The great transatlantic dust jacket con-job

16 June 2007  

I’m irate.1 When I buy my godless propoganda, I want it garish and in-your-face so that I can sit on the bus on the way to work and read it and all around me can see that I think religion is a bunch of hokum, and that I don’t give a flying shit who knows it.

I’ve bought a few books recently, in hardback, and have been completely disappointed by the dust jackets on offer over here. Take for example Dawkins’ The God Delusion:

The God Delusion, US dust jacket

In the USA the cover is silvered: shiny, alluring to the eye (for the same reason that they put mirrors in lifts (elevators) no doubt). It screams “notice and read me! Take me home! I’m valuable!”.

In the UK, we have this:

The God Delusion, UK dust jacket

It’s a little classier, yes, but otherwise it’s completely lifeless. Who is going to notice that? It’s the sort of cover that wouldn’t look at all out of place on the bookshelf of someone whose collection consists of nothing but Readers’ Digest novels2. My copy of TDG, in it’s best upper-middle class accent, drolls “yes, well, I wouldn’t really want to put you out, but, if you must read me…” Who’s going to throw me the evil eye from the other aisle of the bus on seeing that cover?

Then we come to my most recent purchase in the domain of nontheistic literature, Hitchens’ God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything:

God is not Great, US dust jacket

Look at that baby! Bright fricken yellow, an eye-rending ophthalmic-test style title in a trendy modern typeface — how in-your-face is that? Who, on the daily work-bus wouldn’t notice it? Nobody, that’s who.

Actually, that isn’t the book I bought: oh no. What I bought was Hitchens’ new God Is Not Great: The Case Against Religion:

God is not Great, UK dust jacket

The what? The Case Against Religion? Nononono! I want to know How Religion Poisons Everything! Hitchens writes “religion poisons everything” within the text of the book, so why change the cover? I’m quite sure that if Hitchens wrote “Well, yes, one might now see how this is the case against religion” at the end of a chapter, it carries quite a different message.

And, one might notice, the dust jacket for this book (which may or may not have the same bloody guts as it’s transatlantic cousin) is not too far removed from the offensive UK cover of Dawkins’ title: again, it’s dark and broody, with plenty of red and again a serifed typeface. The people on the bus will think I’ve been reading the same book for months!

Perhaps publishers think that we Brits can only read something if it’s covered in serifs. Or perhaps they think that we need to pretend to be more reserved in our treatment of religion, just in case the commuting hip, young vicar with his Starbucks chai and Bench knapsack is looking. We wouldn’t want to offend his sensibilities, would we?

Fuck no: I want my atheism raw, unfiltered, without affectedness and as full of life as it can be. If I wanted to suck the marrow out of it, as with anything, I’d join a fucking cult.

  1. Yes, this is a rant, and contains swearing. If you’re offended by such language, stop reading now. []
  2. not that I have anything against Readers’ Digest, I even have some of their books myself, but I have many others too []

No other posts are likely to be like this.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Comments

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

8 Responses to “The great transatlantic dust jacket con-job”

  1. tobe38 on June 16th, 2007 1:22 am

    I noticed the different UK subtitle on GiNG. I agree, it’s tame. Fortunately, I bought my copy off amazon.com, so I’ve got the sexy vibrant poisoning yellow version!

  2. nullifidian on June 16th, 2007 1:34 am

    Indeed. I had it in my wishlist, so I didn’t notice the cover initially. I think I might have to invest in the “alternative” version too.

  3. Greg on June 16th, 2007 3:42 am

    The “God Is Not Great” subtitle (and cover) switch is a damned shame. Maybe you can replace the dust jacket with pages ripped from an inexpensive periodical devoted to adult photography, or maybe the “I has a hymen” photo!

  4. TW on June 16th, 2007 10:06 am

    I agree with you on God Is Not Great, but I actually prefer the UK cover of God Delusion.

    The US one subdues the book title (as it does with Hitchen’s book, but in a different way) and obscures (IMHO) the nature of the book. You may as well be reading an autobiography…

    :-)

  5. panj on June 16th, 2007 10:16 am

    I agree. I think “The Case Against Religion” weakens the impact so I orderd a US copy which is taking a long time to arrive.

