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The History of the Book in 100 Books: The Complete Story, From Egypt to E-Book
A study of books through history is a study of human history.
In The History of the Book in 100 Books, the author explores 100 books that have played a critical role in the creation and expansion of books and all that they bring -- literacy, numeracy, expansion of knowledge, religion, political theory, oppression, liberation, and much more. The book is ordered chronologically and divided thematically. Each of the 100 sections focuses on one book that represents a particular development in the evolution of books and in turn, world history and society. Abundant photographs inform and embellish.
Here are some of the themes discussed:
In the Beginning -- first human scratches on cave walls, cuneiform tablets, papyrus books, the oldest table of prime numbers
Eastern Approaches -- 1,000 years before Europe, the Far East "publishes" books using paper and other writing surfaces in multiple -- in one case 11,000 -- volumes
The Great Classics -- the emergence of Aesop's Fables over 2,000 years ago; the first cookbook, by Apicius, reveals the excesses of the Roman empire
Medieval Worlds and the Book -- the illuminated Book of Kells survives Viking raids; Ptolemy puts the world on a map; the miraculous beauty of the Prayer Books and Books of Hours
Light From the East -- the oldest printed book of all: Diamond Sutra; the first novel, Tale of Genji (written by a woman no less); the first book of astronomy and the first book of anatomy
Wheels of Change -- a period of firsts: Gutenberg invents moveable type; the first blockbuster; the first joke book; the first printing in Africa; printing in Arabic; first printed music
Print and Steam -- technology puts photography in books; newspapers publish fiction in installments; enter Baedecker, the archetypical travel guide; celebrity cooking hits the page
The Book in the Turbulent 20th Century -- public libraries spark an information explosion; the advent of mechanized copying; revolutionary book design; no topic is off limits; the publishing industry
Digitization and the Future of the Book -- e-book publishing intersects with a return to handcrafted books; manga, redefining the book. This book takes a singular approach that will appeal to astute readers. It will have a wide and diverse readership.
In The History of the Book in 100 Books, the author explores 100 books that have played a critical role in the creation and expansion of books and all that they bring -- literacy, numeracy, expansion of knowledge, religion, political theory, oppression, liberation, and much more. The book is ordered chronologically and divided thematically. Each of the 100 sections focuses on one book that represents a particular development in the evolution of books and in turn, world history and society. Abundant photographs inform and embellish.
Here are some of the themes discussed:
In the Beginning -- first human scratches on cave walls, cuneiform tablets, papyrus books, the oldest table of prime numbers
Eastern Approaches -- 1,000 years before Europe, the Far East "publishes" books using paper and other writing surfaces in multiple -- in one case 11,000 -- volumes
The Great Classics -- the emergence of Aesop's Fables over 2,000 years ago; the first cookbook, by Apicius, reveals the excesses of the Roman empire
Medieval Worlds and the Book -- the illuminated Book of Kells survives Viking raids; Ptolemy puts the world on a map; the miraculous beauty of the Prayer Books and Books of Hours
Light From the East -- the oldest printed book of all: Diamond Sutra; the first novel, Tale of Genji (written by a woman no less); the first book of astronomy and the first book of anatomy
Wheels of Change -- a period of firsts: Gutenberg invents moveable type; the first blockbuster; the first joke book; the first printing in Africa; printing in Arabic; first printed music
Print and Steam -- technology puts photography in books; newspapers publish fiction in installments; enter Baedecker, the archetypical travel guide; celebrity cooking hits the page
The Book in the Turbulent 20th Century -- public libraries spark an information explosion; the advent of mechanized copying; revolutionary book design; no topic is off limits; the publishing industry
Digitization and the Future of the Book -- e-book publishing intersects with a return to handcrafted books; manga, redefining the book. This book takes a singular approach that will appeal to astute readers. It will have a wide and diverse readership.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2014
11 people are currently reading
622 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 3, 2020
A beautiful and fascinating book for any booklover. So many interesting ideas and literary or technological history are touched on such that one is drawn in and wants to know more even of the most arcane books. I am left with a rich and deep impression almost like a dive into a deep ocean which leaves you with flashes or awe, some murky hints of what lies beneath and a longing for more. I have enjoyed visiting the treasures room of the British Library and a recent exhibition on print8ng but this book made me realise how minuscule and superficial my knowledge of books really is.
