What do you think?
Rate this book
Massimo Listri. The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries. 45th Ed. (45th Edition)
Temples of Knowledge
Exceptional access to the world's finest libraries
From the mighty halls of ancient Alexandria to a camel bookmobile on the Kenyan-Somali border, human beings have had a long, enraptured relationship with libraries. Like no other concept and like no other space, the collection of knowledge, learning, and imagination offers a sense of infinite possibility. It's the unrivaled realm of discovery, where every faded manuscript or mighty clothbound tome might reveal a provocative new idea, a far-flung fantasy, an ancient belief, a religious conviction, or a whole new way of being in the world.
In this new photographic journey, Massimo Listri travels to some of the oldest and finest libraries to reveal their architectural, historical, and imaginative wonder. Through great wooden doors, up spiraling staircases, and along exquisite, shelf-lined corridors, he leads us through outstanding private, public, educational, and monastic libraries, dating as far back as 766. Between them, these medieval, classical, baroque, rococo, and 19th-century institutions hold some of the most precious records of human thought and deed, inscribed and printed in manuscripts, volumes, papyrus scrolls, and incunabula. In each, Listri's poised images capture the library's unique atmosphere, as much as their most prized holdings and design details.
Featured libraries include the papal collections of the Vatican Apostolic Library, Trinity College Library, home to the Book of Kells and Book of Durrow, and the priceless holdings of the Laurentian Library in Florence, the private library of the powerful House of Medici, designed by Michelangelo. With meticulous descriptions accompanying each featured library, we learn not only of the libraries' astonishing holdings - from which highlights are illustrated - but also of their often lively, turbulent, or controversial pasts. Like Altenburg Abbey in Austria, an outpost of imperial Catholicism repeatedly destroyed during the European wars of religion. Or the Franciscan monastery in Lima, Peru, with its horde of archival Inquisition documents.
At once a bibliophile beauty pageant, an ode to knowledge, and an evocation of the particular magic of print, Listri Libraries is above all a cultural-historical pilgrimage to the heart of our halls of learning, to the stories they tell, as much as those they gather in printed matter along polished shelves
Exceptional access to the world's finest libraries
From the mighty halls of ancient Alexandria to a camel bookmobile on the Kenyan-Somali border, human beings have had a long, enraptured relationship with libraries. Like no other concept and like no other space, the collection of knowledge, learning, and imagination offers a sense of infinite possibility. It's the unrivaled realm of discovery, where every faded manuscript or mighty clothbound tome might reveal a provocative new idea, a far-flung fantasy, an ancient belief, a religious conviction, or a whole new way of being in the world.
In this new photographic journey, Massimo Listri travels to some of the oldest and finest libraries to reveal their architectural, historical, and imaginative wonder. Through great wooden doors, up spiraling staircases, and along exquisite, shelf-lined corridors, he leads us through outstanding private, public, educational, and monastic libraries, dating as far back as 766. Between them, these medieval, classical, baroque, rococo, and 19th-century institutions hold some of the most precious records of human thought and deed, inscribed and printed in manuscripts, volumes, papyrus scrolls, and incunabula. In each, Listri's poised images capture the library's unique atmosphere, as much as their most prized holdings and design details.
Featured libraries include the papal collections of the Vatican Apostolic Library, Trinity College Library, home to the Book of Kells and Book of Durrow, and the priceless holdings of the Laurentian Library in Florence, the private library of the powerful House of Medici, designed by Michelangelo. With meticulous descriptions accompanying each featured library, we learn not only of the libraries' astonishing holdings - from which highlights are illustrated - but also of their often lively, turbulent, or controversial pasts. Like Altenburg Abbey in Austria, an outpost of imperial Catholicism repeatedly destroyed during the European wars of religion. Or the Franciscan monastery in Lima, Peru, with its horde of archival Inquisition documents.
