Streamliners and Complicators

My friend Jeff Baldwin, one of the co-founders of Worldview Academy, divides the world up into two kinds of people: streamliners and complicators. As the labels suggest, streamliners are always simplifying, always pushing toward greater efficiency, while complicators go through life making everything harder on themselves and everyone around them. Talk to Jeff long enough and you begin to realize there is only one true streamliner in the world -- himself -- and the rest of us, in different ways, are complicators! Still, when it comes to Bible design, I think he has a point.

As a design project, the Bible is nothing if not complicated. There's a huge volume of text to contend with, and it comes in a variety of genres, each calling for sensitive treatment. Binding all sixty-six books under a single cover is itself the chief complication. If you give each word enough room on the page, and each line an appropriate length, and if you allow each page an elegant proportion, and print the result on paper sufficiently opaque for comfortable reading, what you end up with is a massive tome. To get around this, you must either split it up into volumes or compromise somewhere else: thinner paper, tiny print, double columns, cramped lines. 

Above: Thompson Chain Reference layout.
Great for study? People swear by them.
A little complicated? You bet.

Now suppose you layer in another series of complications. Divide the text into chapters and verses, adding footnotes and headings where appropriate. Devote a column of space to cross-references. Break up long words into accented syllables for easier pronunciation. Extend margins for note-taking. Add charts and diagrams. Set off selected texts in a different color. The possibilities are endless, and there's a case to be made for each one. No matter how significant the alteration, no matter how infinitesimal the gain, I'm betting there will always be someone who's a fan of the change and insists on having it. 

And that's how you get to where we are today. The Bible has begun to look like a very expensive Swiss watch with displays for day and date, moon phases, power reserves, and Greenwich Mean Time -- very desirable complications, to an enthusiast -- but not so helpful (maybe even a bit of a hindrance) to someone who's just trying to figure out what time it is. 

Above: "Sorry I'm late, I was checking my watch."

That's why I think the most important trend in Bible design right now is the desire to streamline. Instead of offering more and more apparatus, the streamlining impulse wants to strip as much away as possible, to roll back the wave of enhancements until we're left, more or less, with the text. Instead of offering a Bible that's kind of helpful for a lot of tasks (devotional, personal study, scholarship, teaching, etc.), the goal is to optimize the layout for one task: reading. 

This is not such a hard thing to achieve. It takes real talent to design a complicated Bible in such a way that its complications don't overwhelm the text. All it takes to come up with a streamlined Bible is an elegantly proportioned single-column grid, an appropriate page size, a classic typeface, and a basic understanding of how prose and poetry are best laid out. When in doubt, refer to just about any Peguin paperback of the mid-twentieth century.

Above: Forget about mid-century, here's a recent Penguin paperback.
This is a man after my own heart. Follow the link for a great project idea. 

I've been writing about this for a number of years, and over time I've reviewed several editions that at least aspire to this kind of simplicity. For the most part, though, today's default editions represent a compromise between the extremes. They aren't nearly as complicated-looking as some nineteenth century examples, back when the old verse-per-line, self-pronouncing mania reigned supreme, but they've retained "sensible" complications: double columns to balance the tiny print, chapter and verse notations (now embedded in paragraphed text), sometimes book introductions.

This represents a lot of progress in comparison with the past. When I'm reading such an edition (like the Cambridge Pitt Minion, for example), I don't boil with rage or find myself baffled or blinded by the complicated design choices.

Still, I long for the day when every translation can boast at least one streamlined, reader-friendly format executed in a quality way. For me that means a single column, paragraphed text with a minimum of intrusions (discrete chapter and verse notations, no additional references), elegant proportions, good paper -- basically a nice, thick, hand-filling volume not too different in appearance than any other book I'd typically spend a long time reading. 

Comments

[Chris Bloom]

The more I read my Bible, the less I find that I use the references. Since learning to use a concordance last fall, that's been my go-to reference device, and following the Horner Plan (modified slightly) has really helped me get a feel for how Scripture fits together, which again reduces the usefulness of references. Finally, reading the Message the last few weeks has really given me an appreciation for a clean, simple page design.

So somebody give me a text-only single-column hand-sized black-letter ESV paperback with a decent-sized font, already! And make it cost $1, so I can gove away a few hundred. ;)

(Cool link, by the way. Between the Moleskine Bible mentioned on the FB page and this project, I'm suddenly feeling crafty.)

[Richard Zuelch]

This is something I've long had an interest in, too. No cross-references, no footnotes or study notes, no subject headings - just chapter and verse numbers, a nice-sized font (I'm 58) and paper thick enough so that it doesn't bleed through.

Something else I'd like to see: the Book of Psalms (and, perhaps, the Book of Proverbs included) from the ESV Personal Size Reference Bible published as a separate book. It's a good physical size - the portability to be able to carry around the Psalms (and Proverbs) with you.

[Scott Knitter]

I have the same wishes expressed in the previous comments, but for the Revised English Bible (REB). I really wish the REB were more enthusiastically published and promoted, and a superbly clean, readable design would be a great way to do it (although I do enjoy using my Oxford Study Bible REB with its crisp Baskerville type).

[J. Mark Bertrand]

Well, the REB NT from Cambridge (now mostly out of print) fit the bill -- my favorite recent single column setting, as I've noted.

[Eric]

I do hope you are foreshadowing the upcoming editions hinted at on the evangelicalbible Facebook page ...

[Grant]

Finding a bible that is truly a comfortable read is not that easy. I have tried quite a few, including the Allan's Reader, which I returned as I was disappointed with the bleed through in the poetic books. The binding was the most beautiful I have ever held, but the text block did not match the binding quality.