May 28, 2015
A well researched, organized and illustrated journey through the history of written communication and publishing in its myriad forms. I learned a ton about different books I'd never heard of, and more about some I was only familiar with in passing. Lots of fascinating nuggets.
I felt it was stronger in the early and middle than the very end, and you can tell they're serious and devoted physical book lovers (and this coffee table sized book was a labour of love) with a fairly disdainful view toward e-books at the end. Which came on the heels of discussing bias, which was slightly ironic.
I felt it was stronger in the early and middle than the very end, and you can tell they're serious and devoted physical book lovers (and this coffee table sized book was a labour of love) with a fairly disdainful view toward e-books at the end. Which came on the heels of discussing bias, which was slightly ironic.
January 30, 2017
I recommend this book for anyone who loves books! It's a visual feast and I devoured it!
Read
November 17, 2024yes i took a class in my freshman year called bookmaking. yes i will be practically applying all this knowledge in the future.
June 14, 2022
Wiedza autorów jest oszałamiająca. Niestety, przez to, że na każdą z opisanych książek przeznaczona jest zaledwie rozkładówka, której większość zajmują ilustracje, to nie ma miejsca na rozwinięcie różnych powiązanych z daną pozycją wątków. A nie wszystkie z zarysowanych przez autorów aspektów historycznych są oczywiste dla czytelnika.
Tym niemniej bardzo polecam.
Tym niemniej bardzo polecam.
August 15, 2017
This is one of those books that is truly intimidating to judge at first look since it is one of those nice and awkwardly-sized books that are mobile monsters to carry thus makes just for a home read or even a digital read. Unfortunately if you are reading this as a digital copy then you are missing the true actual point of the size of the book itself.
For those interested in history whether of literary history and/or regular history than this book would be a perfect read. The book takes the curious reader on the history of the printed word and literary traditions starting out with cave painting (I still question this part myself) than progressing up until modern literary contributions. Each page and topic is illustrated with bright colored illustrations to give the reader a more in-depth read while also including captions to explain more information about the chosen selection.
At the same time the format was quite easy-to-follow. The chapters broke down literary advances for the readers thus if you were only interested in one time period you could just skip to that section. From there the chapter starts off with a summary followed by a two-page introduction that allows the reader to have a chance to see what topics will be covered in the chapter as well as a map that shows the numbered selections (the only place the reader will get an understanding of the order of the selected books) and where the book comes from. Then afterwards each book is given two pages of the pictures and short simple writings as well as the part I loved the most, which was a Connected To section that allowed the curious reader a path to study books closely or opposite the book in suggestion if they don't feel like doing a straight path.
Again this is a great book that studies in-depth the history of the book and also gives many reasonable worries a face as we face them now in the modern literary world. A must-read for any diehard bibliophile....
For those interested in history whether of literary history and/or regular history than this book would be a perfect read. The book takes the curious reader on the history of the printed word and literary traditions starting out with cave painting (I still question this part myself) than progressing up until modern literary contributions. Each page and topic is illustrated with bright colored illustrations to give the reader a more in-depth read while also including captions to explain more information about the chosen selection.
At the same time the format was quite easy-to-follow. The chapters broke down literary advances for the readers thus if you were only interested in one time period you could just skip to that section. From there the chapter starts off with a summary followed by a two-page introduction that allows the reader to have a chance to see what topics will be covered in the chapter as well as a map that shows the numbered selections (the only place the reader will get an understanding of the order of the selected books) and where the book comes from. Then afterwards each book is given two pages of the pictures and short simple writings as well as the part I loved the most, which was a Connected To section that allowed the curious reader a path to study books closely or opposite the book in suggestion if they don't feel like doing a straight path.
