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The Case for Books: Past, Present, and Future
The invention of writing was one of the most important technological, cultural, and sociological breakthroughs in human history. With the printed book, information and ideas could disseminate more widely and effectively than ever before—and in some cases, affect and redirect the sway of history. Today, nearly one million books are published each year. But is the era of the book as we know it—a codex of bound pages—coming to an end? And if it is, should we celebrate its demise and the creation of a democratic digital future, or mourn an irreplaceable loss?
The digital age is revolutionizing the information landscape. Already, more books have been scanned and digitized than were housed in the great library in Alexandria, making available millions of texts for a curious reader at the click of a button, and electronic book sales are growing exponentially. Will this revolution in the delivery of information and entertainment make for more transparent and far-reaching dissemination or create a monopolistic stranglehold?
In The Case for Books, Robert Darnton, an intellectual pioneer in the field of the history of the book and director of Harvard University's Library, offers an in-depth examination of the book from its earliest beginnings to its shifting role today in popular culture, commerce, and the academy.
As an author, editorial advisor, and publishing entrepreneur, Darnton is a unique authority on the life and role of the book in society. This book is a wise work of scholarship—one that requires readers to carefully consider how the digital revolution will broadly affect the marketplace of ideas.
The digital age is revolutionizing the information landscape. Already, more books have been scanned and digitized than were housed in the great library in Alexandria, making available millions of texts for a curious reader at the click of a button, and electronic book sales are growing exponentially. Will this revolution in the delivery of information and entertainment make for more transparent and far-reaching dissemination or create a monopolistic stranglehold?
In The Case for Books, Robert Darnton, an intellectual pioneer in the field of the history of the book and director of Harvard University's Library, offers an in-depth examination of the book from its earliest beginnings to its shifting role today in popular culture, commerce, and the academy.
As an author, editorial advisor, and publishing entrepreneur, Darnton is a unique authority on the life and role of the book in society. This book is a wise work of scholarship—one that requires readers to carefully consider how the digital revolution will broadly affect the marketplace of ideas.
218 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
58 people are currently reading
1715 people want to read
About the author
Robert Darnton
66 books172 followersCarl H. Pforzheimer University Professor and Director of the Harvard University Library
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
February 22, 2018
Before I commence this review, I’d like it to be clear that I enjoyed this piece in its audio format and tracked progress using the electronic book version. With the content of this book, it is interesting to highlight this fact, for what it’s worth.
Robert Darnton undertakes an interesting argument in this series of essays, at a time when libraries are tightening their belts and digital production of books has become the norm. Darnton seeks to explore books and their publication throughout three generic time periods: future, present, and past (in that order). These thought-provoking pieces do weigh themselves down in academic analysis, but make some excellent points throughout this journey, exploring the greatest means of organised thought, the collection of writings into a single bound (or gathered) volume. While I originally thought this book would be the perfect ‘test review’ for anyone wishing to join Goodreads—what better way to test a person’s prowess about the world of books than to explore this tome all about their historical importance—I have come to see that Darnton’s passion may carve out an island that many may not prefer to visit or turn towards. That said, it is an excellent collection of thoughts in a succinct form.
As one of our strongest connections to the past, Darnton opens his collection by looking ahead to the future of books. Whereas libraries have made books somewhat readily accessible for hundreds of years, the sheer number of published works makes it impossible to find or ascertain specific documents. While this argument could be made of the curious fiction or non-fiction reader, Darnton’s lens of discussion is firmly with the classics and academic works, specifically research materials. Darnton makes some strong arguments about free sharing of scholarly results and outcomes across fields and between academic institutions, as well as Google’s push to digitise a handful of the rare books found on the shelves of many large universities. He does, however, make some interesting arguments about the true ‘pick and choose’ nature of digital creations and how those who rely solely on them can miss out on many interesting pieces that speak to the pulse of the time, citing pre-revolutionary fiction in France. Might the future of books be put through a filter of whatever Google or publishers wish to offer in a digital format, thereby leaving the printed book to wither away? Darnton also speaks of the future of books and the lack of ‘sight, sound, and smell’, something that some find comforting when it comes to reading, though there are others who push more for the text and content, not all that concerned about the aesthetics of the reading experience. While this piece was penned in the early years (months?) of ebook publishing, Darnton sees a great future in the field, mordernising the act of reading and the simplicity of retrieving books across the World Wide Web. For Darnton, the future of books can be promising, but surely full of questions.
Books at present (read: 2009 or so) are in a significantly precarious position. Looking at their development and transformation over time, books are still relevant. Libraries have not turned to burning the paper and sought to fill shelves with other things, nor are rare book rooms, for fear of a bad pun, a rarity. Books still exist because people have things that they want to say and publishers have a market to sell them. Again, through an academic lens, Darnton explores how some university presses that could once guarantee sales of 500-1000 books to cover all costs and scratch the itch in the specific niche are now barely able to break even. The cost of books has become lucrative for some and the justification to purchase them is surely a great factor. Taking my own lens here, I must ask myself, ‘do I really want that book for my own, or will I shelve it afterwards and likely not return for many years?’. While some are purists and mock the idea of empty bookshelves, I think the economic aspect of book acquisition is surely part of the drive to move away from the weighted item that binds paper together. Space and convenience are surely strong factors in this regard, as people no longer have personal libraries to dedicate to their collections. In reading this section, I came to see the warring factions that are emerging, purists versus convenience readers, both of whom have members who hold strong and grounded beliefs, though there are others whose ignorance runs more freely than ink on a wet page (and I have met some in recent years). The present place of books is surely uncertain, though Darnton makes a strong case that books are essential and cannot be entirely “Fahrenheit 451’ed”.