    I still do not know if “Monastica Toxicum Totus” is a correct translation of Religion Poisons Everything.

    panj

  6. nullifidian on June 16th, 2007 11:47 am

    panj wrote:

    I still do not know if “Monastica Toxicum Totus” is a correct translation of Religion Poisons Everything.

    Indeed. You don’t want to end up like Brian and having to write it out correctly 100 times on the walls of the city. :-)

    As it happens, I read recently in The Independent that the “corrected” Latin in The Life of Brian wasn’t actually correct.

  7. Bruceinthe7th on June 16th, 2007 12:16 pm

    I agree. How about Francis Bacon’s “Study after Velázquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X” for Hitchens’ book. Or even better, “Figure with Meat”.

    I’m rather surprised that Hitchins permitted “The Case Against Religion” to be used.

  8. The Exterminator on June 16th, 2007 8:01 pm

    Well, the U.S. version of The God Delusion tends to fade beside other books, because its color doesn’t stand out — particularly when it’s on a shelf with only its spine showing.

    God is not Great looks like a big yellow book about something “GREAT.” It’s not until you get close that you can even read the other words in the title. And worse, bright yellow is not a “serious” color, a subliminal clue that the text should be taken with a grain of salt, like a kids’ book. I do agree that the American subtitle is more powerful; but it’s more confrontational, too — and, perhaps, less likely to encourage a purchase by believers. So then we’re left with yet another volume preaching atheism to atheists.

    If it were up to me, both books would have stark black covers with raised white lettering and perhaps a splash of red somewhere. I think the Brit version of The God Delusion comes close. It looks “important,” and it seems to have gravitas.