Disillusioned, I have decided to wait for the new ESV Large Print out in March 2011 (updated text). It has good paper, with very little bleed through, and a good size font (12.75), and no cross-references, keeping the page simple and clean. I will be sending it off to Leonard's to be rebound in a customised binding. It is not single column, but I had to compromise, because paper quality and font size were more important to me.

Should this project not produce the desired effect, I have decided to buy a Kindle and download the ESV bible. The font can be customised, word spacing can be changed, and no bleed through, without carrying a tome. I know its not the same as holding a soft bible, but it is really about the reading and not the holding.

[J. Mark Bertrand]

I don't have a Kindle, but based on my experience using the Kindle App for iPhone/iPad I'd say it's something to explore regardless. Olive Tree's mobile device software works great, too. Typographically, neither of them is quite as precise as I'd like, but still, they're a great substitute while waiting for publishers to offer streamlined editions on good paper. Not to mention the software's apparatus really frees you from wanting all that stuff packed into a physical book. When I want study notes, cross refs, etc., they're always with me on my phone. No need to clutter the page with them.

[Gary Zimmerli]

I read all these comments and posts about single column Bibles, and I even own a couple, but I have a little "complication". I'm old enough (58) that my eyes aren't what they used to be, and I find it increasingly difficult when I get to the right side of the text, to go back to the left side and pick up the correct line. The wider the column, the more difficult it becomes. So I find that I'm much more comfortable with the narrower columns of two-column Bibles.

[J. Mark Bertrand]

But do you have the same trouble reading a novel, Gary? Probably not. Column width and type size have to be in proportion. Stretching the same tiny type across twice the distance, as some single columns do, makes reading harder, not easier. All the proportions have to be balanced (but it's not rocket science, as most novels attest).

[Matt Morales]

I too enjoy a streamline timepiece :) Such as a simple pilot or dive watch with good legibility at around 44-46mm...that is not a complete knock-offs (shame Invicta shame)

I have many study bibles on my iphone so I do not need a bulky physical edition. For this reason I prefer a bible that is not cluttered with additional notes, letters, and numbers. I do not mind a simple cross - reference edition, as long as the markers are not overly bold or large...although I really enjoy translator notes at the bottom.

[Kyle Hedricik]

Mark, I could not agree more. In fact, I purchased the Giant Print Compact NIV you posted (which was rebound by Leonards) after I read the post. You absolutely cannot beat this Bible for the price. The quality is acceptable, the design gets an 7 out of 10 (there is even decent spacing between lines -- not sure what you call that, but the spacing really makes it easy to go from line to line), and all for just $17 at Christianbook.com! Oh that the Personal Size Reference Bible would increase the font to 10 and quit worrying about a 2 inch spine!! I have not sent it for a rebind because I am hoping someone will produce one with a little less ghosting and a tad larger gusset. I sent an email to Zondervan thanking them for this offering. I also asked if they had any plans to produce a "high end" volume of this Bible -- Nope. So I vote, once again, for an increase in the size of the PSR.

[Nathan C.]

It's not perfect but the closest I've found, to being streamlined,and readable. Is the HCSB ministers bible. It's single column text, decent paper, large enough print,and a excellent cover.

Sure the text column is a little big (I don't mind too much) and the ministers helps are useless to me. Still I'm glad I found it.

[Matt Morales]

Nathan - I agree that the HCSB minister's Bible is a step in the right direction. The lines are a reasonable length (about 14 words per line), and the ghosting isnt too bad. I would like to see an Allans ed of this bible.

Personally I would change the font though.

[Fernando Villegas]

I have to join the love fest for the HCSB Minister's Bible. In terms of design, it's my favorite so far. I'm really hoping Crossway (or maybe even Cambridge!) can do something comparable with the ESV.

[Ryan]

Penguin has a nice copy of the Gospels available in its Tarcher Cornerstone Series, although it does have section headings in the text. It is the CEV translation. I have looked at one of these in person and it is pretty neat.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1585426776/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
and its only 1 cent plus shipping.

[John S]

I don't like the HCSB Minister's Bible. For me, each line of text is too long. I ended up sending mine back. I can see why some people would like it though. I really wanted to like it because I'd like to have a high-end edition of the updated text.

[Richard Zuelch]

Grant: I've had an ESV Large Print (12.75 font,2 columns per page) since 2007 (and it has the updated text). Is Crossway doing a "new" one? Not sure what you mean by the one coming out in March.

[John]

Richard, I believe Grant is referring to the forthcoming 2011 ESV update. It hasn't been announced officially as far as I know.

[Grant]

Richard, John is correct. There is a text update in 2011. I emailed crossway, hoping that in March the calfskin version might be available in the updated text, but this will not happen for at least a year.

This http://www.crossway.org/bibles/esv-large-print-bible-1386-tru/ is the first Large Print ESV with the 2011 text. So I will be sending it directly to Leonards for a rebind.

[Ron Iveson]

The Cambridge NIV single column did the trick but I think it out of print

[Michial]

Isn't there a paragraph AV that's recently been released? Any feedback on it?

[Steve G.]

Mark, thanks for the link to The Great Project Idea! I got so excited by the idea I did one myself. I think it turned out pretty nice. I even got creative and did a little customizing with colored duct tape to reinforce the spine of the card stock. I've since ordered additional copies of this Bible and plan to make some for friends, family, and church members. What a great gift idea! The Bible and the materials are quite inexpensive, and people will appreciate the time and thought you put into it. I think any Bible reader would love getting one of these for a birthday or Christmas or as a 400th anniversary present! Thanks again, brother!

[Terse]

I like shoes that are goodyear welted. automatic watches are best....no battery.......luddite.