At once a bibliophile beauty pageant, an ode to knowledge, and an evocation of the particular magic of print, Listri Libraries is above all a cultural-historical pilgrimage to the heart of our halls of learning, to the stories they tell, as much as those they gather in printed matter along polished shelves
510 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2017
42 people are currently reading
682 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 7, 2024
a lot of beautiful libraries! but also a fair amount of ugly ones, mainly in Italy, which was surprising. whether beautiful or ugly, all of the libraries in this massive, library-sized book (could easily kill a family of four with it) have been around for centuries - a few for over a thousand years. as far as "beautiful" goes, I think Spain, Portugal, Germany, and maaaaybe Brazil all tied for runner-up. second to the Vatican of course, which in a surprise twist is tied for first place with the relatively homey library at Eastnor Castle in England. besides the cozy castle library, all of the beautiful libraries look like hallucinogenic showrooms rather than anything usable. except for those that favor white pigskin bindings for books set in white shelves within white and pale blue walls; those libraries look like a sinister version of heaven (and also not usable). all of the ugly libraries look like wonderful settings for a creepy gothic adventure, but are certainly not places I'd like to visit because *dust*.
if you read the copious notes, expect to see the words "Rococo" and "Baroque" so many times that you'll never want to see those words again. the writer Elisabeth Sladek also leans very heavily on the words "sumptuous" and "magnificent" - the latter at one point is used twice in the same sentence, which should be a crime.
Klosterbibliothek Ottobeuren, Germany
Klosterbibliotek Wiblingen, Olm, Germany
Bibliothekssaal Kloster, Schussenried, Germany
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana
Real Gabinete, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Biblioteca Monasterio San Lorenzo, Madrid, Spain
Biblioteca Joanina, Coimbra, Portugal
Biblioteca do Convento, Mafra, Portugal
Eastnor Castle Library, Herefordshire, England
if you read the copious notes, expect to see the words "Rococo" and "Baroque" so many times that you'll never want to see those words again. the writer Elisabeth Sladek also leans very heavily on the words "sumptuous" and "magnificent" - the latter at one point is used twice in the same sentence, which should be a crime.
Klosterbibliothek Ottobeuren, Germany
Klosterbibliotek Wiblingen, Olm, Germany
Bibliothekssaal Kloster, Schussenried, Germany
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana
Real Gabinete, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Biblioteca Monasterio San Lorenzo, Madrid, Spain
Biblioteca Joanina, Coimbra, Portugal
Biblioteca do Convento, Mafra, Portugal
Eastnor Castle Library, Herefordshire, England
December 5, 2022
My whole review just deleted itself, so in short, my two problems are as follows:
1. The choice to save money on printing by separating the photos of the libraries from the text specific to those libraries, and
2. The whitewashing that happened when they called this the book about the WORLD’s most beautiful libraries. If you’re not going to talk about anything east of Czechia, call it what it was (Eurocentric) and title it after the most beautiful *Western* libraries instead.
1. The choice to save money on printing by separating the photos of the libraries from the text specific to those libraries, and
2. The whitewashing that happened when they called this the book about the WORLD’s most beautiful libraries. If you’re not going to talk about anything east of Czechia, call it what it was (Eurocentric) and title it after the most beautiful *Western* libraries instead.
March 26, 2022
This book is gorgeous. Filled with pictures of the most beautiful historical libraries.
Not being able to travel, it is so lovely to be able to do it through books like these. I would definitely seek out libraries when travelling again. There is something about them withstanding the test of time, being preserved or rebuilt, that gives me peace. It's nice to know that someone cared.
I do wish that the book also included more contemporary libraries or at least made it clear that it didn't in its title. Also flicking back from the information about the library and the full-page photos of the library was annoying at times but also I can appreciate that they stacked all the photos togethers because perhaps a lot of people don't read the supplementary information and it's nicer to be able to peruse all the photos without interruption.
My favourite libraries included:
- Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana in Vatican City State
- The Codrington Library in Oxford
- Eastnor Castle Library
- Bibliothèque Mazarine
- Universitätsbibliothek der Akademie der bildenden Künste
- Real Gabonese Português et Leitura
Not being able to travel, it is so lovely to be able to do it through books like these. I would definitely seek out libraries when travelling again. There is something about them withstanding the test of time, being preserved or rebuilt, that gives me peace. It's nice to know that someone cared.