Books represent a documented pathway to where we have come as humans. Early thought went from public discourse into a bound version that people could collect and make reference to when it suited them. Surely, the printed text and creation of the formal book helped bring societies together and served to represent them to future generations. In this portion of the book, Darnton looks not only at how society was shaped by the book, but how the process of publishing books shaped their interpretation in comparison to the original text. Darnton uses some Shakespeare in his tome to explore what the earliest known publications of The Bard’s work presented and how, in a mere 10-20 years, a publisher might have ‘reworked’ the wording to clarify meanings or added some of his own frilly pieces to the prose, thereby altering it. Without the original, societies and generations must rely on the printed text to be as gospel as it came. The past cannot always be brought into the present, as books deteriorate rapidly if not stored properly, thereby destroying the connection to the past that Darnton feels is so essential to understanding past societies. Treaties and analyses of these writings helped to shape so much and the past is full of such strong arguments, from countries all over the world, which helped to influence major movements at different points in time. To look back is to learn, just as much as forging ahead can take a person to new levels of understanding.
While the topic under discussion can be thoroughly intriguing, Darnton’s academic position fuels this book’s perspective. I am one who enjoys digesting such arguments to better understand the world around me, but there will be many who might shy away from this, seeking more to grasp and understand of whether Bryce Courtenay’s massive novels are better read in book or digital form. Alas, the arguments cannot always translate from the academic ivory tower to mainstream with ease, though some of the points can be used, embedded deeply in scholarly discussions as they might be. Still, Darnton’s delivery is sound and his arguments are clear, if perhaps sometimes long winded. I would love to see if a newer edition with updated commentary might be available, as even now, nine years after publication, some of the ideas posited have collected dust and some discussions about this ‘new’ ebook format are so completely ensconced in the psyche of the reader that they no longer think it an innovative thing. As I look back at this, I think of my son and the world he is entering as a new reader. He has made the leap from paper to digital, though still loves that flipping feeling between his fingers. When speaking of books and the monumental growth that’s taken place, it is no longer Gutenberg that is the great accomplishment, but one of many in this ever-changing world of collective thought presentation.
Kudos, Mr. Darnton, for you have inspired me to explore the larger arguments in favour and against physical books. I can see how I might open a can of worms on Goodreads, which is never a bad thing.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Robert Darnton undertakes an interesting argument in this series of essays, at a time when libraries are tightening their belts and digital production of books has become the norm. Darnton seeks to explore books and their publication throughout three generic time periods: future, present, and past (in that order). These thought-provoking pieces do weigh themselves down in academic analysis, but make some excellent points throughout this journey, exploring the greatest means of organised thought, the collection of writings into a single bound (or gathered) volume. While I originally thought this book would be the perfect ‘test review’ for anyone wishing to join Goodreads—what better way to test a person’s prowess about the world of books than to explore this tome all about their historical importance—I have come to see that Darnton’s passion may carve out an island that many may not prefer to visit or turn towards. That said, it is an excellent collection of thoughts in a succinct form.
As one of our strongest connections to the past, Darnton opens his collection by looking ahead to the future of books. Whereas libraries have made books somewhat readily accessible for hundreds of years, the sheer number of published works makes it impossible to find or ascertain specific documents. While this argument could be made of the curious fiction or non-fiction reader, Darnton’s lens of discussion is firmly with the classics and academic works, specifically research materials. Darnton makes some strong arguments about free sharing of scholarly results and outcomes across fields and between academic institutions, as well as Google’s push to digitise a handful of the rare books found on the shelves of many large universities. He does, however, make some interesting arguments about the true ‘pick and choose’ nature of digital creations and how those who rely solely on them can miss out on many interesting pieces that speak to the pulse of the time, citing pre-revolutionary fiction in France. Might the future of books be put through a filter of whatever Google or publishers wish to offer in a digital format, thereby leaving the printed book to wither away? Darnton also speaks of the future of books and the lack of ‘sight, sound, and smell’, something that some find comforting when it comes to reading, though there are others who push more for the text and content, not all that concerned about the aesthetics of the reading experience. While this piece was penned in the early years (months?) of ebook publishing, Darnton sees a great future in the field, mordernising the act of reading and the simplicity of retrieving books across the World Wide Web. For Darnton, the future of books can be promising, but surely full of questions.
Books at present (read: 2009 or so) are in a significantly precarious position. Looking at their development and transformation over time, books are still relevant. Libraries have not turned to burning the paper and sought to fill shelves with other things, nor are rare book rooms, for fear of a bad pun, a rarity. Books still exist because people have things that they want to say and publishers have a market to sell them. Again, through an academic lens, Darnton explores how some university presses that could once guarantee sales of 500-1000 books to cover all costs and scratch the itch in the specific niche are now barely able to break even. The cost of books has become lucrative for some and the justification to purchase them is surely a great factor. Taking my own lens here, I must ask myself, ‘do I really want that book for my own, or will I shelve it afterwards and likely not return for many years?’. While some are purists and mock the idea of empty bookshelves, I think the economic aspect of book acquisition is surely part of the drive to move away from the weighted item that binds paper together. Space and convenience are surely strong factors in this regard, as people no longer have personal libraries to dedicate to their collections. In reading this section, I came to see the warring factions that are emerging, purists versus convenience readers, both of whom have members who hold strong and grounded beliefs, though there are others whose ignorance runs more freely than ink on a wet page (and I have met some in recent years). The present place of books is surely uncertain, though Darnton makes a strong case that books are essential and cannot be entirely “Fahrenheit 451’ed”.
Books represent a documented pathway to where we have come as humans. Early thought went from public discourse into a bound version that people could collect and make reference to when it suited them. Surely, the printed text and creation of the formal book helped bring societies together and served to represent them to future generations. In this portion of the book, Darnton looks not only at how society was shaped by the book, but how the process of publishing books shaped their interpretation in comparison to the original text. Darnton uses some Shakespeare in his tome to explore what the earliest known publications of The Bard’s work presented and how, in a mere 10-20 years, a publisher might have ‘reworked’ the wording to clarify meanings or added some of his own frilly pieces to the prose, thereby altering it. Without the original, societies and generations must rely on the printed text to be as gospel as it came. The past cannot always be brought into the present, as books deteriorate rapidly if not stored properly, thereby destroying the connection to the past that Darnton feels is so essential to understanding past societies. Treaties and analyses of these writings helped to shape so much and the past is full of such strong arguments, from countries all over the world, which helped to influence major movements at different points in time. To look back is to learn, just as much as forging ahead can take a person to new levels of understanding.
