Why eBooks Are Inspiring a New Age of Print

Instead of killing physical books, eBooks have actually encouraged a new level of fetishization of the printed page. Beautifully made editions that sit as objets d’art on the shelf or coffee table are becoming more prevalent. Publishers are investing in more luscious, expensive print editions.

Taschen makes stunning art books that are artworks in themselves, often costing hundreds of dollars. McSweeneys continues to experiment with formats and materials. The attributes that eBooks don’t do well or at all—heavy paper stocks, bookmark ribbons, book plates, artful typography, metallic foils, and stunning, colorful covers—are being implemented in a new flourishing of mass-produced