I do wish that the book also included more contemporary libraries or at least made it clear that it didn't in its title. Also flicking back from the information about the library and the full-page photos of the library was annoying at times but also I can appreciate that they stacked all the photos togethers because perhaps a lot of people don't read the supplementary information and it's nicer to be able to peruse all the photos without interruption.
My favourite libraries included:
- Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana in Vatican City State
- The Codrington Library in Oxford
- Eastnor Castle Library
- Bibliothèque Mazarine
- Universitätsbibliothek der Akademie der bildenden Künste
- Real Gabonese Português et Leitura
August 6, 2019
Amazing series of pictures. This is one of the largest tomes that I have ever handled. There are places in the world that just scream opulence and privilege. I find it sad that most of the books can't be read because they are either too fragile or no one knows the languages that they are written in anymore.
December 31, 2020
What a disappointment. If the European focus wasn’t obvious enough by the table of contents (3 sections on Europe — without Russia — and 1 on the Americas; nothing on Asia or Africa), I got angrier and angrier as I saw that their criteria for inclusion was Rococo style and old books. (Some of which looked to be rotting away rather than well preserved.) No modern libraries. Not even the British Library or Library or Congress. Just many overdecorated and gilt-covered spaces in the European tradition.
Some were absolutely beautiful. But there are many beautiful libraries that were more recently built in other decorative styles, and in more diverse spaces. The book would benefit from acknowledging such diversity in beauty, and would not cause readers like me to tune out after 100 pages of looking at the same type of space.
Some were absolutely beautiful. But there are many beautiful libraries that were more recently built in other decorative styles, and in more diverse spaces. The book would benefit from acknowledging such diversity in beauty, and would not cause readers like me to tune out after 100 pages of looking at the same type of space.
January 23, 2024
"Prepare to be trasported to heaven on earth."
Così la BBC.
Perché questo libro è capace veramente di trasportare nel paradiso di ogni lettore.
Pagine e pagine con foto dettagliate delle più belle librerie al mondo.
Un viaggio nei meravigliosi Templi della Conoscenza.
Da ammirare, più che leggere. Per questo impiego così poche parole per descriverlo.
Un godimento per gli occhi, per la mente, per lo spirito.
"The world's most beatufiul Libraries", Massimo Listri, 2023.
Così la BBC.
Perché questo libro è capace veramente di trasportare nel paradiso di ogni lettore.
Pagine e pagine con foto dettagliate delle più belle librerie al mondo.
Un viaggio nei meravigliosi Templi della Conoscenza.
Da ammirare, più che leggere. Per questo impiego così poche parole per descriverlo.
Un godimento per gli occhi, per la mente, per lo spirito.
"The world's most beatufiul Libraries", Massimo Listri, 2023.
February 2, 2019
EXQUISITE!!!!
December 7, 2024
Instantly transported to Heaven on earth
August 10, 2025
4/5 perché le foto sono incredibili ma manca la VENERANDA Biblioteca Ambrosiana e il testo di presentazione per ogni biblioteca avrebbe potuto essere più accattivante
April 16, 2020
This is the most beautiful book I've ever seen in my life.
September 8, 2023
Greta pics. I just wish there were more libraries featured outside of Europe.
May 18, 2024
I feel the book is a bit biased or subjective. It covers only certain parts of the world.
January 3, 2022
Una gran libro (tanto en el sentido literal por su formato físico como por su contenido); en las fotografías podemos apreciar la conjunción del poder intelectual y financiero, grandes proyectos que si bien no dejan de ser caprichos arquitectónicos de monarcas, dejan en la claro la veneración por el conocimiento de algunas de las figuras autoritarias de la historia. Si bien, el contenido se enfoca únicamente en bibliotecas antiguas de estilo europeo, es muy interesante ver la evolución en la manera de resolver las dificultades de catalogación, distribución e iluminación.
Es un libro con gran valor sentimental, que disfruté leyendo y releyendo a ratos durante 1 año, contemplando cada foto por largo tiempo. Taschen, como siempre, es una garantía de calidad de contenido y materiales, no escatiman en la calidad de papel, lo cual siempre se agradece en este tipo de libros.
