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A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader

by Maria Popova

Letters on what reading makes possible

Bestseller
Regular price $31.11 USD
Regular price $51.85 USD Sale price $31.11 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Bestseller

    New York Times Bestseller

    The supplied metadata identifies this book as a New York Times bestseller.

AlbakiReads Editorial

Letters on what reading makes possible

This collection brings together letters from writers, artists, scientists, musicians, and other contributors reflecting on reading and the place books have held in their lives. Each letter faces an illustration offering a visual response, so the book pairs personal reflections with artwork throughout. Contributors named in the description include Jane Goodall, Ursula K. Le Guin, Yo-Yo Ma, Judy Blume, and Jacqueline Woodson; the illustrators include Christian Robinson, Mo Willems, and Shaun Tan. The range of voices and images makes the volume an anthology about books, libraries, and the ways reading can shape experience.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children and adults interested in books and libraries
  • Readers who enjoy collections of personal reflections by people from varied creative and intellectual fields
  • Those looking for a book that combines written contributions with illustrations

Themes

Reading and booksLibrariesPersonal experience and characterIllustration and visual response

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

New York Times Bestseller! ★ An expansive collection of love letters to books, libraries, and reading, from a wonderfully eclectic array of thinkers and creators.

"For book lovers of all ages."--Wall Street Journal ​★ "An embarrassment of riches." --New York Times

In this beautiful book, perfect for gifting, some of today's most appealing culture-makers--writers, artists, scientists, musicians, and philosophers--reflect on the joys of reading, how books broaden and deepen human experience, and the ways in which the written word has formed their own character.

On the page facing each letter, an illustration by a celebrated illustrator or graphic artist presents that artist's visual response.

Among the diverse contributions are letters from Jane Goodall, Jerome Bruner, Shonda Rhimes, Ursula K. Le Guin, Yo-Yo Ma, Judy Blume, Elizabeth Gilbert, Mary Oliver, and Jacqueline Woodson, as well as a 98-year-old Holocaust survivor, a pioneering oceanographer, and Italy's first woman in space.

Some of the illustrators, cartoonists, and graphic designers involved are Christian Robinson, Sophie Blackall, Sean Qualls, Oliver Jeffers, Daniel Salmieri, Mo Willems, Isabelle Arsenault, Carson Ellis, Shaun Tan, Tomi Ungerer, and Art Spiegelman.

This project is woven entirely of goodwill, generosity of spirit, and a shared love of books. Everyone involved has donated their time, and all profits will go to the New York Public Library systems. This stunning 272-page hardcover volume features a lay-flat binding to allow for greater ease of reading.
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Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
AlbakiReads
Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

O
AlbakiReads
Olivia

Smooth.