While the topic under discussion can be thoroughly intriguing, Darnton’s academic position fuels this book’s perspective. I am one who enjoys digesting such arguments to better understand the world around me, but there will be many who might shy away from this, seeking more to grasp and understand of whether Bryce Courtenay’s massive novels are better read in book or digital form. Alas, the arguments cannot always translate from the academic ivory tower to mainstream with ease, though some of the points can be used, embedded deeply in scholarly discussions as they might be. Still, Darnton’s delivery is sound and his arguments are clear, if perhaps sometimes long winded. I would love to see if a newer edition with updated commentary might be available, as even now, nine years after publication, some of the ideas posited have collected dust and some discussions about this ‘new’ ebook format are so completely ensconced in the psyche of the reader that they no longer think it an innovative thing. As I look back at this, I think of my son and the world he is entering as a new reader. He has made the leap from paper to digital, though still loves that flipping feeling between his fingers. When speaking of books and the monumental growth that’s taken place, it is no longer Gutenberg that is the great accomplishment, but one of many in this ever-changing world of collective thought presentation.
Kudos, Mr. Darnton, for you have inspired me to explore the larger arguments in favour and against physical books. I can see how I might open a can of worms on Goodreads, which is never a bad thing.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
February 8, 2010
Very disappointing to say the least. The title and dust-cover description identified this as a book that would cover one of the most interesting topics I'd heard approached in years: Why are books important in this age of computers and the internet?
To say it didn't cover this topic is an understatement. This is a librarian who wrote multiple articles on the same 2-3 topics, then bound them together into this. The problems are many, but some include:
1. The repetition is horrendous. Many of the articles repeat exact arguments/metaphors you heard in previous articles.
2. The guy doesn't understand the internet and it's limitations and/or this book is so out of date that it already mispredicted the future of books.
3. The book is presented as something for conusumers, but it's for librarians and college professors (not in it's complexity, but it in's "Who Cares?" factor for regular folks)
I wish someone would write a book on this topic that didn't suck and actually covered what they said they would.
To say it didn't cover this topic is an understatement. This is a librarian who wrote multiple articles on the same 2-3 topics, then bound them together into this. The problems are many, but some include:
1. The repetition is horrendous. Many of the articles repeat exact arguments/metaphors you heard in previous articles.
2. The guy doesn't understand the internet and it's limitations and/or this book is so out of date that it already mispredicted the future of books.
3. The book is presented as something for conusumers, but it's for librarians and college professors (not in it's complexity, but it in's "Who Cares?" factor for regular folks)
I wish someone would write a book on this topic that didn't suck and actually covered what they said they would.
Read
March 15, 2018RTC
February 12, 2010
The first part of this book takes a critical look at the Google Book Search lawsuit and the potential crisis if no-longer-copyrighted material suddenly gets "owned" by Google which will be free to charge for access to it. The author makes a strong case that the ink-on-paper book will survive this -- only if libraries do not use the availability of digitizing everything to clear their shelves of "the book". The author argues that we do not as yet know the survivability of the digital record and cannot guarantee its preservation over time even as long as the supposedly disintegrating book. He raises concerns about the loss of local and national newspapers which were microfilmed and the originals discarded -- and now the microfilmed versions are unreadable. Will this happen to digitized collections too??
The second section "Present" is just not worth reading since it deals with technological questions of some 10 years ago. It is NOT the "present" nor did this era survive long enough for it to be history.
The final section "Past" deals with some interesting issues about books, book publishing, book printing, and the history of reading. There are many one-sentence ideas that I would look forward to reading as a long article.
This book suffers from being a collection of essays written over 20 years due to both timeliness and repetition. But there are some really interesting ideas in it worth discussing as we move forward into the brave, new, technological world -- especially as this relates to how libraries become the respositories for the sharing of ideas across time and space.
The second section "Present" is just not worth reading since it deals with technological questions of some 10 years ago. It is NOT the "present" nor did this era survive long enough for it to be history.
The final section "Past" deals with some interesting issues about books, book publishing, book printing, and the history of reading. There are many one-sentence ideas that I would look forward to reading as a long article.
This book suffers from being a collection of essays written over 20 years due to both timeliness and repetition. But there are some really interesting ideas in it worth discussing as we move forward into the brave, new, technological world -- especially as this relates to how libraries become the respositories for the sharing of ideas across time and space.
January 29, 2010
Darnton's Case for Books is an oddly titled anthology comprised mostly of articles he's written over the past couple decades for the NYRB. I'd read many of them previously, and didn't find them any less insightful the second time around. What puzzles me, however, is the title of this anthology. For the most part, Darnton doesn't write about books in this volume. He writes about newspapers; he writes about Gutenberg-e; he writes about open access publishing; he writes about commonplacing. I think this difference is crucial, in part because his major concerns seem to have shifted away from books toward print (and while books are composed of print, they aren't the only things that are print). Further, even in his discussions of ebooks (and in particular in the striking cases he makes for open access and online "book" publishing in academia), his concern has very little to do with the book object. Rather, he is (interestingly) concerned with issues of access, tenure, publishing and the like. All of these are issues well worth consideration, and all concern books (some more obviously than others). However, I think it's important for scholars (particularly book historians as famous and well-established as Darnton) to clarify the differences between studying books and print. The title of this book does not suggest Darnton does this, and its cover-art situates it even more oddly alongside the techno-determinist rants of people like Sven Birkerts. I know Darnton doesn't fall in that camp (and if you were fooled by the title into thinking he does, the contents of this volume would set you straight), but I can't help but think his willingness to foreground what doesn't actually reflect what he writes is both inaccurate and slightly contradictory to his own philosophical project.
July 23, 2012
Underwhelming. Darnton stitches together a hodgepodge of vaguely related essays in what appears to be an opportunistic bid for either attention or a quick buck. Skip it.
October 31, 2012
Too boring in a lot of parts, too academic (and aimed primarily at academia in general, with university libraries primarily - not public libraries). While I appreciate Darnton's endeavor, I just found a lot of it dry as toast, and since it didn't apply to my sphere, I skipped a lot of it. However, I really did like the following paragraph, so I'll share that with you.
