Playing the Piano for Pleasure by Charles Cooke- USED ART

Publication Details: Published by Simon and Schuster (Fireside / S&S paperbacks line). First published in 1941, this specific trade paperback edition with cover art by John Alcorn dates to the early-to-mid 1960s (noted on the cover: "For over 20 years a classic in its field" with an original $1.45 cover price).

About the Book: Written by longtime New Yorker journalist Charles Cooke, it's one of the most beloved guides ever written for adult amateur pianists. Cooke laid out an encouraging, practical roadmap showing how just one focused hour of daily practice—broken systematically into scales, repertoire maintenance, and tackling "fracture points"—lets adult hobbyists build a permanent, polished classical repertoire.

Interesting Fact: Cover designer John Alcorn was a founding member of the iconic Push Pin Studios alongside Milton Glaser and Seymour Chwast. Alcorn's signature 1960s typography and stylized graphic illustrations helped redefine modern American book jacket and commercial design (he also designed the famous opening title lettering for Federico Fellini's film Amarcord).