A study of books through history is a study of human history.
In The History of the Book in 100 Books, the author explores 100 books that have played a critical role in the creation and expansion of books and all that they bring – literacy, numeracy, expansion of knowledge, religion, political theory, oppression, liberation, and much more. The book is ordered chronologically and divided thematically. Each of the 100 sections focuses on one book that represents a particular development in the evolution of books and in turn, world history and society. Abundant photographs inform and embellish.
Here are some of the themes discussed:
In the Beginning – first human scratches on cave walls, cuneiform tablets, papyrus books, the oldest table of prime numbers
Eastern Approaches – 1,000 years before Europe, the Far East publishes books using paper and other writing surfaces in multiple – in one case 11,000 – volumes
The Great Classics – the emergence of Aesop’s Fables over 2,000 years ago; the first cookbook, by Apicius, reveals the excesses of the Roman empire
Medieval Worlds and the Book – the illuminated Book of Kells survives Viking raids; Ptolemy puts the world on a map; the miraculous beauty of the Prayer Books and Books of Hours
Light From the East – the oldest printed book of all: Diamond Sutra; the first novel, Tale of Genji (written by a woman); the first book of astronomy and the first book of anatomy
Wheels of Change – a period of firsts: Gutenberg invents moveable type; the first blockbuster; the first joke book; the first printing in Africa; printing in Arabic; first printed music
Print and Steam – technology puts photography in books; newspapers publish fiction in installments; enter Baedecker, the archetypical travel guide; celebrity cooking hits the page
The Book in the Turbulent 20th Century – public libraries spark an information explosion; the advent of mechanized copying; revolutionary book design; no topic is off limits; the publishing industry
Digitization and the Future of the Book – e-book publishing intersects with a return to handcrafted books; manga, redefining the book.
This book takes a singular approach that will appeal to astute readers. It will have a wide and diverse readership.
