BOOKS UNBOUND by Michael Jacobs

A book review by Rhiannon Dent
reprinted with permission

Books Unbound is the perfect title for this book. It is filled with unusual books, sculptural books and architectural books. The projects in this book are not the sort of books that sit still and quiet, no, these books happily announce to the world "Pick me up! I'm no ordinary book!" They are intriguing, the kind you want to pick up and see what else is in them. The sort that will stretch your idea of what makes a book a book.

Written with Michael Jacobs trademark humor, the book projects begin with simple books and progress to more complex structures. Michael's exacting directions and accompanying photos are here, as is the metric equivalent of each measurement given.

Possibly the most useful segment of the book is the section on techniques. This section has directions and photos for every skill you need to make any structure in the book. Included are measuring, covering boards, adding flaps, making triangular accordion fold books, creating two button ties, two kinds of stitches, making sleeves, making accordion fold inserts…..nothing has been left out, and there no assumptions that everyone who reads the book has those skills.

More advanced readers haven't been left out, there are direction for capacity folds, expandable spines, hinges, adding legs, throwouts, shawl closures, and a bit on wire work scattered through out the book.

Having been through book and magazine articles lately whose directions on how to make something say "use a certain kind of die ' and "use this brand or that brand of something" I am delighted to see that the tools and materials needed for the projects in this book are all readily available, don't have brand names, and don't cost a lot of money.

Michael Jacobs is truly a 3D kind of guy, and nowhere is his expertise more apparent than in this book.

The book is divided into two sections, with the easier projects in the first section, progressing to more complex structures in the second.

Most projects in the book have an "Add Some Kick" and "Alternate Endings" section which takes the project further and adds inspiration to go your own direction. Useful tips are peppered throughout the book, and templates are included for any project that needs one.

The book's first section contains projects under the headings "Super Simple Books", "Travel Journals", and "Books With Pockets". These projects, while simple, are in no way boring or traditional - in fact they are a lot of fun, to make and to look at.

The projects in this section would appeal to a wide audience; scrapbookers who want to add surprise elements to their pages, stampers who want something new and exciting to work on, and anyone interested in altered arts would enjoy these structures as they are easy to construct and there is plenty of opportunity for additions and embellishments of every kind.

The second section of the book proceeds to books that are more sculptural and architectural. The segments are titled "Boxes with Books", "Modular Books", and "Wired Books". The Wire Edge Album is a welcome addition for anyone who is interested in Wire Edge Binding. This section includes books that have hidden compartments, various shapes and structures, and that are interactive.

The projects in this section appear much harder to make than they are. Assembly is broken down into small, easily understood steps. Combined with the technique section at the front of the book, any project is well within reach.