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Product Description
Review
`A feast for bibliophiles and those fascinated by the world of print' --We Love This Book
`Lively ... Lyons never forgets the beauty of books as artefacts - neither, fortunately, does the publisher of handsome volume'
--The Scotsman
'A fascintating history' --Bath Life
'The perfect present for bibliophiles'
--Oldie
`Lively ... Lyons never forgets the beauty of books as artefacts - neither, fortunately, does the publisher of handsome volume'
--The Scotsman
'A fascintating history' --Bath Life
'The perfect present for bibliophiles'
--Oldie
Product Description
This lavishly illustrated volume explores one of the most versatile, useful and enduring technologies ever invented: the book. Books: A Living History charts the evolution and influence of books around the world, from the cuneiform tablets of ancient Sumer through the development of movable type and the emergence of the modern information revolution. A feast for traditional book-lovers, as well as an inspiration for those excited by new electronic technologies, this beautifully produced volume celebrates the enduring power and magic of books.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a 217-page book which includes two pages of glossary and two pages of suggested further reading. It is not a small book but is handy and not very heavy although it is a hard cover book with good quality glossy pages. It is therefore portable although published in a coffee-table style, that is, it has lovely photgraphs, prints and drawings. The text accompanying each topic is short but fascinating and informative. We see, for instance, beautiful ancient Chinese writing on strips of bamboo, a book form known as "jiance". The book goes beyond the history of books and informs us about early libraries, and has interesting pictures such as monastic libraries, and book stalls in places such as Bangladesh. The history segment includes brief accounts of children's books and Japanese "Manga", complete with picture samples. Equally useful are the accounts on copyright and the rise of book stores - nothing is said about their decline (except the reminder that "books don't need batteries") - even though the book conluded with two articles on the virtual book and the rise of digitization. The history of the book promises to be long and glorious.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Books: A Living History is a guide to the development of books throughout the Ages. It is full of well-presented images accompanied by a genuinely interesting and informative text. Professor Lyons clearly knows his stuff and communicates it clearly.
Every book-lover should have a copy!
Every book-lover should have a copy!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Booking a place in history
12 Nov 2011
Format:Hardcover
This is a 217-page book which includes two pages of glossary and two pages of suggested further reading. It is not a small book but is handy and not very heavy although it is a hard cover book with good quality glossy pages. It is therefore portable although published in a coffee-table style, that is, it has lovely photgraphs, prints and drawings. The text accompanying each topic is short but fascinating and informative, for example, the difference between the papyrus and parchment. We see, for instance, beautiful ancient Chinese writing on strips of bamboo, a book form known as "jiance". The book goes beyond the history of books and informs us about early libraries, and has interesting pictures such as monastic libraries, the Great Library of Alexandria, and book stalls in places such as Bangladesh. The history segment includes brief accounts of children's books and Japanese "Manga", complete with picture samples. Equally useful are the accounts on copyright and the rise of book stores - nothing is said about their decline (except the reminder that "books don't need batteries") - even though the book conluded with two articles on the virtual book and the rise of digitization. The history of the book promises to be long and glorious.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Light but with Insight
1 Jan 2012
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book as Christmas present to myself because it looked good & I found it read well & gave me access to ideas & some history of which I was unaware.
Part of the joy of books for me is the feel, the smell & intimacy of reading a book. I have a Kindle App on my iPad & iPhone & I love reading on these devices too...but a book is special. I enjoyed the reading experience for all the intangible reasons that mean books will be with us for the foreseeable future. Great proportions, colour, paper and fine writing. It was a good guest during these holidays.
The book is well presented with great illustrations & production values. The author writes well & delivers insight. Clearly the author has researched deeply & thought about what needed to be said & how to say it. The feeling I have is that the text has been edited down to fit the required space. I think the author has much more to say.
This title has all the elements of a book to be read, enjoyed & merits a in my library. That's all I can ever ask
Part of the joy of books for me is the feel, the smell & intimacy of reading a book. I have a Kindle App on my iPad & iPhone & I love reading on these devices too...but a book is special. I enjoyed the reading experience for all the intangible reasons that mean books will be with us for the foreseeable future. Great proportions, colour, paper and fine writing. It was a good guest during these holidays.
The book is well presented with great illustrations & production values. The author writes well & delivers insight. Clearly the author has researched deeply & thought about what needed to be said & how to say it. The feeling I have is that the text has been edited down to fit the required space. I think the author has much more to say.
This title has all the elements of a book to be read, enjoyed & merits a in my library. That's all I can ever ask
Handy reference with lots of photos
5 Feb 2012
Format:Hardcover
A handy reference that tries to cover a huge subject; a book to dip into for bits of curious information about books; but not for serious research.
There are lots of interesting photos such as one showing Nazis burning books written by Jews and one showing British Muslims burning Salman Rushdie's book; see also the picture of a poster exhorting workers to read that I posted in the picture gallery; the author remarked that the pious hope of public librarians was that workers could develop themselves through reading serious literature, but alas all that the workers were interested in was reading light stuff.
What I like were photos of book covers when the books were first printed. (See example of The Three Musketeers in the picture gallery that I posted.)
There are lots of interesting photos such as one showing Nazis burning books written by Jews and one showing British Muslims burning Salman Rushdie's book; see also the picture of a poster exhorting workers to read that I posted in the picture gallery; the author remarked that the pious hope of public librarians was that workers could develop themselves through reading serious literature, but alas all that the workers were interested in was reading light stuff.
What I like were photos of book covers when the books were first printed. (See example of The Three Musketeers in the picture gallery that I posted.)
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