Hey, No Starch Press guy... what is up with your book covers? I have a print copy of Land of Lisp and the texture of the cover material is repugnant. It feels like the phlegm of Cthulhu hardened and pressed into book form. I have actually considered cutting the covers off just so I don't have to touch them.
Interesting. We actually love the texture and so does our author :) That's called a scuff-free matte finish. It's actually a plastic, overall gloss laminate with a matte finish on top. I personally hate glossy covers because I hate fingerprints. Cut the cover off if you like but matte is our preference.