buy cheap p viagra
buy generic viagra usa
order viagra overnight delivery
buy qoclick se viagra
cheap viagra without prescription
cheapest generic viagra and cialis
buy cheapest viagra online
buy viagra in amsterdam
buy buy cheap viagra
buy viagra cheap online
cheap generic kamagra kamagra uk viagra
cheapest prices on generic viagra
cheap pfizer viagra
buy viagra online without prescription
cheap viagra from pfizer
buy pharmaceutical viagra
buy online online viagra viagra
viagra and generic
cheap cheap discount sale viagra
buy keyword online viagra
cheapest prescription viagra
cheap deal viagra
order viagra 1
buy viagra online india
buy purchase viagra online confidential
buy viagra bradenton
buy herbal viagra viagra
buy herbal pill viagra viagra
cheap online pill price viagra viagra
buy online sale viagra viagra
viagra br
buy viagra at the best price
order phizer viagra
viagra by overnight delivery
cheap gerneric viagra
buy sublingual viagra on the internet
cheap online softtabs viagra
buy viagra in the philippines
viagra can cause loss of hearing
buy viagra soft tabs
buy viagra now
buy viagra in malaysia
buy viagra and cilas
buy viagra in toronto
cheap cialis viagra
buy sildenafil viagra
over sea generic viagra
discount viagra pills
buy viagra at safeway
cheap kamagra viagra
over the counter viagra london
buy real viagra pharmacy online
buy herbal viagra
cheapest price viagra
buy viagra 50mg
buy cheapest viagra
order generic viagra
buy viagra per pill
cheap foreign generic viagra
over the counter viagra substitutes
buy buy online sale viagra viagra
cheap followup post viagra
cheap cheap viagra
buy viagra online in australia
buy legal fda approved viagra
cheapest viagra homepage
buy online online pill viagra viagra
cheap cheap deal pill viagra viagra
cheap deal deal pill viagra
order viagra softtabs
cheap genric viagra online
viagra calgary
cheap viagra ambien generic cananda
cheap pill viagra
buy viagra cheap through online sales
buy viagra online a href
cheapest viagra substitut
buy viagra online canada
buy free viagra on internet
buy generic no online prescription viagra
buy online price viagra
cipro 20
buy viagra online no prescription
buy viagra in new zealand
cheapest viagra online in the uk
buy viagra cheap prices
buy cheap deal pill viagra
buy online viagra where
cheap viagra direct
viagra by mail
viagra buy ionline
buy viagra price drugs on
cheap viagra online prescription
order viagra prescription
buy file viagra
viagra canada pharmacy
cheap citrate generic sildenafil viagra
buy online levitra cialis viagra
buy viagra other drug online
buy viagra online alternative viagra
cheapest viagra anywhere
buy female viagra
viagra and generic drug
buy generic viagra online pharmacy online
viagra buy uk
viagra canada online pharmacy
buy internet viagra
cheapest cheap viagra
order viagra online no rx prescription
cheapest viagra in uk che
order cheap viagra fas
buy viagra prescription america
cheaper cialis levitra viagra
buy viagra viagra
viagra and cialis cheap
cheap viagra buy pharmacy online now
buy herbal viagra longer erections
buy in uk viagra
discount viagra drug
buy viagra cheaply
discount viagra in the usa
buy viagra free on internet
viagra canada
cheap viagra india
buy viagra vaniqa prescription
buy viagra meds online
cheap pharmaceutical viagra
buy viagra line
buy viagra without a prescription
buy online sale viagra
cheap viagra
order cheap viagra
buy australian viagra
buy generic viagra pharmacy online
cheap viagra new zealand
buy cailis viagra singapore
discount viagra mastercard
cheap prescription viagra without
buy taladafil viagra
cialis 20
viagra and coupon
cheap online purchase viagra
buy viagra the best quality pills
buy viagra or cilas
buy real viagra online
buy discount generic viagra
order viagra international ships
cheap generic viagra overnight delivery
cheap generic viagra no script
order mexican viagra
buy lady uk viagra
buy discount online viagra
order viagra online
buy viagra alternative
buy cheap viagra cheap viagra online
buy online prescription viagra
cheap deal discount viagra viagra
viagra buy generic
buy online order viagra
buy viagra internet
cheap prescription viagra
buy cheap viagra online now
buy viagra and overseas
cheapest viagra online plus zenegra
over the counter drug to viagra
viagra canada online
order viagra online uk
discount viagra 10 pack generic
cheap online pill viagra
cheapest generic silagra viagra
cialis 30
order telephone viagra overnight delivery
cheap order prescription viagra
buy cheap viagra on
buy kamagra viagra india
viagra buy do nu
cheap drug online prescription viagra
cheapest viagra generic substitute
cheapest viagra on the internet
cheapest viagra prices us licensed pharmacies
viagra by mail order
buy viagra powered by phpbb
viagra buy viagra online
cialis 10
buy viagra online inu
buy online viagra securely
buy cheap viagra online now uk
cheapest generic viagra 99 cents each
cheap molde ticket viagra
cheap herbal viagra viagra
