It’s easy to forget how much time, effort and manpower goes into creating a book, far beyond the author sitting down and actually writing it.
As writer Mark Welker points out on his blog, “many other things may die with the printed word, including the intersection of craft and art, and the beautiful things humans can produce when working together.”
This beautiful short vignette (just under 2mins long) shows a book being created using traditional printing methods, and is a wonderful reminder of the value of the printed book, and the enormous effort that goes into its creation for our benefit.
Enjoy.
Birth of a Book from Glen Milner @glen_milner on Vimeo.
storytelling nomad 
That is an astonishingly beautiful video…thanks for sharing!
No problem, Satis!
Gorgeous. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Stef :)
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Illuminated manuscripts, such as the Book of Kells, required even more time and shared vision. I love them as art too–but they’re not competitive any more either as the primary conveyor of text.
On the other hand, I will never lose the desire to see a traditionally published book with my name on the spine on a shelf in a store, not while I live. The accomplishment is what I want, not merely the exposure. If life was only ever about the easiest way of getting from point A to point B, no one would ever run a marathon.
Illuminated manuscripts blow my mind. They really are pieces of art. Likewise, I’d love to see my name on the spine of a traditionally published book! And you make an excellent point in that it’s not just about the exposure, but the accomplishment. So very true. Thanks for stopping by, Jeffrey.
I saw that video a while ago, it’s amazing :-)
I’m late on the bandwagon, as usual! It is amazing though.
Haha, that’s usually me. I’m always last to get to know something^^
There’s something utterly hypnotic about old machinery at work. I could lose myself for hours just staring at it.
I agree. It’s rather incredible.
Lovely! I have not been able to give up my books for a Nook or Kindle yet. I love the smell of the paper, the feel of it beneath my fingertips. A wall of books is eye candy to me, and the promise of hours of quiet enjoyment whenever I wish.
I’m right there with you, Naomi! We have a Kindle in our house, but it doesn’t get half as much the attention that the traditional books do. Walls of books are definitely eye candy!