publisher I have designed the flipback book in my head for my travels on crowded trains. So while I was trying to resolve the problem of how to carry something so small but readable they came up with the flipback book. I shall therefore be doing a flipback book in some form for our sardine packed readers. It is not just a gimmick. It is fullfilling a miniature need. But I will also be designing it for me.
Anonymous at 12:22 pm on March 22, 2011
Oddly, I think it would catch on more with younger people, because you can’t tell me that’s not a tiny font on that page. And there are younger folks who have no interest in ebooks.
Anonymous at 12:22 pm on March 22, 2011
Oddly, I think it would catch on more with younger people, because you can’t tell me that’s not a tiny font on that page. And there are younger folks who have no interest in ebooks.
S.L. at 2:17 pm on March 22, 2011
MetaFilter discussion
http://www.metafilter.com/101749/The-flipback-a-new-kind-of-book
S.L. at 2:17 pm on March 22, 2011
MetaFilter discussion
http://www.metafilter.com/101749/The-flipback-a-new-kind-of-book
CMW at 8:07 pm on March 22, 2011
I am very interested in this format, as long as the font is not too small for older eyes to read! Perfect for travel. Sort of like the small, slim mini-paperbacks Penguin recently began marketing, only better because able to contain much more material. I’m looking forward to seeing an example!
CMW at 8:07 pm on March 22, 2011
I am very interested in this format, as long as the font is not too small for older eyes to read! Perfect for travel. Sort of like the small, slim mini-paperbacks Penguin recently began marketing, only better because able to contain much more material. I’m looking forward to seeing an example!
Publisher at 10:13 am on March 23, 2011
Right in the self-publishing writers eye! Can anyone direct me (URL) to a Dutch Publishing house or even a online bookshop that handels these flipbacks? Seach om Google and Hodder & Stroughton didn’t bring any results. Thanks. publisher@riprap.dk
Publisher at 10:13 am on March 23, 2011
Right in the self-publishing writers eye! Can anyone direct me (URL) to a Dutch Publishing house or even a online bookshop that handels these flipbacks? Seach om Google and Hodder & Stroughton didn’t bring any results. Thanks. publisher@riprap.dk
RAW at 10:56 am on March 23, 2011
The size is right, but the technology is wrong. An e-ink display with adjustable font size would make it perfect. I’ll never go back to paper books.
RAW at 10:56 am on March 23, 2011
The size is right, but the technology is wrong. An e-ink display with adjustable font size would make it perfect. I’ll never go back to paper books.
Debra at 11:30 am on April 22, 2011
The Duth word for it is “Dwarsligger”
http://www.dwarsligger.com/
Debra at 11:30 am on April 22, 2011
The Duth word for it is “Dwarsligger”
http://www.dwarsligger.com/