In its November issue, Country Living features a nifty project that turns a book into a bag. Now, I don't condone ripping apart a perfectly sound book for this, but it's a clever way to repurpose a book that's beyond saving.

More details and similar projects after the jump.
(Photo credit: Lara Robby/Studio D)

It goes without saying that you'll need a hardback book; the project also requires half a yard of fabric, a handle kit (found at any craft or hobby store), ribbon, a button and some free time.

For a slideshow of instructions and helpful photos, go to Country Living's site here.

If you're looking for other ways to reuse dilapidated books, try these tutorials from Instructables:

Make a book safe/hollow book 
Make a literary clock  
Turn a book into a lampshade 
Create an iPod case using a book