Chop Up Your Books

Matt Kirkland presents a radical, yet surprisingly practical, solution to the physical burden of reading oversized books. He advocates for dissecting "Too Big" volumes, transforming them from cumbersome objects into easily handled segments, thereby enhancing the reading experience for avid readers.

• The Problem: Large books, like the 850-page Lonesome Dove, are physically taxing to hold, especially for extended periods or while traveling.
• The Solution: "Chop That Book Up Into Reasonable Sizes" is the author's proposed method for creating multiple smaller volumes from one large book.
• The Process (Step-by-Step):
  1. Acquire the Book: Use personal copies, not library books.
  2. Choose Your Book: Paperbacks are easiest, but hardcovers also work.
  3. Identify Breakpoints: Look for natural divisions like parts or chapter breaks.
  4. Expose the Spine: Bend the book fully open at the breakpoint to reveal the glue (perfect-bound) or signatures (stitched hardbacks).
  5. Cut with Precision: Use an X-acto knife to slice neatly along the glue or between signatures.
  6. New Volumes Emerge: Each separated section becomes a standalone "volume."
  7. Create New Covers: Manila folders are recommended for their protection, affordability, and disposability.
  8. Glue the Cover: Use bookbinder's glue or even Elmer's to attach the new folder cover, secured with binder clips while drying.
  9. Label Enthusiastically: A bold Sharpie is suggested for clear, unpretentious labeling.
  10. Enjoy: Read your newly segmented, manageable book.
• Authorial Support: Kirkland believes authors generally wouldn't mind this personal modification and admits he wouldn't mind if his own "Too Big" book was chopped up.

This unconventional yet practical approach empowers readers to customize their physical books, making intimidatingly large texts more approachable and portable, proving that sometimes, the best solution involves a sharp blade and a trusty manila folder.