"Consider the book. It has extraordinary staying power. Ever since the invention of the codex sometime close to the birth of Christ, it has proven to be a marvelous machine - great for packaging information, convenient to thumb through, comfortable to curl up with, superb for storage, and remarkably resistant to damage. It does not need to be upgraded or downloaded, accessed or booted, plugged into circuits or extracted from webs. Its design makes it a delight to the eye. Its shape makes it a pleasure to hold in the hand. And its handiness has made it the basic tool of learning for thousands of years, even when it had to be unrolled to be read..."
"Consider the book. It has extraordinary staying power. Ever since the invention of the codex sometime close to the birth of Christ, it has proven to be a marvelous machine - great for packaging information, convenient to thumb through, comfortable to curl up with, superb for storage, and remarkably resistant to damage. It does not need to be upgraded or downloaded, accessed or booted, plugged into circuits or extracted from webs. Its design makes it a delight to the eye. Its shape makes it a pleasure to hold in the hand. And its handiness has made it the basic tool of learning for thousands of years, even when it had to be unrolled to be read..."
September 11, 2011
It's not really a case for books, but a collection of articles on them. I bought this book ironically from a closing Borders, and was hoping he would mount an impassioned defense for the physical book. You wont find that here. Instead you'll find articles more centered around the case of physical books for libraries-all the books tend to be antiquarian ones and he tackles it from a research librarian perspective. The most lively section is about the controversies surrounding microfilm, but even then he is too even-handed, and the short piece is too brief to do it justice.
Make sure you read or skim the book before buying to avoid my error.
Make sure you read or skim the book before buying to avoid my error.
May 22, 2010
Like many here, I was somewhat disappointed in the end. As a librarian, I was hoping for more ammunition to use in the inevitable conversations I find myself having with ignorant people who insist on proclaiming that The Book Is Dead.
December 4, 2024
Livros e Leituras
Essa coleção de ensaios produzidos pelo autor, Diretor da Biblioteca de Havard e professor, tratam com leveza dos problemas que ocupam a atenção das pessoas que se dedicam a estudar a história do livro e da leitura. Escritos na primeira década deste século, oferecem um panorama bem compreensivo dos estudos feitos. A escrita é de fácil compreensão por quem não se envolve diretamente nos estudos acadêmicos sobre o tema. Livros são um componente importante para entendermos como significamos nossa condição humana. O que significa o livro como objeto? Como se dá a transmissão das ideias através do livro? Como se forma o livro? Os textos reunidos nesta obra oferecem informações sobre essas questões.
Essa coleção de ensaios produzidos pelo autor, Diretor da Biblioteca de Havard e professor, tratam com leveza dos problemas que ocupam a atenção das pessoas que se dedicam a estudar a história do livro e da leitura. Escritos na primeira década deste século, oferecem um panorama bem compreensivo dos estudos feitos. A escrita é de fácil compreensão por quem não se envolve diretamente nos estudos acadêmicos sobre o tema. Livros são um componente importante para entendermos como significamos nossa condição humana. O que significa o livro como objeto? Como se dá a transmissão das ideias através do livro? Como se forma o livro? Os textos reunidos nesta obra oferecem informações sobre essas questões.
May 22, 2018
Un llibre breu sobre el problema actual de la digitalització massiva, justament el que necessitava. Hem de democratitzar la cultura? Fins a quin punt és legal? Hem tornat un altre cop a l'època de la Il·lustració? O és un somni utòpic?
December 14, 2017
La reseña en breve.
November 17, 2010
This is a retrospective collection of essays by Darnton written over the last thirty years, and published principally in the New York Review of Books, but also in other journals such as Daedalus and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Divided into three sections—Future, Present and Past—the collection of linked essays begins with an interrogative piece focused on the Google Books digitization initiative and its potential impact for scholars and readers worldwide in the rapidly changing world of new media. The book continues with essays that focus on the opportunities supplied through the emergent world of digital economies over the last fifteen years. The final section offers some interesting insights into the politics of textual conservation (and how they may have failed dismally in the post-war era), as well as the value of book history and bibliography in sounding the depths of textual uncertainty, effortlessly bringing Shakespeare, commonplace books and Voltaire into his ruminations.
Darnton provides a persuasive and nuanced discourse on issues relating to history of the book and, more crucially perhaps, our own present negotiations with textuality. Although this book amounts in many ways to a polemical text, it is nevertheless self-aware polemic and Darnton charts a cautious course between criticism and sympathy in his essays, constructing a dialogic text in many ways. This is a must-read for literary scholars, book historians and anyone interested in the ways in which our response to textuality is shaped by material and economic concerns that we may overlook in our usual responses.
Darnton provides a persuasive and nuanced discourse on issues relating to history of the book and, more crucially perhaps, our own present negotiations with textuality. Although this book amounts in many ways to a polemical text, it is nevertheless self-aware polemic and Darnton charts a cautious course between criticism and sympathy in his essays, constructing a dialogic text in many ways. This is a must-read for literary scholars, book historians and anyone interested in the ways in which our response to textuality is shaped by material and economic concerns that we may overlook in our usual responses.
Read
March 1, 2011
There seems to be little to no communication between myself and the kindly librarian who has done a lot for me over the years of my shelf-ravaging. She gives out the good kind of good advice. No sugar toppings. It's become a seriously funny joke, self-punishment by books about books.
"They just are not out there, hun."
"It's a new year though, so until I have infallible proof, the game is afoot!"
*Sighs* "Don't be such a smut glut, hun. I would rather you get your nails done every three weeks than read this..this..*drops to a whisper* sludge."
Friend love, such a terrible thing. I would never be an exonerated smut, and she could see right through my stack of Dickens, Sociology and Liza Picard. Right through it. Friend love can be tough, but librarian tough love can be a female dog. Yet, there is no other valuable advice about books any where else (save for GR peoples of course). We should have award programs circulating for these people. If they say that you won't get past page 30, they are usually right. If they give you a list of books, you had better follow it to the letter. They'll be watching...