Es un libro con gran valor sentimental, que disfruté leyendo y releyendo a ratos durante 1 año, contemplando cada foto por largo tiempo. Taschen, como siempre, es una garantía de calidad de contenido y materiales, no escatiman en la calidad de papel, lo cual siempre se agradece en este tipo de libros.
December 27, 2024
3.5 stars. Beautiful photographs of libraries, showing not only the wider place, but also honing in on details. However, there were three things that could have improved this. As another commenter has said, none of these libraries are very homely, and the books almost come second to the ostentatiousness. Library's can be impressive and homely, see Arundel Castle library! A more mixed selection would have been more interesting.
Secondly, in trying to cover many libraries, and have text in three different languages, you then end up with only a few photos for each library, which is not enough to get a sense of place.
And lastly, in trying to look fancy, the book fails ergonomically due to a weird flap that goes over the end of the page edges. It looks neat when closed, but is a right pain flapping all over the place when you read!
Secondly, in trying to cover many libraries, and have text in three different languages, you then end up with only a few photos for each library, which is not enough to get a sense of place.
And lastly, in trying to look fancy, the book fails ergonomically due to a weird flap that goes over the end of the page edges. It looks neat when closed, but is a right pain flapping all over the place when you read!
April 29, 2023
Books, shelving, books, ladders, books, seats, books, maps, books, benches, magnifying glasses, books, globes, books, telescopes, books, busts, books, instruments books, statues, that live in some of the oldest galleries designed for the enlightenment of art in architecture.
Visual physical proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, that too much knowledge can be dangerous and that knowledge is power.
Thank you Massimo Listri and Elizabeth Sladek for your combined brilliance, much appreciated. :-)
Visual physical proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, that too much knowledge can be dangerous and that knowledge is power.
Thank you Massimo Listri and Elizabeth Sladek for your combined brilliance, much appreciated. :-)
December 25, 2021
What a pretty Christmas gift! It's mostly libraries from Europe, with only a small section for the Americas and none for Africa or Asia. I also wished for more modern libraries since all of the libraries featured are centuries old.
Overall, I had a nice time reading but docked points for lack of diversity.
Overall, I had a nice time reading but docked points for lack of diversity.
August 24, 2020
Beautiful! Not much reading apart from the introduction. But, oh, the photographs filled with books! <3
August 27, 2020
Magnificent, a true gem. Stunning . A collector’s item ❤️
January 16, 2022
Absolutely beautiful!
April 8, 2023
Stunningly beautiful libraries. Will own this book someday, and will visit all the libraries in this book someday.
July 26, 2023
reedição (menor formarto, “para pobres como eu”) de um dos mais belos livros visuais sobre bibliotecas. há duas portuguesas (óbvias) mas na referência a praga falta a superlativa clementinum.
December 2, 2023
A unique book, beautifully illustrated. I just had to bookmark most of them for future travel reference.
August 16, 2024
Schöne Bilder, schöne Bibliotheken. Einleitungen etwas kurz und ich hätte gerne Bilder von den Kostbarkeiten gehabt. Kommt in die Reise-Abteilung, um künftig zu stöbern, bevor wir verreisen.
December 18, 2024
The book is a bit boring. The libraries are all the same style except the Latin American ones. There are so many beautiful modern libraries in the world.
January 1, 2025
nooooo don't condone colonialism you've photographed some pretty libraries aha
May 6, 2022
A magnificent picture book worthy of a library (oversized) shelf or a coffee-table book.
December 20, 2019
Just got this “mammut” book for my collection. As a bibliophile you cannot miss it. The quality is great, as Taschen got us used to. And beyond that you’ll just immediately realize your collection will never be able to match the beauty of these sanctuaries of knowledge and art.
Want to read
January 3, 2020Christmas gift from Jeroen 2019
April 16, 2022
Beautiful pictures of fantastic world libraries!
August 22, 2018
Got this from my wonderful hubby as a birthday gift. it's huge, weighs nearly 8kg and is full of amazing books, bookcases and library envy :) I love it, spent a few hours just flicking through it. there is text too in English and other languages :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews