As a race, we’re totally obsessed with ourselves. Much of our art is about introspection, self-discovery, and self-expression, and we ascribe human characteristics to anything we can — cars, clocks, can openers — whenever we can. So then, to complement what may be the most stereotypically introspective art form — the written word — it makes some amount of sense that graphic designers and artists would go to the body. After all, the more easily and immediately we can subconsciously see ourselves in something, the more we love it (just ask Scott McCloud). But there’s nothing wrong with that. We’re a narcissistic species, and hey, it’s been working for us. Check out our collection of gorgeously designed book covers featuring body parts and revel in your humanity for a while.
Design by Peter Mendelsund
Design by Milan Bosic
Design by Darren Haggar
Something’s wrong with this guy’s hands.
Design by Chip Kidd
This guy’s too.
(True story: after this book came out, someone sent Chip Kidd a letter expressing how how thankful they were that he had used this photo and how glad they were that someone else out there in the world had six fingers like them. Kidd didn’t have the heart to tell them it was Photoshop.)
Design by John Gall
Design by Henry Sene Yee
Design by Christopher Moisan
Design by Rob Grom
Hair counts.
Design by Alvaro Villanueva
Finger not the body part you initially thought of? Us neither. We think (hope) he’s selling himself short.
Design by John Gall
Design by Kapo Ng
Design by Jarrod Taylor
In case you didn’t know in which part of your heart each of these authors belonged.
Design by Gregg Kulick
Design by Jason Heuer
The cover is actually perforated — click here for a more pictures.
Design by Carin Goldberg
Design by Peter Mendelsund
Design by Evan Gaffney
Design by Paul Sahre
Design by Jamie Keenan
Design by Mark Melnick
Any favorite body parts we’ve missed? Our ears are open.