Author Jonathan Safran Foer has been called many things: literary wunderkind, conscientious vegetarian, pretentious dweeb. (OK, that last one was just me.) Now, with his latest book Tree of Codes, he may earn another label: book design genius.

The book is actually a kind of interactive paper-sculpture: Foer and his collaborators at Die Keure in Belgium took the pages of another book, Bruno Schulz's The Street of Crocodiles, and literally carved a brand new story out of them using a die-cut technique.

There are many things to love about New York's venerable subway system, but eye-popping design ain't one of 'em.

Unless you know how to find the secret City Hall 6-train station, that is. Betcha' didn't know this underground cathedral was hidden under your feet this whole time (we sure didn't):

Photo ©2008 John-Paul Palescandolo