November 11, 2010
The Case for Books> is a collection of eleven essays by the distinguished historian Robert Darnton, now director of Harvard University libraries. Composed over a thirty year period for journals, the essays are organized into three sections about the place of books: the future (hopeful); the present (confusing); and the past (book history as an academic discipline). As an historian I enjoyed "The Past" section the most, found "The Future" repetitive at best and incredibly naive at worst. On page 16, Darnton states that the Google copyright settlement will give Google control over the digitization of virtually all books covered by copyright in the United States. He then avers that this outcome was not anticipated at the outset of the Google book project. Really Dr. Darnton? One needn't be a cynic to realize that for profit businesses, like Google, do not operate for the good of the public and that eventually the company would expect to earn a profit from their "altruism." Nevertheless, these are thoughtful essays that serve as good introductions to some of the issues facing libraries, particularly university research libraries.
February 4, 2016
Compré este libro en agosto de 2013 en una librería dentro del campus de la Universidad de Harvard (Boston, Mass.) El libro fue editado originalmente en 2009. ¿Por qué estos señalamientos? Porque el autor fue director de la biblioteca de Harvard y creo que es el único motivo por el cual su libro estaba tan vistoso en esa librería.
Se trata de una serie de ensayos antiguos ya para 2009 compilados bajo la promesa de una reflexión acerca del futuro de los libros. En realidad los primeros tres ensayos tratan acerca del mismo exacto tema (Google Books, una antigüedad hoy en día) y no llega a tocar el tema de los e-books, la revolución del Kindle, la autopublicación y otros temas que ya en 2009 cuando salió publicado eran actuales.
En un rango que van del texto erudito al de divulgación, los ensayo son desparejos y aportan poco conocimiento nuevo.
A pesar de todo mantiene un estilo de rigurosidad académica pero accesible.
Se trata de una serie de ensayos antiguos ya para 2009 compilados bajo la promesa de una reflexión acerca del futuro de los libros. En realidad los primeros tres ensayos tratan acerca del mismo exacto tema (Google Books, una antigüedad hoy en día) y no llega a tocar el tema de los e-books, la revolución del Kindle, la autopublicación y otros temas que ya en 2009 cuando salió publicado eran actuales.
En un rango que van del texto erudito al de divulgación, los ensayo son desparejos y aportan poco conocimiento nuevo.
A pesar de todo mantiene un estilo de rigurosidad académica pero accesible.
June 15, 2010
I used this book for a project I did for my collection development class. Most of the books that I used for that project, I would skim, pick out a few highlights, and then return them to the library. This one really caught my attention, and I ended up reading the whole darn thing! It's a collection of essays by Robert Darnton, who is the head of the Harvard University Libraries. Although not a librarian by trade, he has a deep love for books and reading, as most academics seem to, and his essays touch on the changes in the world of books thanks to technology. He is not one to forgo the advantages that computerized and digitized information can have over the lowly book, but rather he makes a strong case for coexistence of the formats. I hope that our future can contain information in many formats, but I really hope that they never EVER replace the book entirely!
June 1, 2010
Robert Darnton is a cultural historian, the director of Harvard's library system, and the author of an eyebrow-raising number of titles, some of which come with such appealing-- or not -- titles as 'The Great Cat Massacre and Other Episodes in French Cultural History.'
This book collects about eight essays that he's written over the years, most of them for The New York Review of Books. Roughly divided into the future, the present, and the past, the pieces range from critical looks at the implications of Google Books to the history of bookselling and the "mysteries of reading." I really like the first part, especially the Google stuff, but found that other parts of the collection wandered a bit too much for my taste. However, I also liked the look at the life of an 18th century bookseller (Bob, you should read that!) and the paean to commonplace books.
This book collects about eight essays that he's written over the years, most of them for The New York Review of Books. Roughly divided into the future, the present, and the past, the pieces range from critical looks at the implications of Google Books to the history of bookselling and the "mysteries of reading." I really like the first part, especially the Google stuff, but found that other parts of the collection wandered a bit too much for my taste. However, I also liked the look at the life of an 18th century bookseller (Bob, you should read that!) and the paean to commonplace books.
August 6, 2011
I thought this was a pretty good read for those who would like to know about the recent history of books and how Google books is affecting the written word.
It is a bit repetitive as the book is a collection of scholarly articles, but an interesting read nonetheless. However I might suggest not reading it all the way through in one go like I did, but rather use it more as reference.
I am looking forward to starting a commonplace book! :)
It is a bit repetitive as the book is a collection of scholarly articles, but an interesting read nonetheless. However I might suggest not reading it all the way through in one go like I did, but rather use it more as reference.
I am looking forward to starting a commonplace book! :)
May 13, 2010
The subject intrigued me, but the book was a disappointment. It is a collection of some of the author's essays and other work that gave me the distinct impression they were resurrected and thrown together simply to put a product on the publisher's shelf. While much of the esoteric history was interesting, the pieces about digital technology are horribly dated.
March 22, 2012
Disappointing disjointed set of essays. The repetitive whining over the google book search library project were some of the better essays. The paeans to paper and books in codex form were nearly as good - but still not great. The rest was just leftover crap. There were some bits of interesting but somewhat outdated stuff here but in general not worth reading.
July 9, 2013
A series of essays from Harvard University's library director on how the new technology of the electronic image does not mean the immediate demise of the old technology of paper books. But since access to books has always been a privilege, I'll keep my paper books or donate them to the local library to share that privilege with others.
November 25, 2009
No doubt it's awfully difficult to speculate accurately on the future of the codex, but if I can believe anyone, it's Darnton. A gentlemen, a scholar, and a very engaging writer with all the street cred to write this book.
Read
March 16, 2017"Viene voglia di rintanarsi nella sala dei libri rari a contare le filigrane."
