 The collection was compiled by "Das Magazin", a weekend supplement-style magazine enclosed with the Saturday editions of several newspapers (namely "Tages-Anzeiger (Zürich)", "Basler Zeitung", "Berner Zeitung" and "Solothurner Tagblatt").Readings with famous international writers including Salman Rushdie and Ian McEwan were organized at the same time

One volume was issued every two weeks between 9 December 2005 and the middle of May 2006.The compilation was selected by different experts including Peter von Matt, Corina Caduff, Werner Morlang, Peter Utz, Stefan Zweifel, and by the reviewers of the newspapers involved (e.g.