Hip to be square

Posted: 6th October 2007 by ElShaddai Edwards in Uncategorized

244872_3_sam_dp.jpgHarperCollins has introduced the new NRSV XL Bible, a large-print edition with square pages, reminiscent of the TNIV², though without the whitespace for notes. Part of their marketing copy reads:

“The NRSV XL offers beautiful and hip styling with a wonderful reading experience. No one will feel that they have been relegated to ugly and bulky larger print editions by purchasing an XL.”

hiptobesquare.jpgIyov reacted by saying:

Hip styling? Yuck! I’ve spent my life going out of my way to avoid being hip — why start now? What happened to religion as a counter-cultural force, HarperOne?

Obviously Iyov has never come across the band Huey Lewis and the News, who sang the immortal words: “It’s hip to be square“.

Note: for whatever reason, the specific “hip” wording of the marketing phrase above is not on the NRSV website, but only on the HarperCollins link above (and vendors such as Amazon).

  1. Iyov says:

    Unfortunately, the copy you quote is on HarperOne’s website.

  2. Thanks – I’ve updated the links.

  3. Iyov says:

    FYI, HarperSanFrancisco has now changed their name to HarperOne (and their new logo evokes the Golden Gate bridge.) See here.

  4. Peter Kirk says:

    Of course they could abbreviate HarperOne Publishing to HIP.