Read This is a Scout column that details book selections by authorities, luminaries, institutions, and locals that share deep affections for the written word. This week, Carly Diab, Angela Evans and Cybele Creery – all of Emily Carr University Library – put together this selection of four fascinating books of detailing idiosyncratic efforts and artistic processes.

1. Stolen Sharpie Revolution : A DIY Resource for Zines and Zine Culture (fifth edition) | Review by Angela Evans

“This handy (and hand-sized) guide is a great introduction to the world of zines. Using cut-and-paste techniques, Author Alex Wrekk laid out the whole book by hand, giving it a unique and charming vibe that matches perfectly with the content. You can learn not only how to create your own zine (templates, tools, and techniques), but also about zine-making culture and community as a whole. Informative but lighthearted, this book might inspire you to grab the nearest piece of paper and get started on some zine-making of your own.”

2. I Don’t Have a Favourite Colour: Creating the Vitra Colour & Material Library | Jongerius, Hella.
| Gestalten, 2016. | Review by Cybele Creery

“You might not expect a book about planning a colour and material library for an industrial furniture company to be that exciting. Looking around public spaces, furniture is often drab and institutional; they are made for longevity, not comfort and aesthetic pleasure. This book offers some insight into the deep design processes undertaken by Berlin-based industrial designer Hella Jongerius, who was tasked with creating a colour and material library for a Swiss furniture company. ‘Everything had become very precise and very uniform, making it dull and lifeless,’ she ways. Simple explanations of such topics as colour and perception; examples of work by iconic furniture designers of the 20th century; and eye-catching layouts make this book accessible and inviting. Beautifully put together with a gorgeous binding, even as a non-designer I found this book both inspiring and thought-provoking.”

3. Chain Ring | Aoki, Ryoko. | Tokyo, Japan: FOIL, 2009. | 4. All Connected by Invisible Strings | Nodland, Kai. Nijmegen, Netherlands: Knust Extrapool, 2015. Reviews by Carly Diab

“These two artists’ books show how seemingly unrelated objects and experiences can so often link together. Chain Ring by Ryoko Aoki contains both intricate and minimalist drawings and photographs along with sparse text in Japanese and English that provide meaning and a sense of harmony to the illustrations. In All Connected by Invisible Strings, Kai Nodland uses lines to connect illustrations of everyday life with those of the larger universe. The drawings are risograph printed and provide a sense of balance and congruity.”