buy viagra online cheap
buy canada in viagra
buy in spain viagra
buy viagra pill online
buy viagra online at cheap price
buy viagra ups
viagra brazil
cheap herbal sale viagra viagra viagra
discount viagra generic
buy viagra online in
cheap online viagra viagra
cheap viagra kamagra
buy viagra online web meds
cheap viagra uks
viagra can
discount viagra sale
order status viagra
buy viagra online au
cheap site viagra
cheap viagra cialis india
buy viagra online in the uk
buy online pharmacy viagra
buy diet viagra online
cheapest generic viagra
buy viagra in spain
order discount viagra
cheap uk viagra
cheapest viagra in the uk
cialis 1
viagra buying online
buy viagra for cheap
cheap kamagra uk viagra
buy generic viagra online
buy viagra cialis levitra
discount viagra pharmacy online
cheapest viagra on the net
buy viagra online 35008 buy viagra
cheap generic viagra uk
cheap generic pill ultram ultram viagra
buy no online prescription viagra
buy cheap uk viagra
buy levitra viagra online
discount viagra
order prescription viagra
viagra canadaian prices
buy viagra where
cheap viagra no prescription
buy online uk viagra
cheapest brand viagra
buy viagra cialis levitra online prescription
cialis blindness
buy low price viagra
buy viagra online paypal
order viagra uk
buy free viagra viagra
cheapest uk viagra
buy viagra porno at maygreat org
buy line viagra where
order forms for buying viagra
buy generic viagra viagra
cheap generic substitute viagra
order viagra air travel
buy viagra from safeway
buy cheap cheap kamagra uk viagra
cheap generic viagra
buy viagra cheap
cheap viagra at online pharmacy
cheap inexpensive viagra
buy pfizer viagra
viagra canada generic
buy online us viagra
buy viagra s journal
cheap quality viagra
buy viagra online online pharmacy
buy cialis viagra
buy price viagra
cheap viagra bi
cheap canadian viagra
buy canada viagra
buy site viagra
cheap price viagra
buy online drug viagra pharmacy
buy viagra contact us page
cheapest viagra world
order 50mg viagra
buy viagra us pharmacy low prices
cheapest viagra and regalis
buy viagra online bingo game
viagra and hair loss
viagra cailis
order viagra viagra online
viagra buy australia
cheap pill pill sale viagra
cheapest generic viagra 99 cents
cheap drugs viagra cialas
cheap gen viagra bi
buy levitra viagra
cheap online pharmacy viagra viagra
buy cheap viagra in uk
buy viagra online off pharmacy prices
buy online purchase viagra
cheap no prescription viagra
buy viagra toronto
buy viagra pill
buy pill prescription viagra without
buy viagra cheapest best prices online
buy pill viagra
cheap generic viagra substitute
buy viagra online gay sex movies
cheap online price price viagra
cheap phizer viagra
cheapest generic viagra and cialis pills
buy generic viagra buy
cheapest viagra prices
viagra canadian
buy pharmacy pill viagra
buy online securely viagra
buy prescription viagra without
cheap fioricet soma tramadol viagra
buy online viagra
cheap viagra online a href
buy discounted viagra
buy keyword viagra
buy viagra online pharmacy
buy p viagra
cheap man viagra
cheap india viagra
buy viagra online discount
viagra brands
buy viagra from canada
cheapest viagra on line
cialis 30mg
cialis 10mg
buy viagra prescription america carisoprodol
order viagra cialis levitra pharmacy
cheap generic india viagra
buy real viagra
cheapest generic viagra sent overnight
buy generic viagra
cheapest viagra
buy viagra online get prescription
buy in online usa viagra
buy viagra prescription online
buy viagra safeway pharmacy
viagra buy general
order pfizer viagra with mastercard
viagra buy in uk online
discount viagra brand drug
cheap generic drugs viagra cialis levitra
buy viagra by pill
cheap viagra discount
buy cheap viagra online
cheap drug retin viagra wellbutrin
buy now online viagra
buy viagra securely online
cheap websites for viagra
cialis 24
cheapest generic price viagra
cheap viagra online order viagra now
cheapest viagra overnight
buy line viagra
order order viagra
buy viagra in reliable online drugstore
cheapest generic viagra and canada
buy later now pay viagra
buy softtabs viagra
discount viagra uk
discount viagra sales online
buy can reply viagra
cheap viagra discount viagra buy viagra
discount viagra prescription drug
cheap online generic viagra
buy online prescription viagra without
viagra buying
cialis 5
cheap viagra online uk
buy cheap online viagra
cheap meltabs viagra
cheap online viagra
cheap herbal sale viagra viagra
order viagra now money
cheap online order viagra
buy 100 mg viagra
buy cheap viagra prescription online
cheap overnight viagra
buy viagra 100mg
buy cialis online viagra
order viagra online consumer rx
buy viagra new york
buy viagra online uk
order viagra buying viagr
cheap viagra generic paypal
cheap viagra generic
cheap referrers total viagra
discount viagra europe
cheap generic viagra 1.00
buy overseas viagra
order viagra with mastercard
discount viagra cialisviagra buy
buy cheap sale viagra
buy buy cheap medved viagra
buy viagra cialis