One Question

Answering Those Everyday Questions

Why is uncoated paper soooo lovely?

At One Question Towers we like our materials.

While this office is no temple to design, it is staffed by peeps who like a beautiful form, and a tactile thread.

Right now we’re reviving our obsession with uncoated papers.

Paper is either coated or it isn’t. Coatings vary in degrees of shiny finish, and uncoated is matt, so that it feels like recycled paper, even though often it isn’t.

We love uncoated for its tactile nature, for the fact that you can read a magazine even when you have over head lights, and in the desperate event of spilling your glass of Saint Emillion it’s sufficiently absorbent to soak up the last traces – licking a good wine from the table is ok, but do watch out for splinters.

Some of our favourite magazines are printed on a mix of both, now that really is class. Brings out the beauty of each and helps truly understand the contrast.

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What difference can a word make?

We love words at One Question Towers.

We don’t pretend that we’re good at them or anything daft like that, what we like is coming across other people who are great, who take a sentence and turn something turgid into what appear to be words of wisdom.

Last night Sean and I were at a lecture by one of the great old men of advertising in this country. A guy who was part of the Madison Avenue scene characterised by Mad Men. He was telling us tales of times gone by, and talking about the importance of seeing copywriting as a craft. He was telling us about a soap powder he used to write ads for, one that increased its sales by 50% after our man Jeremy changed just one word in the headline. That’s powerful!

We’re going to come back to this topic after we’ve bought a book we say advertised about the fun and catastrophes of learning English and how a subtle change can dramatically alter the meaning of what’s said.

We’d love to hear your examples of English at its best, and most confusing. We’ll be revisiting the topic soon.

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What books should we buy for Christmas?

We all love books here at One Question Towers.

And we love compiling lists.

So we thought we’d combine the two and offer you a few ideas.

Sean: Mine’s far from new, the book that blew my away a few years back and that I still recommend every time I get a chance is A Thousand Tiny Pieces by James Frey. It’s not for the faint hearted and has some grim scenes of drug abuse and the horrors of trying to clean up, but my god if this book doesn’t move you then chances are you’re already dead.

KC: I reckon I recommended James Frey to Sean, but he says he read it before he met me. Pah! My recommendation has to be the most recent book I’ve read. That’s the brilliant latest novel from my favourite author, Harukai Murakami called IQ84. It’s a three part beauty that follows his amazing trade mark style combining reality and fantasy in a way that leaves you questioning what is real. Try this and you’ll be introduced to the wonderful work of Murakami, it’s a special place.

Tracey: Mine takes us back a few years too. This left me feeling empty, yet somehow joyous too. Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams took over my life for the few days that I read it, I was constantly thinking back to it, yet forced myself to take my time. In fact having reminded myself of this wonderful book I think it will be my own Christmas reading.

Bobby: OK you lot with your highbrow books. Mine is straightforward, but no less epic. Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants amazed my earlier this year. The sheer scope of the novel is immense. The historical detail makes learning about the origins of modern Europe a fascinating doddle, rather than the turgid effort I remember from school history. The story brings to life the first world war and Russian revolution through the lives of five families. It’s a huge book, but don’t be put off. It’s brilliant.

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