The value of most books lies in their content. In this, it enriches your life with something. It doesn't matter if it's a biography of your hero, from which you can follow even a single sentence, or a novel that will pass the time and make you laugh. There is always value in what you read. But at Assouline, books have value not only by what is written in their lines, but also by the manner and above all by what is written. The finest paper, highest print quality, gilded page edges and binding so precise that even when you look at it with a magnifying glass in your hand you will be amazed.
Assouline books can be found in the most expensive hotels in the world, in boutiques, salons and also in thousands of homes of those who want to have something special in their home. When he connected Apple with Assoluline to create a book (incidentally only the second book in history with which it is Apple directly linked), I was determined to have one of the 1500 books produced in my living room. In the end we were lucky and although today the book is already desperately out of print, one of them ended up at my house and we will now look at it together.
They say don't judge a book by its cover, but in this case that doesn't quite apply, because the cover and overall shape of the book is what you're paying more for in this case than the content himself. In total, 1500 books were created, and this is evident from the very box in which the book is packaged. In fact, you will see your number for the first time before you even unbox it.
I specifically have the book 1182/1500, and besides the box, you can of course also find it inside the book, where it is even written by hand, and also on the plastic cover of the book, where you can review your number. You can say with a smile that all the plastic that Apple saved in recent years in the production of its products, is now used for the packaging of the 1500 pounds produced. It's really massive, solid, quality, transparent and above all beautiful. It evokes the cover of a CD or an audio cassette and k Apple The Music really sticks. It's a clear plastic case with just the Apple Music logo on it, the Assouline logo, and your book number on the back.
The book itself is then made entirely by hand, with hand binding. The build quality is a masterpiece and the overall design and clean feel of the book will make you enjoy flipping through it. The edges of the pages are painted gold and everything looks very sleek and minimalist, which is to say exactly how it belongs in Apple. It is quite unnecessary to elaborate on the design when you see it in the gallery photos, but trust me, when you feel the finish and quality by your own touch, you have to admit that the book really has its value.
Of course, even if in the case of this book the cover is at least as important as the content, it is not a good idea to forget about it either. In addition to a quote from Steve Jobs, the book also includes a foreword from Apple Music creative director Zane Lowe. The other 200 pages of the book are then devoted to the 100 best albums of the moment. Apple Music. The double page dedicated to each album always shows the album cover and the text that tells you why the album is essential to musical culture and what makes it special.
-Even though the book is titled The World's 100 Best Albums Apple Music, so it's actually a pick of Apple Music experts in collaboration with a group of artists including Maren Morris, Pharrell Williams, J Balvin, Charli XCX , Mark Hoppus, Honey Dijon and Nia Archives, as well as songwriters, producers and others involved in the music industry. So it's not the 100 most listened to albums or anything like that, it's the 100 albums chosen by these people.
For this reason, you may be surprised, like me, that there is a lot of hip-hop, while there are fewer rock albums and almost no classical music. With some albums you'll then wonder if Dark Side of the Moon is really better for you personally than The Wall, because Dark Side of the Moon is in the book, but there was no room left on The Wall. I love Dr. Dre's 2001 album myself, but I still understand that The Chronic is much more fundamental to all of hip-hop culture. So you have to admit when leafing through the book that you will find the opinion of a certain group of people and not that of your favorite, and you will often see albums that you yourself would not have included in the book.
If you are a lover of books, beautiful things, music or Apple, then this is definitely something that will please you. However, you must understand that you are purchasing a very expensive, bulky and valuable book. This is not a book that you should have somewhere on an Ikea shelf, but one that should be part of your interior. It should be placed in a representative location where it will stand out and everyone will notice it. If you have such a place at home and you are missing something special, then Apple Music: 100 Best Albums is definitely an interesting choice.
However, it's definitely not something you have to have at all costs. The books are currently being resold on eBay for between €1500 and €2000, which is three to four times the original price I bought them for. To be honest, €100 was the price. I was happy with what we got and the book really makes me happy. However, for four times that amount, I would probably opt for something else and I certainly wouldn't pay 10,000 crowns for it myself.
