The Book on the Bookshelf
- Binding: Paperback
- Publisher: Penguin Random House
- Publish date: 09/01/2000
Description:
Henry Petroski, America's "poet laureate of technology" turns his keen insights to the book and the bookshelf which houses it. Is it inevitable that books be arranged in rows on shelves, spine out? Is the structure of the book and the bookshelves the only possible way for the information to be stored? Along the way he treats us to a history of books, book storage and the printing press. He shows us that for a time books were stored spine in. He takes us to a time when books were so valuable they were chained to a lectern to prevent theft.
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In delightful digressions, Petroski lets Seneca expound on the evils of book collecting. He examines the famed collection of Samuel Pepys, which actually contained only three thousand volumes (a modest library by modern standards). And he discusses all things related to the book throughout the ages.
For any book lover, this is the ultimate treasure trove on the beloved article.
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