Again this is a great book that studies in-depth the history of the book and also gives many reasonable worries a face as we face them now in the modern literary world. A must-read for any diehard bibliophile....
April 23, 2018
Beautiful images but a bit too random and superficial to even begin to live up to its promise of providing "the complete story"
January 30, 2015
Beautifully illustrated and a scholarly approach, which is not my normal bent, at least when it comes to books, publishing and printing. I felt the promise to take the story "from Egypt to E-Book" was stronger on the beginning, and less so at the end. And truth be told, the Egypt portion followed earlier coverage which I found fascinating.
April 10, 2015
Interesting read. Mostly browsed it.
April 27, 2020
A really fun read! I'm a book lover and I like reading about publishing, so this book was such a cool read for me. I love that they conceived of the history of a book as being more of a history of the written word in some tangible form than of the conventional idea we think of when we hear the word "book." I loved the global history in the beginning of the book. As it got to the last two hundred years, it became more Eurocentric. Not knowing enough about history I don't know if this is fair as a narrative of books and publishing in general, or if it's drawing off the authors' limited scope of knowledge (which still seems like a vast scope). I appreciate the global perspective that they did account for. I certainly learned a lot. I think none of their choices were arbitrary, all were informative and seemed important.
I really loved how they looked more at publishing than "literature" per se. They explained how the medium itself changed and how each book they chose was significant in the medium itself. They addressed the content, but only in context to the relationship between publishing and culture.
The topic of the book may seem obscure to some--but it didn't feel obscure while reading it. It felt like each book it presented played a critical role in all aspects of present day culture. I went into the book thinking that it was more of a cute meander through a niche topic, and I left the book feeling like the history of publishing IS the history of everything that we know and can identify around us--at least to say conceptually--it's the history of sharing ideas. It's also written like a coffee table book--so it's hefty and meaty, but it can also be leisurely. I couldn't really get through more than one chapter in a sitting--because it was a lot to take in--but I enjoyed the process of reading. It was entertaining besides being informative. The pictures were very helpful.
I understand that there are oral histories, and there are physical structures and objects that are critical to contemporary culture. I also understand that my concept of modern culture is limited to my personal experiences that keep getting reinforced, and that modern culture encompasses more than I have experience with. It's just that the book did such a good job telling the story--that it felt like that--like a story, and very central to the evolution of modern thought as I know it--even modern in a global context being that globalization is part of that story. I general in life do really wish more credence was given to the role that oral tradition plays in everything--I don't feel like this book discounted that. I feel like it was just doing a good job of telling the history of the "the book" and of relating that to a broad context.
Having said that, I do think that I liked this book because I like books period, I'm interested in publishing, media studies, and also history. These are already central points of focus in my life. To a person who has other primary interests, this book may not be as moving. So, I'd say this book was a 5/5 for me personally, but I don't necessarily look at it as essential reading for humankind, it's not a book that I'd hand to a random stranger and say, "you're gonna love this." So I give it a 4/5 for a general audience.
I really loved how they looked more at publishing than "literature" per se. They explained how the medium itself changed and how each book they chose was significant in the medium itself. They addressed the content, but only in context to the relationship between publishing and culture.
The topic of the book may seem obscure to some--but it didn't feel obscure while reading it. It felt like each book it presented played a critical role in all aspects of present day culture. I went into the book thinking that it was more of a cute meander through a niche topic, and I left the book feeling like the history of publishing IS the history of everything that we know and can identify around us--at least to say conceptually--it's the history of sharing ideas. It's also written like a coffee table book--so it's hefty and meaty, but it can also be leisurely. I couldn't really get through more than one chapter in a sitting--because it was a lot to take in--but I enjoyed the process of reading. It was entertaining besides being informative. The pictures were very helpful.
