http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2008/10/31/changes-in-conversation/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:57:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2008/10/31/changes-in-conversation/comment-page-1/#comment-37779 David Carr Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:46:32 +0000 http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2008/10/31/changes-in-conversation/#comment-37779 One of my finest students taught me that simply using the cover of the book as a way to start a discussion is a useful way to ease into its content. When leading groups I find myself caressing books, looking at the images and typography, then starting to talk about my expectations based on the visual stimuli, inviting others to comment from the outside in. This even works with minimalist covers, allowing speculation on what alternative covers or designs might have accomplished. Of course, as Ms. Stover points out, this is a way to embrace the physical book as a meaningful artifact, apart from its content. One of my finest students taught me that simply using the cover of the book as a way to start a discussion is a useful way to ease into its content. When leading groups I find myself caressing books, looking at the images and typography, then starting to talk about my expectations based on the visual stimuli, inviting others to comment from the outside in. This even works with minimalist covers, allowing speculation on what alternative covers or designs might have accomplished. Of course, as Ms. Stover points out, this is a way to embrace the physical book as a meaningful artifact, apart from its content.

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