I was very excited to be given a copy of the book 'Portable Magic' last year by a parent as an end of year teaching present. As someone who is known for being a bit of a book worm, it was a very thoughtful gift and I would highly recommend it to others. Anyone who loves reading will find something to interest them in this history of books and how they shape our experiences. It goes right back to the origins of books and moves through a social history of them. Although I don't read a lot of non-fiction, I found this easy enough to read without getting too bored, although it is quite academic. It is packed full of interesting facts, stories and anecdotes. Even if you're not a bibliophile, you will still be fascinated by all the little gems of trivia that are covered in this book. It will remind you of the joy of reading and moreover of books as physical objects.