The Book

The printed book is one of life's most frequently encountered technologies. Historian Nicole Howard provides a comprehensive survey of the evolution of this technology, tracing its development across many centuries and cultures.No other technology in human history, declares Howard, has had the impact of this invention. By examining the book as a technology, Howard reveals how profoundly information and media have shaped history and how vital the technology of the book has been to cultural and intellectual change. This engaging study extends from clay tablets and papyrus to paper and bound volumes, from inks and scripts to lead type and printing presses, from the Linotype machine to the laptop. It is cross - cultural in scope, examining innovations in the production and manufacture of books from the Middle and Far East, Europe, and the Americas. Howard details printing techniques from Gutenberg's first press to sophisticated 21st-century methods. Howard's broad overview and accessible writing style make this book ideal for students and bibliophiles alike. The volume includes a glossary of terms, a timeline of important events, and a selected bibliography of useful resources for further information.''The book is arguably the one technology that has made all others possible... What Howard does is provide an exceedingly accessible retelling of the book's life story, one that shows precisely how books represent a peak of technology, giving permanence and form to ideas and relevance and resonance to their readers.'' -- Libraries & the Cultural Record