August 22, 2023
A me spiace sembrare presuntuoso e dare giudizi dove la brutta figura è sempre in agguato; ma questo è un caso in cui mi sento in dovere di sbilanciarmi: la presente raccolta di brevi saggi di Robert Darnton non andava tradotta integralmente in italiano, e con ogni probabilità si sarebbe dovuta pubblicare anche in lingua originale in un’altra forma. Parecchi saggi riguardano in effetti problemi e iniziative culturali di pretto interesse americano; e non ostante il colonialismo culturale statunitense imperante in Italia, non tutto ciò che avviene oltre Atlantico ha interesse per il comune lettore di casa nostra: il lettore specialista, cui per esempio interessino i bandi di concorso usciti colà per borsisti di materie storiche, può infatti leggersi direttamente in inglese tutto ciò che gli aggrada. Per giunta una buona metà dei saggi qui raccolti, che riguardano la lettura in rete dei libri, la pubblicazione in rete di riviste scientifiche, i risvolti economici di tali pubblicazioni, oltre a riguardare situazioni specifiche degli Stati Uniti, appare oggi in parte assai datata (sebbene siano saggi recenti: ma ciò che concerne la rete invecchia molto in fretta) e oltremodo ripetitiva; e qui si tocca un difetto che non è colpa dell’editore italiano, bensì dell’autore stesso, il quale, pur conscio del fatto che parecchi di questi scritti dicono la stessa cosa, li ripubblicò in volume senza rifonderli e senza modificarli: e il lettore, specialista o no, dopo aver letto tre o quattro volte la stessa storiella riferita quasi con le stesse parole, di tutto cuore manda Darnton al diavolo, e darebbe indietro il libro facendosi restituire i soldi dal libraio. Se non lo fa è solo perché s’imbatte in qualche saggio davvero interessante, benché affatto estraneo al titolo della silloge, che riguarderebbe il futuro del libro, laddove i saggi interessanti ne riguardano il passato, che poi è l’argomento di cui Robert Darnton è un esperto, e sul quale scrive di solito: di particolare interesse le pagine sulle librerie di Lione nella seconda metà del Settecento e sul loro rapporto con gli editori di Voltaire e con la censura; ma sono utili e interessanti anche le trattazioni sulla riduzione in microfilm di emeroteche o parti di biblioteche americane dopo la metà del Novecento, e sui danni che ciò ha cagionato agli storici d’oggi e del futuro. Come iniziativa culturale ad ogni modo la stampa di questo libro era già in origine biasimevole, ma lo diventa doppiamente in traduzione; spiace che a prestarvisi sia stata proprio una casa editrice come l’Adelphi. Quanto al titolo, è un vero e proprio artifizio e raggiro: una carta moschicida per lettori fiduciosi. Duole vedere che ormai anche gli storici di professione si prestano alle gherminelle che in rete (appunto…) usano i ragazzotti per attirare i coetanei sui loro video di prove di coraggio, burle, balletti e canzonette. Sunt lacrimae rerum.
September 7, 2020
Published in 2009, all the issues the author raises continue to be pertinent in 2020. Darnton begins with Google's decision to copy books in research libraries and then make those books available via the web for all people. Intertwined with the issues of copyright and ownership is the central concern of the book: Will the information be accessible in years to come? Darnton believes that the electronic medium enhances research and communication but it will never replace a good research library. Also, there is the concern of continuity of service when the provider is a for-profit business. Another gift of the electronic medium is to help control the costs of academic journals. Electronic journals provide access and affordability.
Darnton is no Luddite. He thinks that electronic books and journals are an effective way to communicate research. He has some of his own research on websites. But, books, while limited, do bring a permanence and accessibility that electronic medium does not. A book, once made, is available to whoever wants to access it. All one needs is the ability to read the language and light to read by. Books that are well made and cared for can last generations.
Darnton moves on from the Google issues as he progresses through his book, which is a reworking of a number of articles he wrote for periodicals. He introduces us to textual issues, the importance of bibliography, authors, printers, and booksellers. His last chapter deals with, amongst other things, the conundrum of authors providing different additional texts for the same book for different printers and booksellers. Voltaire (18th century writer) was a particular scoundrel in this regard.
Lots of interesting information in this book. Glad I read it.
Darnton is no Luddite. He thinks that electronic books and journals are an effective way to communicate research. He has some of his own research on websites. But, books, while limited, do bring a permanence and accessibility that electronic medium does not. A book, once made, is available to whoever wants to access it. All one needs is the ability to read the language and light to read by. Books that are well made and cared for can last generations.
Darnton moves on from the Google issues as he progresses through his book, which is a reworking of a number of articles he wrote for periodicals. He introduces us to textual issues, the importance of bibliography, authors, printers, and booksellers. His last chapter deals with, amongst other things, the conundrum of authors providing different additional texts for the same book for different printers and booksellers. Voltaire (18th century writer) was a particular scoundrel in this regard.
Lots of interesting information in this book. Glad I read it.
April 19, 2018
January review for Book Riot's Read Harder 2017: The Case For Books by Robert Darnton, 2010. [nonfiction book about technology category]
Books about books! My favorite! A quick one, this, as I'm not entirely sure how to parse my thoughts, but I want to get this out before the month is done. Start the year off right, you know?
The Case For Books is about reading and writing, past present, and future. I wanted this book to be excellent, in-depth, and comprehensive, but of course it was published 7 years ago, so it couldn't be that up-to-date. I enjoyed the cover of my edition, the juxtaposition of old bound book and new electronic reader. As an avid reader, this is a juxtaposition constantly close to my heart.
Darnton wrote a number of essays and tied them together loosely based on the three topics, past, present, and future. starting with the future with an "update" prologue on the future. He has some attractive turns of phrase, and he most certainly knows a thing or two about books, especially the history of publishing and the book trade. That being said, I much preferred his focus on the old rather than the new. The sections on the future were primarily focused around the Google Book Search, and all of them seemed to relay the same information about GBS ad nauseam. I started to get bored with the minutiae. And that is unfortunate, because I do think the future of books and reading is an essential part of our forward propulsion as a society, but it is more than just the Google Book Search. I hope to read an updated opinion on the matter soon, just maaaybe not by Darnton.
Books about books! My favorite! A quick one, this, as I'm not entirely sure how to parse my thoughts, but I want to get this out before the month is done. Start the year off right, you know?
