Even if you don’t know the publisher, you’ve probably seen this logo at least once. That lonely penguin gazing at you sideways from an orange background is the iconic mascot of the British publisher, Penguin Books. And yes, it still is today! 🐧 The founding story goes that the founder, bored while waiting for a train, wandered into a bookstore and found only expensive, dull books. So, he dreamed of spreading affordable and fun reads. Not exactly a heartwarming tale, right? Maybe a bit too dull? 📚
But, that signature cover design is so beautiful that any book lover might have a few on their shelf. Proudly, it even made it into Fortune’s 100 greatest modern designs list in 2020! (Alongside the ‘Muji rice cooker’) I’ve picked up quite a few just because the cover was stunning. In Korea, the Penguin Classics series was launched in 2008 in collaboration with Woongjin ThinkBig, under the name ‘Penguin Classic Korea’. Then in 2013, Penguin Books merged with Random House, becoming an imprint under ‘Penguin Random House’. 📖✨
Want to hear a heartwarming Penguin Books story? In 1987, Terry Waite, a British Anglican priest, was on a mission to release hostages during the Christian-Muslim conflict in Lebanon. He was captured by a Muslim group and held for nearly five years. His captors, moved by his character, offered to get him books. Unable to communicate well, he drew a penguin and said, ‘Any book with this logo.’ Later, freed from captivity, he said, ‘I thought any book published by Penguin Books would be worth reading.’ (Personally, I might’ve drawn Goku from Dragon Ball! 🐉)
With reading not as popular as it once was, you might wonder why I’m talking about a publisher. Well, there’s a solid reason! Recently, around the Chuseok holiday, Starbucks organized an event related to this publisher. ☕📚
First, there was an event where, upon buying a coffee, you received a book reviewing ‘Moby Dick’ from five perspectives and essays by artists inspired by Starbucks. ‘Why Moby Dick?’ you ask? Well, Herman Melville’s ‘Moby Dick’ is closely tied to Starbucks, as the ship’s first mate is named ‘Starbuck’. While the book’s content is intriguing, the cover is so beautiful that it becomes a must-have, even if I never get to hold it. As an INTP, I didn’t even check the drink conditions needed to get the book. Laziness. No desire to think. 😅 But the MD products released alongside this event are also super cute! 😍
I want to clarify that I saw these in person at a Starbucks around that time, so this isn’t just about getting excited over photos. Other products were cool, but these two kept drawing my attention back. That green tumbler especially reflects Penguin Books’ signature design so well that, even in a sleepy state, I’d feel like grabbing and reading it. The finish quality is top-notch and the print texture is delightful. Every time I hold it, I feel like saying, ‘Wow, great purchase!’ The thermos-style tumbler on the right doesn’t even hold a tall size, making me wonder about its use, but it’s so pretty. Maybe use it to step on while reaching for a high shelf book or point during a presentation? The possibilities are endless. After all, it’s beautiful. 🌟
Personally, I just glanced and moved on, but as a book lover, I’m writing this post to log such a meaningful event. If you’re thinking of rushing to Starbucks after reading this, remember, the event is over, and you won’t find a trace of it in stores now. 💔
Leave a Reply