I understand that there are oral histories, and there are physical structures and objects that are critical to contemporary culture. I also understand that my concept of modern culture is limited to my personal experiences that keep getting reinforced, and that modern culture encompasses more than I have experience with. It's just that the book did such a good job telling the story--that it felt like that--like a story, and very central to the evolution of modern thought as I know it--even modern in a global context being that globalization is part of that story. I general in life do really wish more credence was given to the role that oral tradition plays in everything--I don't feel like this book discounted that. I feel like it was just doing a good job of telling the history of the "the book" and of relating that to a broad context.
Having said that, I do think that I liked this book because I like books period, I'm interested in publishing, media studies, and also history. These are already central points of focus in my life. To a person who has other primary interests, this book may not be as moving. So, I'd say this book was a 5/5 for me personally, but I don't necessarily look at it as essential reading for humankind, it's not a book that I'd hand to a random stranger and say, "you're gonna love this." So I give it a 4/5 for a general audience.
May 6, 2020
You know on the Oscars how they hand out awards for Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film, etc., but they let you know that a few weeks earlier they also handed out awards honouring the guy who wrote the software that made the colour-processing easeir to implement, and the lady who improved rain-shields for cameras, and the team that have turned recycled plastic bottles into better, smoother tracks for dollying shots? Those awards?
If you were to read a "History of Film" you'd expect to hear about Citizen Kane, or Star Wars, and you'd probably be surprised if the book just talked about colour-processing and dollying shots.
This book is not a History of Books, it's a history of "the book" as an artifact. It's pretty much entirely about production/distribution/creation, and not about literature. If you wanted to get some great tips about interesting new books to read, this is not the book for you. And so I was disappointed--I didn't realise it was going to be quite so focussed on the technology, rather than the art.
Eventually (75% of the way through) I stopped reading as I wasn't enjoying the experience.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
If you were to read a "History of Film" you'd expect to hear about Citizen Kane, or Star Wars, and you'd probably be surprised if the book just talked about colour-processing and dollying shots.
This book is not a History of Books, it's a history of "the book" as an artifact. It's pretty much entirely about production/distribution/creation, and not about literature. If you wanted to get some great tips about interesting new books to read, this is not the book for you. And so I was disappointed--I didn't realise it was going to be quite so focussed on the technology, rather than the art.
Eventually (75% of the way through) I stopped reading as I wasn't enjoying the experience.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
June 21, 2018
Wonderful book, if you like books and history. Considers some that most of us in the West would not consider books, like cave paintings, but they fit. Lots of other ways or recording language that I didn't know about like strip books from China, palm leaf manuscripts from India, Sumatran books on bone, bamboo and bark, the Burmese folding format, the Andean khipus (or knotted string writing). Of course he covers Egyptian papyrus, various illuminated manuscripts and maps, and Gutenberg, other early printings, both Eastern and Western. He often covers lesser-known works rather than just the obvious ones.
Chapters are: In the beginning...; Eastern approaches; The great classics; Medieval worlds & the book; Light from the east; Wheels of change; A dangerous invention; Printing & the Enlightenment; Print & steam; The book in the turbulent 20th century; Digitization & the future of the book.
Some terms and phrases in the text are in bold print, and these are defined in the 16-page Glossary, which includes more illustrations. The 9-page Bibliography is organized by chapter. The picture credits tell what something is, where it is, and not just who holds the copyright for the picture. And there's a helpful index.
Excellent illustrations, often more than one for each entry. Each entry gives cross-references to similar works or subjects.
Highly recommended.
Chapters are: In the beginning...; Eastern approaches; The great classics; Medieval worlds & the book; Light from the east; Wheels of change; A dangerous invention; Printing & the Enlightenment; Print & steam; The book in the turbulent 20th century; Digitization & the future of the book.