The Case For Books is about reading and writing, past present, and future. I wanted this book to be excellent, in-depth, and comprehensive, but of course it was published 7 years ago, so it couldn't be that up-to-date. I enjoyed the cover of my edition, the juxtaposition of old bound book and new electronic reader. As an avid reader, this is a juxtaposition constantly close to my heart.
Darnton wrote a number of essays and tied them together loosely based on the three topics, past, present, and future. starting with the future with an "update" prologue on the future. He has some attractive turns of phrase, and he most certainly knows a thing or two about books, especially the history of publishing and the book trade. That being said, I much preferred his focus on the old rather than the new. The sections on the future were primarily focused around the Google Book Search, and all of them seemed to relay the same information about GBS ad nauseam. I started to get bored with the minutiae. And that is unfortunate, because I do think the future of books and reading is an essential part of our forward propulsion as a society, but it is more than just the Google Book Search. I hope to read an updated opinion on the matter soon, just maaaybe not by Darnton.
August 4, 2010
The Case for Books by Robert Darnton
I think it kind of humorous actually. Not the book I am reviewing here, but the paradoxical correlation at its vertex. The correlation I am referring to is the one which has come to define a peculiar textual phenomenon that supposedly epitomizes the spirit of my generation, Gen-Y. More specifically, it deals with a scenario where the exponential increase in “information” (updated in real-time for the sake of convenience) along with its conceivably ubiquitous availability through new-media has contributed to concomitant decline in traditional practices of literary culture, that is, the sustained substantive reading of codices, these bound, collated text-blocks commonly called “books”. To be blunt, we are somehow getting dumber in the “more we know”. Yet, at times, in my own casual musings on the issue, the thought occurs to me that perhaps the fear of “information-overload” has been blown out of proportion. The threat of new media is often cast as the villain, but perhaps it’s that the process of technological evolution itself has been victimized by our anxieties, distorted and left scared by our individual biases and technophobia. At any rate I find it noteworthy that given the transnational developments of the “post-modern” information economies coupled with well over a century of periodic globalization a generation of bookless, media-savvy technophiles are academically responsible for more information and learning than ever before. I mean, think about it, we expected to (at least) be aware of the major roster of literary classics, as well as all the latest consensus of scientific facts, an ever-expanding historical time-line, and a geo-political network which is rapidly increasing in complexity, just to list a portion of the standard curriculum. Not to mention that [thankfully:] in part as a result of the advancements of cultural relativism, we are now responsible for learning about non-Western histories, literatures, religions, politics, etc… As if this wasn’t enough, the numerical volume of academic, technical, and popular books has also been increasing over the generations. So now Gen-Y has more books to read, more knowledge to attain, and more tools and figures to draw upon to attain it. Now toss in all textual material and information which is disseminated every day through smart-phones, computers, game consuls, and other new media devices at a near dizzying rate. Got “information overload” yet? I, for one, remain skeptical.
There is an important point which has been outlined in the above digression: It lies in the notion that books, in all actuality, are not destined for historical oblivion, and that new-media as a conduit for a hostile information infestation should not be automatically demonized. This is “middle-road” between bibliophilia/technophobia and technophilia/bibliophobia is the central position advocated by this compelling compilation of controversial essays in defense of traditional books. As much as I have been influenced by Paul Virilio’s theories on cyberspace, I can’t help but profess a more grounded attachment to Darnton’s argument for the good ol’fashioned codex. With an enjoyable combination of the scholarly and the popular, he has provided us with such a reasonable explanation of his ideas that disagreement feels out-right counter-intuitive. Darnton’s strengths lie greatly in his ability to identify the more beneficial aspects in each camp; and in being able to also recognize the defects in each the reader is left with a platform set for mutual advancement through cooperation. As a bibliophile, I can’t help but be pleased with his continual attempts to convey not only the inherent intellectual value of a book’s textual contents, but also the inherent practical value of its materiality. The best part about this book, however, is its highly digestible treatment of the bibliography and book history. This is because these are two disciplines which are notorious for their complicated typologies that are believed to be unnecessarily enigmatic to outsiders; Darnton’s treatment allows virtually any reader to understand the basics. In sum, this book is an imperative read for the times we live in. It helps that it was skillfully written and has, in my opinion, successfully achieved a broader social appeal.
Lament for Los Angeles Public Libraries
It is library as a privilege, not library as a right. This is the direction this fair city of ours is headed when the all-mighty saber of budget-cuts is used to mercilessly slash library hours and staff. As a fervent supporter of the public library as a basis for a democratic society, I lament these recent obstacles which have parked themselves on the road to the institution’s betterment. At this point I will ask all of my readers to think upon the many ways the library has given to you, and the various ways it has touched your lives. If you can recall any such memories with fondness, then take a moment a silence for all the branches which were closed and all the staff members that have been terminated thus far during this immense storm of directed “3rd place” negligence (& no, not as in placing third in a contest, but in reference generically to any non-commercial space a person can spend their free time outside of work/school or the home).
As a former messenger clerk who was at risk for termination, I feel blessed to have been fortunate enough to find improved arrangements in another library. However, the pain of reduced hours of operation and the negative impact of staff lay-offs on patron services remains. Still, it’s not all bad. Every disruptive cycle in an entity’s (or institution’s) equilibrium carries the potential of progressive reform. And being that I have the utmost faith in the institution as a whole, I believe it will re-emerge smarter, more efficient, and hence more important to our civilization than ever before.
