Protectors of the Written Word

by Vincent Phan

Discover 25 amazing stories.

If you follow the news, you’ll find that our world may very well seem like the preface of a bad 1950s dystopian novel.

Protectors of the Written Word helps us rediscover that our world is also filled with kind souls, showing humanity at its best. These wonderful human-beings aren’t just protecting books but humanity as a whole. In essence, this book shows evidence that we are in charge of our future. That we’re able to rise through incredible challenges, and foster a sense of unity helping us rise above our differences to provide the best possible opportunities for future generations.

Genres: Nonfiction

340 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2025

Reviews

[Dessa Song · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Protectors of the Written Word" by Vincent Phan is a heartfelt and inspiring tribute to the people around the world who work—often quietly and against the odds—to promote literacy and expand access to books. The stories in this collection are genuinely wonderful. I loved reading about teachers, librarians, activists, and everyday individuals who devote themselves to ensuring that others can read, learn, and grow. Their passion is contagious, and the book left me feeling uplifted and grateful for the real-world heroes who champion the written word.

What holds the book back from a full five stars is the editing. The content is strong, but the execution could have benefited from a more careful editorial hand. There are noticeable issues: repeated sentences and paragraphs, incomplete sentences, and occasional grammatical errors that pull you out of the narrative. None of these flaws ruin the reading experience, but they do distract from what could have been a truly polished and powerful collection.

Still, the heart of the book shines. If you’re interested in literacy, global education, or stories of people making a difference, this is absolutely worth reading.

[Duane Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book, but apparently unedited. The idea and apparent research were super, but there are many typos, errors, repetitions, etc. There is an outstanding array of characters, people that are special at keeping real books available, sometimes in places where they are unlikely to be otherwise found.

With editing, this would have been an outstanding addition to any reader's library!

[Teri Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were some really weird editing errors, with phrases, sentences and sometimes even whole paragraphs being repeated. However, if you can push past that, it's still a really great read. I own a LFL myself so I really felt connected to the individuals in the stories. It gives me hope for the future.

[Wcarter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book with fascinating stories and characters, but this self-published books has appalling editing with duplicated paragraphs, missed sentences and nonsensical text in some places.
Well laid-out, but cannot give five stars due to the editing.

[Abeer Arain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. However, the editing mistakes are shocking!

[Cheryl Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures and inspiring stories.

[Aimée]

DNF due to too many sentences appearing twice. Contacted publisher and will adjust review when answered.