Some terms and phrases in the text are in bold print, and these are defined in the 16-page Glossary, which includes more illustrations. The 9-page Bibliography is organized by chapter. The picture credits tell what something is, where it is, and not just who holds the copyright for the picture. And there's a helpful index.
Excellent illustrations, often more than one for each entry. Each entry gives cross-references to similar works or subjects.
Highly recommended.
October 14, 2018
The History of the Book in 100 Books is not merely about books per se, instead, it is about the attempt to store information in formats that ensure future generations may have access to that information. Across the globe, humanity has come to grips with the issue of information retrieval and come up with myriad ways to solve it.
The book goes with Chronological Order, beginning with Cave Paintings and going all the way through to the ebook. Since the book is more about information storage and retrieval, it includes counting aids and other things like the Ishango Bone and so on. The book contains a number of other interesting entries coming from China, Japan, Korea, and India. For instance, take the Yongle Dadian. It is an attempt to make a comprehensive encyclopedia, but only four sets survive. Another interesting one is the Complutensian Polyglot Bible, a Bible printed in seven languages on the same page.
Contains a Glossary for unusual terms used in the book, along with a bibliography, picture credits, and an index.
The book goes with Chronological Order, beginning with Cave Paintings and going all the way through to the ebook. Since the book is more about information storage and retrieval, it includes counting aids and other things like the Ishango Bone and so on. The book contains a number of other interesting entries coming from China, Japan, Korea, and India. For instance, take the Yongle Dadian. It is an attempt to make a comprehensive encyclopedia, but only four sets survive. Another interesting one is the Complutensian Polyglot Bible, a Bible printed in seven languages on the same page.
Contains a Glossary for unusual terms used in the book, along with a bibliography, picture credits, and an index.
February 5, 2019
Do you know that feeling when you open a book and feel immediately at home? This book was like entering a huge library. It was full of interesting stories and information, it smelled the right way and I enjoyed the simple but diverse design. However, I had a couple of complains as well.
First of all, I hate authors who repeat themselves. I am the type of person who is reading every footnote and every image description. I read them because I am interested in additional information. I don’t read them because I want to read a quick summary of the main text. But that is ok, I can live with that. Repetitio est mater studiorum. What was even more irritating was Cave´s and Ayad´s obsession with e-books. They try to present different versions of books through the history of mankind. That is what I came for. But do I need to be reminded about e-books in each chapter? No, I definitely don’t!
Nevertheless, I had great fun while reading this book. If you belong to the group of people who “thirst for knowledge” you will love it. It is so beautiful!
First of all, I hate authors who repeat themselves. I am the type of person who is reading every footnote and every image description. I read them because I am interested in additional information. I don’t read them because I want to read a quick summary of the main text. But that is ok, I can live with that. Repetitio est mater studiorum. What was even more irritating was Cave´s and Ayad´s obsession with e-books. They try to present different versions of books through the history of mankind. That is what I came for. But do I need to be reminded about e-books in each chapter? No, I definitely don’t!
Nevertheless, I had great fun while reading this book. If you belong to the group of people who “thirst for knowledge” you will love it. It is so beautiful!
August 29, 2020
“Religion, all religion, is often an enemy to books.” What rubbish. For someone studying the history of books, this author should know better than to write something so stereotypical and false.
I like that the author attempted to tell the history of the book through both well-known and not so well-known books. I learned quite a bit about ancient manuscripts I had never heard of before (particularly books and storytelling from the East). But the comments such as the one above just ended up ruining the integrity of the author’s research.
I especially appreciated the inclusion of the history of braille.
I like that the author attempted to tell the history of the book through both well-known and not so well-known books. I learned quite a bit about ancient manuscripts I had never heard of before (particularly books and storytelling from the East). But the comments such as the one above just ended up ruining the integrity of the author’s research.
I especially appreciated the inclusion of the history of braille.
