I absolutely loved this book. It was well researched, well written, thought provoking and a real page turner.
Each chapter is a standalone theme about some aspect of the history of books rather than a chronological history which makes a long, global history easier to digest. It is not a reminiscence on popular titles but the history of books themselves, and the power and impact they have had over the centuries.
The author dispels many myths, such as the Guttenberg Bible was not the first book published on a press, as well as introducing thought provoking questions such as who gets royalties on reprints of Hitler's Mein Kampf, as well as whether censorship is to expand or reduce the audience.
As a complete bibliophile I found this book fascinating, and there were loads of little tit-bits which I will take away with me, and will keep dipping in an out of the book in the future.
Each chapter is a standalone theme about some aspect of the history of books rather than a chronological history which makes a long, global history easier to digest. It is not a reminiscence on popular titles but the history of books themselves, and the power and impact they have had over the centuries.
The author dispels many myths, such as the Guttenberg Bible was not the first book published on a press, as well as introducing thought provoking questions such as who gets royalties on reprints of Hitler's Mein Kampf, as well as whether censorship is to expand or reduce the audience.
As a complete bibliophile I found this book fascinating, and there were loads of little tit-bits which I will take away with me, and will keep dipping in an out of the book in the future.