Update: Friday midday, 40 votes in. It’s a virtual tie between options 1 and 2. Thanks to everyone for participating, and for all the amazing comments. This has been a really helpful exercise. Clearly there are pluses for each of the choices, and we’re considering carefully which way to go. We’ll announce our decision very soon. Join the mailing list to stay informed!

We’ve renamed Joan Maloof’s book. After months of deliberation, we’ve settled on a new title: Among the Ancients: Adventures in the Eastern Old-Growth Forests. This new title, we feel, is more evocative and gives a better sense of the book’s lyrical tone.

Sensical Design & Communication has produced dozens of possible covers over the last two months, and below are the three finalists. All use photos by the author of the actual forests visited in the book. Now we’re asking you to vote on your favorite. Which cover speaks to you? Which would you pick up in the bookstore? Tell us what you think, and please spread the word—the more the merrier!

A reminder before you vote: The book is a chronicle of Dr. Maloof’s quest to visit publicly accessible old-growth forests in all 26 U.S. states east of the Mississippi River. An immensely readable natural-history primer, Among the Ancients is also an adventure story and an impassioned plea to preserve and support the few untouched stretches of forest that remain.

See the covers and vote after the jump.

Option 1: Bark

Option 2: Tall tree

Option 3: Twisted chestnut

We had a cool poll widget for this, but can’t get it to work right. Please leave your vote (and any other thoughts) in the comments. Note: This vote is non-binding; we reserve the right to do what we think is right in the end.

55 Responses to Vote on the Cover Design for Among the Ancients