Enigmatically entitled, This is Not a Book, I looked at its book-shaped form and scratched my head. Then I noticed the author – Keri Smith – and I started to gain better clarity.

Smith is a fabulous author and illustrator turned guerrilla artist who revels in encouraging readers of her books to emerge themselves in creativity and to go beyond the page.

Her 2008 book, How to be an Explorer of the World –the Portable Life/Art Museum, details wonderful and somewhat quaint suggestions for looking at your local environment differently. Smith, who hand illustrates each of her books, declares that as a world explorer you are: “To document and observe the world around you. As if you’ve never seen it before. Take notes. Collect things you find on your travels. Document findings. Notice patterns. Copy. Trace. Focus on one thing at a time. Record what you are drawn to.”

Previously Smith’s Wreck this Journal (2007) stimulates aspiring – yet failing – journal keepers to tamper with the book to record creative outbursts and to “escape the fear of the blank page”. While some readers have difficulty with this mess-making task, it has been empowering for others!

This is Not a Book takes on a slightly more mysterious form, with a missing page 42 (something to work out for yourself) and various puzzles and conundrums that can only be found by logging online to the accompanying website, which also hosts a forum for the readers of the “book”  to discuss it.

Just like its cover title and Smith’s previous books, it has a more purposeful role than just a book:
“This object does not exist without you. You will determine the content and the final product. All will be shaped by your imagination. You must go out into the world in order to bring it to life and complete the assignments.”

Therefore,  one could say it’s a living book, one that breathes and – pardon the pun – it’s a wonderful dose of fresh air and with all its opportunistic activity is a perfect book to take on any journey. Pop along to your local bookshop or buy online today.

Image: Adam Jarmon Brown

Six Senses is a highly regarded, luxury resort group that promotes slow life and environmental conservation throughout its spas in Thailand, The Maldives, Vietnam and Jordan.

The book’s title – SLOW LIFE – doesn’t irk from its contents either. This particular SLOW LIFE stands for Sustainable, Local, Organic, Wholesome and Learning, Inspiring, Fun, Experience, and it’s a philosophy that shimmers from its very cover.

In its beautiful delta square perfect bound form, the book considers every aspect of your life that you can slow down, including our favourite, Slow Travel. While including its own Six Senses Spas within its “eco experiences” chapter, this book is far more than a self-promoting accolade. The jorg&olif team have already had a love affair with it.

There are wonderful refreshing sections from The Slow Home and Office for powering down at work and Slow Parenting – in which creativity is given its own space and time to Slow Food with various raw and organic recipes delectably  teasing you and inspiration of ‘from waste to wealth’, and Slow Style which looks at wholesome beauty and fashion and the innovative designers pioneering the change.

We adore the presentation of the section Local Knowledge which through gorgeous imagery and informative prose uncovers the species that share our world, including the many threatened animals and plant life.

The book doesn’t shy away from the big issues or startling facts either. Unlike most books of its time, the issue of climate change has been dealt with in an unusually unhurried way within the first chapter entitled A Sustainable Planet, inviting the reader to think more. It also invites you to participate at its own resorts through volunteerism.

There’s mesmerising photography throughout that keeps your heart warm and your mind calm – it’s the perfect book for winding down and capturing a few moments of alone time. Don’t forget to make a slow hot chocolate or slow cocktail to accompany the captured mood.

Visit your local book shop (ISBN 9789814217385) or wander over to the Six Senses website for further inspiration.

Images: Kiattipong Panchee, Ulli Schonart and paintlight, and courtesy of Six Senses.