Be Seated: A Book About Chairs

by James Cross Giblin

Chronicles the history, technological development, and social significance of chairs, in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the United States, from prehistory to the present.

Genres: Nonfiction

136 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

James Cross Giblin was an American children's author and editor, known for his award-winning works. He won the Golden Kite Award and the Sibert Medal for his contributions to children's literature. Giblin was born in Cleveland and raised in Painesville, Ohio. He graduated from Western Reserve University and earned a master's in playwriting from Columbia University. After a brief acting career, he entered publishing, founding Clarion Books, a children's imprint later acquired by Houghton Mifflin. At Clarion, he edited works by notable authors like Eileen Christelow and Mary Downing Hahn. Giblin’s works include The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler and Good Brother, Bad Brother.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up the book in order to complete an assignment for a class but with less than 150 actual pages I found it a fast, informative and enlightening read. "Be Seated" is a fun and easy romp around the world through a basic history of chairs. Simple and straightforward it is an accessible primer for anyone looking to get a glimpse of decorative history through a single object.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chronicles the history, technological development, and social significance of chairs, in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the United States, from prehistory to the present.