August 19, 2019
Definitely a picture book for bibliophilic adults, not children. While I loved it and learned a lot, I gave it 3 stars because I was so busy being happily distracted by the pictures that it took a sincerely long time to read. If you'd like to see the history of the book from cave paintings to ebooks, this is the book for you.
May 16, 2021
Ich kann dieses tolle Buch jedem Buchfan empfehlen, der sich mehr mit der Geschichte des Buches beschäftigen möchte. Es durchleuchtet die Entwicklung in verschiedenen Ländern und Epochen und ist so gut aufgebaut und geschrieben, dass keine Langeweile aufkommt. Man entdeckt spannende Bücher und Menschen die sich dem Medium Buch verschrieben haben. Ich bin froh, es gelesen zu haben.
April 11, 2023
A very well illustrated and photographic book. And an interesting concept. However, having already read a great many books about books, this one held little information not well covered in other books. And the subtitle of: "The complete Story, from Egypt to e-book" was perhaps, a bit too optimistic. Nevertheless, it will sit in my library with all my other books about books.
August 23, 2023
It's fascinating to see how the written word has been presented over the millennia; from cave walls, to clay tablets to scrolls, to codices, to illustrated manuscripts, to printed books, to eBooks and more.
Anyone who's interested in the history of language, writing, and books doesn't need a review. You'll love it. Anyone who's not interested in it, well there are loads of pretty pictures!
Anyone who's interested in the history of language, writing, and books doesn't need a review. You'll love it. Anyone who's not interested in it, well there are loads of pretty pictures!
September 1, 2017
appreciated how it covered the spectrum of different forms of books from a number of cultures, not just the West. great photos. Standout section was on modernist reinterpretations of the book in the 20th Century
March 5, 2018
Fascinating overview of the different formats and roles of the book over time, which means it is also a history of thinking, communicating and printing and more. Well designed to fit a lot of information in, without being overwhelming.
May 2, 2019
A good overview of the development of the book as a form. If you are interested in the historical development of communication and media, this is a good starting point.
February 13, 2021
I loved this book and slowly savoured it over the course of two weeks.
December 1, 2024
I must say, this is one of the best books I ever saw about the history of the book! So interesting and useful, written in an interactive and captive way! A good resource for thesis
July 22, 2015
Today' post is on The History of THE BOOK in 100 Books: The Complete Story, From Egypt to e-book by Roderick Cave & Sara Ayad. The cover is black with different kinds of books on it from scrolls to an e-reader. The intended reader is someone who is interested in history, human development, and books. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told in sections as technology evolved. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the dust jacket- From inscriptions on tombs to the first writings on papyrus; from scrolls to the first bound codex books in Roman times; from exclusive and expensive handscribed books to the creation of moveable type and the invention of printing for the masses; and from the printed book to the e-book reader and beyond- discover The History of THE BOOK in 100 Books.
Each of the 100 books chosen has played a critical role in the development of books in all their forms and with all that they bring: literacy, numeracy, technological progress and the expansion of scientific knowledge, religion, political theory, oppression, liberation, entertainment, and more.
The History of THE BOOK in 100 Books tells a story tat is fascinating and enlightening. It is populated with prehistoric communities and ancient civilizations; artists and scholars; authors and poets; inventors, scientists and mathematicians; monks and scribes; explores and missionaries- there is no particular job description behind the evolution of the books.
The 100 books originate from around the world and cover subjects as diverse as religion, science, crime, travel and fashion. Classic examples, such as Gutenberg's 42-line Bible and the Book of Kells, are included alongside less well-known titles that have been selected to represent a stage in the history of book production or because of their content or impact. Each entry is placed in its specific historical context and includes connections to books across cultures and periods of time.
