Chapter 32: Words on Trial: Ornament and Decoration
In this visually stunning chapter, designed in the form of a museum exhibit, you will discover:
Dozens of gorgeous, full color reproductions of medieval manuscripts, many illu
Click on thumbnails for larger view
242-243
244-245
246-247
248-249
250-251
252-253
minated in gold
The deeper meaning behind manuscripts decorated in gold… how and why deeply religious people used gold as an expression of faith
How Javanese illuminators used richly decorated frames as “gateways to the divine”
The etymologies of words such as ornament, decoration, color and illustration… and how they have prejudiced our thinking about visual experience
Stunning new opportunities for writers to write in gold and silver
“One of the most common criticisms — or misunderstandings, I should say — of designer writing is that it is mere ornament, mere decoration, devoid of any “deeper” meaning. But an investigation into the etymology of these words, a peak behind the curtain of our cultural heritage, reveals not a wizard but a blind spot in our literary lexicons. From Goodbye Gutenberg, Words on Trial: Ornament and Decoration, page 316
“Throughout the book, it is astonishing to watch the many ah ha! moments that Kirschenbaum clearly had on the path of inquiry she instinctively trusted herself on in pursuing the subject of the book. Goodbye Gutenberg is book on imagination, creativity, and the path of intellect, research, design, color, change and history. It is a book to be treasured over time and to be explored in relation to one's own thinking and ideas.” Dr. Daniel J. Maloney
Click on any of the thumbnails at left See why early reviewers have been astonished by these imaginative designs... Find out why they have hailed Goodbye Gutenberg as the blueprint for the coming Renaissance in literature and the arts... Or click here for a complete, chapter by chapter tour.
A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity
Dear Friend,
I am a high school teacher at a public school in the Bronx, not a salesperson, so I can’t give you a “sales pitch” here. I can only tell you a little more about this first edition, what makes it so special, and why at this price it is an amazing bargain.
The price is attractive even if it were not a first edition. Books with this much high quality artwork typically sell for $75 - $125 — or even more. One of the books in my library, which I discuss in Goodbye Gutenberg, is entitled, Mira Calligraphae Monumentae. It is published by the renowned J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles and sells for $150. Now consider the price: $150. First, there is nothing rare or unusual about this Getty Museum book. Second, the book is literally half the size of Goodbye Gutenberg and has only one third the number of images. Yet it sells for more than three times than Goodbye Gutenberg.
If you visit the websites of leading art, design and coffee table book publishers, you will find many that are priced in the $60.00 - $90.00 range. They rarely — if ever — offer as many high quality images as Goodbye Gutenberg. They rarely contain such groundbreaking designs. And they rarely are first editions.
If you are reading this page, it’s probably because you know someone who has a copy of Goodbye Gutenberg and you’ve probably seen the actual book yourself. At the very least, you have clicked on the pop-up windows and seen the gorgeous full-color pages throughout this website. You know what a rare and extraordinary a find this is. And you can own Goodbye Gutenberg for only $47.95.
You can still own a limited first edition printing… but hurry!
Only 4,700 copies of Goodbye Gutenberg were printed. When this edition sells out, that's it, there will never be another chance to own a limited first printing. Just to give you an idea of the potential value that books can have, consider just a few of the first editions by contemporary authors that have appreciated dramatically over the past 20 years:
Anne Rice, Interview with the Vampire: $1,000
Thomas Pynchon, V: $3,000
Alice Walker, Once: $1,500
Toni Morrison,The Bluest Eye: $5,000
Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird: $20,000
Sue Grafton: A is for Alibi: $1,500
Tom Clancy, The Hunt for Red October: $1,250
Source: Firsts Magazine, December 2001
Now I can't guarantee that in 20 years Goodbye Gutenberg will be worth a million dollars. But I can guarantee that you will be amazed, stunned, absolutely flabbergasted by this book. At the very least, you will consider it gorgeous and want to keep it for a lifetime. You will want to share it with family and friends. If not, just send it back for a full refund. No hassles, no questions asked.
Guaranteed to astonish – or your money back
This limited edition of Goodbye Gutenberg will go on sale December 1, 2004. I am offering you a chance to reserve your special autographed edition today. If you send me an email now and let me know you are interested, I will send you a special coupon which will allow you to purchase Goodbye Gutenberg at a discount. You are not required to leave a credit card. I am making this special offer only to those who heard about this website from friends and family.
This edition of Goodbye Gutenberg is more than just a book and more than just another Christmas present. It is a cultural heirloom for your family, a gem to own and cherish for a lifetime. But don't wait another moment! This most amazing and unique holiday gift will soon be gone. It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Just email me at val@goodbyegutenberg.com, let me know you are interested, and I will email you a few days before the book becomes available. At that time you will receive your coupon and 30 day, risk free offer.
You can’t lose
With a 30 day free trial, you truly can’t lose. I’m so confident that you’ll be thrilled and delighted with this book that you will want to treasure it and share it with family and friends for a lifetime.