Some instructions on how to open a book

To preserve the flexibility and integrity of it’s spine.

This is a picture of my sketchbook with a broken spine. Because of this break every time I open the book it bends awkwardly at the break. This reminded me of a strange youtube video I saw once called ‘how to open a book’.

Turns out some of us, DO need instructions.

The goal is the get the spine to work in a flexible way as a whole and not put too much pressure on any one section.

Here are the instructions for opening a book.

1. Lay the book on its spine.

2. Collect the first 10 or so pages from the front of the book, including the cover and let that fall to the table

3. Do the same for the last 10 or so pages

4. Now take another 10 pages from the front and let it fall to the desk, do the same with 10 pages from the back.

5. Repeat until you get to the middle.

6. Then close the book.

7. Repeat steps 1-6 three times

   This will give the book the flexibility to bend open instead of crack open, and allow for more enjoyable reading, writing or sketching.

Happy weekend!