Review- This was a fun and interesting look at the evolution of the book. The authors take us from the first things that were used as books all the way to the current ebooks. They cover books of all kind from all over the world. From the palm leaf books of south Indochina to forgotten penny dreadfuls of the 19th century. The research is good, easy to follow and easy to find more if you want to. I really liked seeing what other countries were doing to make and preserve books in the pre-Gutenberg time. The writing was good, with little witticisms from the authors that added to the overall enjoyment of the journey. One thing that they did that I really enjoyed is that they mostly used books that were not very famous. The Book of Kells and one of the original Gutenberg bibles are the one really famous books in this piece. All of the rest are lesser or unknown books.
I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
From the dust jacket- From inscriptions on tombs to the first writings on papyrus; from scrolls to the first bound codex books in Roman times; from exclusive and expensive handscribed books to the creation of moveable type and the invention of printing for the masses; and from the printed book to the e-book reader and beyond- discover The History of THE BOOK in 100 Books.
Each of the 100 books chosen has played a critical role in the development of books in all their forms and with all that they bring: literacy, numeracy, technological progress and the expansion of scientific knowledge, religion, political theory, oppression, liberation, entertainment, and more.
The History of THE BOOK in 100 Books tells a story tat is fascinating and enlightening. It is populated with prehistoric communities and ancient civilizations; artists and scholars; authors and poets; inventors, scientists and mathematicians; monks and scribes; explores and missionaries- there is no particular job description behind the evolution of the books.
The 100 books originate from around the world and cover subjects as diverse as religion, science, crime, travel and fashion. Classic examples, such as Gutenberg's 42-line Bible and the Book of Kells, are included alongside less well-known titles that have been selected to represent a stage in the history of book production or because of their content or impact. Each entry is placed in its specific historical context and includes connections to books across cultures and periods of time.
Review- This was a fun and interesting look at the evolution of the book. The authors take us from the first things that were used as books all the way to the current ebooks. They cover books of all kind from all over the world. From the palm leaf books of south Indochina to forgotten penny dreadfuls of the 19th century. The research is good, easy to follow and easy to find more if you want to. I really liked seeing what other countries were doing to make and preserve books in the pre-Gutenberg time. The writing was good, with little witticisms from the authors that added to the overall enjoyment of the journey. One thing that they did that I really enjoyed is that they mostly used books that were not very famous. The Book of Kells and one of the original Gutenberg bibles are the one really famous books in this piece. All of the rest are lesser or unknown books.
I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
March 8, 2016
Vsebina:
1. Na začetku. Asirci (Sirija): Klinopis 8000 p.n. š. do 75 našega štetja. Andi: barvne zavozlane vrvice 3000 p.n.š. Egipt; klinopis 2000 p.n.š. papirus -stari Grki in Rimljani
2. Vzhodne poti. Kitajska: začetek pisave 6600 p.n.š, 105 n.š papir. Japonska 600 n.š. tisk (770 tsik molitev v milijon izvodih na papirju), Kitajska tisk 1078 n.š. Knjiga: veliki kanon cesarja Jongeleja - 1405 najobsežnejše delo vseh časov - knjižnica. Koreja 13 stoletje - mogočno delo tisk Korejska tripitaka
3. Veliki klasiki. Grki - pisava, nato Rimljani. Aleksandrijska knjižnica: uničenje 391 n.š. 200.000 zvitkov. Epi, otroške knjige, kuharice, znanost
4. Srednjeveški svetovi in knjiga. Univerze 1088. Samostani, prepisovanje. Farmokologija. Kartografija. Vodnik po Bizancu. Molitveniki., Iluminirane miniature
5. Svetloba z vzgoda. 11 maj 868 prva tiskana knjiga: Diamantna sutra. 879 Murasaki Šikibu - Japonska, prvi sodobni roman. Astronomija.Znanost. Anatomija.
6. Kolesje sprememb. Gutemberg 1454 Biblija. Prva uspešnica med knjigami. Knjiga šal.. Znanstvene knjige in članki. Oblikovanje. Note. Prevodi biblij.