I think it kind of humorous actually. Not the book I am reviewing here, but the paradoxical correlation at its vertex. The correlation I am referring to is the one which has come to define a peculiar textual phenomenon that supposedly epitomizes the spirit of my generation, Gen-Y. More specifically, it deals with a scenario where the exponential increase in “information” (updated in real-time for the sake of convenience) along with its conceivably ubiquitous availability through new-media has contributed to concomitant decline in traditional practices of literary culture, that is, the sustained substantive reading of codices, these bound, collated text-blocks commonly called “books”. To be blunt, we are somehow getting dumber in the “more we know”. Yet, at times, in my own casual musings on the issue, the thought occurs to me that perhaps the fear of “information-overload” has been blown out of proportion. The threat of new media is often cast as the villain, but perhaps it’s that the process of technological evolution itself has been victimized by our anxieties, distorted and left scared by our individual biases and technophobia. At any rate I find it noteworthy that given the transnational developments of the “post-modern” information economies coupled with well over a century of periodic globalization a generation of bookless, media-savvy technophiles are academically responsible for more information and learning than ever before. I mean, think about it, we expected to (at least) be aware of the major roster of literary classics, as well as all the latest consensus of scientific facts, an ever-expanding historical time-line, and a geo-political network which is rapidly increasing in complexity, just to list a portion of the standard curriculum. Not to mention that [thankfully:] in part as a result of the advancements of cultural relativism, we are now responsible for learning about non-Western histories, literatures, religions, politics, etc… As if this wasn’t enough, the numerical volume of academic, technical, and popular books has also been increasing over the generations. So now Gen-Y has more books to read, more knowledge to attain, and more tools and figures to draw upon to attain it. Now toss in all textual material and information which is disseminated every day through smart-phones, computers, game consuls, and other new media devices at a near dizzying rate. Got “information overload” yet? I, for one, remain skeptical.
There is an important point which has been outlined in the above digression: It lies in the notion that books, in all actuality, are not destined for historical oblivion, and that new-media as a conduit for a hostile information infestation should not be automatically demonized. This is “middle-road” between bibliophilia/technophobia and technophilia/bibliophobia is the central position advocated by this compelling compilation of controversial essays in defense of traditional books. As much as I have been influenced by Paul Virilio’s theories on cyberspace, I can’t help but profess a more grounded attachment to Darnton’s argument for the good ol’fashioned codex. With an enjoyable combination of the scholarly and the popular, he has provided us with such a reasonable explanation of his ideas that disagreement feels out-right counter-intuitive. Darnton’s strengths lie greatly in his ability to identify the more beneficial aspects in each camp; and in being able to also recognize the defects in each the reader is left with a platform set for mutual advancement through cooperation. As a bibliophile, I can’t help but be pleased with his continual attempts to convey not only the inherent intellectual value of a book’s textual contents, but also the inherent practical value of its materiality. The best part about this book, however, is its highly digestible treatment of the bibliography and book history. This is because these are two disciplines which are notorious for their complicated typologies that are believed to be unnecessarily enigmatic to outsiders; Darnton’s treatment allows virtually any reader to understand the basics. In sum, this book is an imperative read for the times we live in. It helps that it was skillfully written and has, in my opinion, successfully achieved a broader social appeal.
Lament for Los Angeles Public Libraries
It is library as a privilege, not library as a right. This is the direction this fair city of ours is headed when the all-mighty saber of budget-cuts is used to mercilessly slash library hours and staff. As a fervent supporter of the public library as a basis for a democratic society, I lament these recent obstacles which have parked themselves on the road to the institution’s betterment. At this point I will ask all of my readers to think upon the many ways the library has given to you, and the various ways it has touched your lives. If you can recall any such memories with fondness, then take a moment a silence for all the branches which were closed and all the staff members that have been terminated thus far during this immense storm of directed “3rd place” negligence (& no, not as in placing third in a contest, but in reference generically to any non-commercial space a person can spend their free time outside of work/school or the home).
As a former messenger clerk who was at risk for termination, I feel blessed to have been fortunate enough to find improved arrangements in another library. However, the pain of reduced hours of operation and the negative impact of staff lay-offs on patron services remains. Still, it’s not all bad. Every disruptive cycle in an entity’s (or institution’s) equilibrium carries the potential of progressive reform. And being that I have the utmost faith in the institution as a whole, I believe it will re-emerge smarter, more efficient, and hence more important to our civilization than ever before.
November 7, 2021
In “What is the History Books?” Robert Darnton redefines the notion of text when he lays out the model of the communication circuit, a social cycle by which the text is produced or created, consumed or “re-created” by the string of constituents directly involved with the literary work.
By engaging himself in the scrupulous pursuit of book history; by undertaking the enormous task of archival research, (shall we call it sensible eavesdropping); and by scrutinizing the past through its proofs—particularly the physical or material, socioeconomic political or even psychological aspects involved in the production of the printed text called book, Darnton provides clarity to the materiality of the otherwise elaborated notions of text, which have always been perceived either metaphysically or intellectually. After all, the text is simply material, a commodity that can be altered, whose authenticity is therefore endlessly open to discussion.
By engaging himself in the scrupulous pursuit of book history; by undertaking the enormous task of archival research, (shall we call it sensible eavesdropping); and by scrutinizing the past through its proofs—particularly the physical or material, socioeconomic political or even psychological aspects involved in the production of the printed text called book, Darnton provides clarity to the materiality of the otherwise elaborated notions of text, which have always been perceived either metaphysically or intellectually. After all, the text is simply material, a commodity that can be altered, whose authenticity is therefore endlessly open to discussion.
July 4, 2024
This is really a collection of essays rather than a cohesive story.
As an avid book reader, I think I had different expectations for this book. I was hoping for a full-throated defense of the printed and bound word!
That said, some of it was prescient:
- The coexistence of e-books/content and physical books.
- E-books/content making information more accessible and affordable for many people.
- The crucial role of libraries as social institutions.
- The murky control and rights over e-content, even more so these days given advancements in AI.
I'll be honest, I did not finish this book. I was really hoping for a book centered around a love of reading...this was a bit different. Probably my fault for not doing more diligence!
As an avid book reader, I think I had different expectations for this book. I was hoping for a full-throated defense of the printed and bound word!
That said, some of it was prescient:
- The coexistence of e-books/content and physical books.
- E-books/content making information more accessible and affordable for many people.
- The crucial role of libraries as social institutions.
- The murky control and rights over e-content, even more so these days given advancements in AI.
I'll be honest, I did not finish this book. I was really hoping for a book centered around a love of reading...this was a bit different. Probably my fault for not doing more diligence!
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