It was, I presume, one of those classic tussles of which my publishers will be veterans. My first reaction to the cover design they sent me was: looks great, a clever idea carried out well graphically – but no way.
Although the book is balanced, original and propositive, I know there will be some who will assume that it is ‘anti-aid’ and negative, and try to write it off as ‘heard it all before’. My book tries to carve out new territory, not fall back on what is one of the biggest clichés in the business, that aid is just a ‘sticking plaster’. In discussions while I was writing the book and since, some commentators have argued against things I don’t say in the book, but which they assume are my arguments. I was worried by a cover that appeared to give them ammunition.
Another option I was shown was more positive. Here it is with the wrong title (trying to agree on a title was a whole other story!).
I quite liked this alternative cover, despite the Little Chef logo meant to represent food security (I presume), because it looks positive and reminds me of funky wallpaper. But the publisher insisted that the 'plaster' cover was receiving great feedback from bookshops and ultimately I bowed to their expertise.
In many ways the book does argue that aid is like a plaster. It has some very positive effects, while failing to get to the root of the problems. And aid also covers up those very problems, making it harder to deal with them. It’s just that there is so much more to it than that. While it is common to argue that aid is good but not enough, in my book I explain how aid can actually harm development in many countries. Plasters don’t do that.
But I suppose no cover image can comprehensively describe the contents of a book. So we’ll let the cover stand. And it does, at least, look good.
Although the book is balanced, original and propositive, I know there will be some who will assume that it is ‘anti-aid’ and negative, and try to write it off as ‘heard it all before’. My book tries to carve out new territory, not fall back on what is one of the biggest clichés in the business, that aid is just a ‘sticking plaster’. In discussions while I was writing the book and since, some commentators have argued against things I don’t say in the book, but which they assume are my arguments. I was worried by a cover that appeared to give them ammunition.
Another option I was shown was more positive. Here it is with the wrong title (trying to agree on a title was a whole other story!).
I quite liked this alternative cover, despite the Little Chef logo meant to represent food security (I presume), because it looks positive and reminds me of funky wallpaper. But the publisher insisted that the 'plaster' cover was receiving great feedback from bookshops and ultimately I bowed to their expertise.
In many ways the book does argue that aid is like a plaster. It has some very positive effects, while failing to get to the root of the problems. And aid also covers up those very problems, making it harder to deal with them. It’s just that there is so much more to it than that. While it is common to argue that aid is good but not enough, in my book I explain how aid can actually harm development in many countries. Plasters don’t do that.
But I suppose no cover image can comprehensively describe the contents of a book. So we’ll let the cover stand. And it does, at least, look good.
posted by Anonymous @ 05:27
3 Comments:
Plasters can be harmful. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the cover. Incidentally, plasters, like aid, can be harmful. Plasters worn too long shuts out oxygen and delays the healing process. If not changed regularly, infections can flourish underneath an otherwise bening-looking band-aid with little Disney cartoons... I can think of plenty analogies with aid here.
I will certainly buy the book and will recommend it to my vicar, who may well end up quoting it in one of his sermons. I am sure it will provide much food for thought - and hopefully action - in the righrt places.
I prefer the chosen sticking plaster image for the cover, but as an ex-publishing PR person and a current CA communications employee, I found your account of how it was chosen very interesting.
I hope the book sells well and gets lots of attention from the media and decision-makers.
This book comes out at the time when South Centre, the Geneva-based intergovernmental think tank of the developing countries, has published its book "Ending Aid Dependence".
Readers will note that the essential message remains the same on the need to end aid dependency.
Developing countries reliant on aid want to escape from this dependence, and yet they appear unable to do so. The book "Ending Aid Dependence" shows how the developing countries can liberate themselves from the aid that pretends to be developmental but is not. Exiting aid dependence should be at the top of the political agenda of all countries.
More information at www.AidExit.org
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home