7. Nevarna iznajdba. Cenzura. ZDA. Sodobna anatomija. Astronomija. Newton. Moda. Botanika. Ples.
8. Tisk in razsvetljenstvo. Enciklopedija. Klasični romani. Slovarji. Otroške knjige. Grafi. Evidence. Opolzkost. Krajina. Tipna pisava.
9. Tisk in para. Bibliografska klasifikacija. Fotografije v knjigi. Misionarji. Revije. Turistični vodniki. Kuharice.
10. Knjiga v viharnem 20 stoletju. Xerox. Oblikovanje. Ilegalni tisk. Ruski samoizdat. Propaganda.
11. Digitalizacija in prihodnost knjige. Skrb za trajnost. E - knjige. Eksotika.
1. Na začetku. Asirci (Sirija): Klinopis 8000 p.n. š. do 75 našega štetja. Andi: barvne zavozlane vrvice 3000 p.n.š. Egipt; klinopis 2000 p.n.š. papirus -stari Grki in Rimljani
2. Vzhodne poti. Kitajska: začetek pisave 6600 p.n.š, 105 n.š papir. Japonska 600 n.š. tisk (770 tsik molitev v milijon izvodih na papirju), Kitajska tisk 1078 n.š. Knjiga: veliki kanon cesarja Jongeleja - 1405 najobsežnejše delo vseh časov - knjižnica. Koreja 13 stoletje - mogočno delo tisk Korejska tripitaka
3. Veliki klasiki. Grki - pisava, nato Rimljani. Aleksandrijska knjižnica: uničenje 391 n.š. 200.000 zvitkov. Epi, otroške knjige, kuharice, znanost
4. Srednjeveški svetovi in knjiga. Univerze 1088. Samostani, prepisovanje. Farmokologija. Kartografija. Vodnik po Bizancu. Molitveniki., Iluminirane miniature
5. Svetloba z vzgoda. 11 maj 868 prva tiskana knjiga: Diamantna sutra. 879 Murasaki Šikibu - Japonska, prvi sodobni roman. Astronomija.Znanost. Anatomija.
6. Kolesje sprememb. Gutemberg 1454 Biblija. Prva uspešnica med knjigami. Knjiga šal.. Znanstvene knjige in članki. Oblikovanje. Note. Prevodi biblij.
7. Nevarna iznajdba. Cenzura. ZDA. Sodobna anatomija. Astronomija. Newton. Moda. Botanika. Ples.
8. Tisk in razsvetljenstvo. Enciklopedija. Klasični romani. Slovarji. Otroške knjige. Grafi. Evidence. Opolzkost. Krajina. Tipna pisava.
9. Tisk in para. Bibliografska klasifikacija. Fotografije v knjigi. Misionarji. Revije. Turistični vodniki. Kuharice.
10. Knjiga v viharnem 20 stoletju. Xerox. Oblikovanje. Ilegalni tisk. Ruski samoizdat. Propaganda.
11. Digitalizacija in prihodnost knjige. Skrb za trajnost. E - knjige. Eksotika.
January 5, 2015
I'm giving this book 3 stars even though, for me it seemed like a coffee table book rather than a history book. I enjoyed the artwork and pictures, the research on all the items listed, and the short synapses of each. If you don't know anything about the history of the book, then this book is a great starting off point. However, if you do know some history on the book, then this book might not be what you are looking for...
March 2, 2015
I liked the variety of books that they used to tell the history of the book. I also appreciated all the pictures. It was easy to use the glossary & index, and I like how they cross referenced things.
August 17, 2015
Surprisingly interesting. What looked like another superficial coffee table book turned into the story of literacy, numeracy, science and the graphic arts as well as printing technologies, from papyrus to printing presses and moveable type.
May 1, 2015
Holy mother of pearl, this book runs the full gamut, and then some! Learned so many interesting things about so many books I've never heard. Appreciated that the author included just enough details to be informative, without the reading becoming taxing! A must for book lovers and artists alike!
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