The Book on the Bookshelf

It's a good book. I've designed a number of complex built-in bookcases, own a sizeable hone library with aspirations, and this book fits in nicely among other books about the history of books and libraries while covering some new ground.One thing I didn't quite get is the introduction where he talks about a friend of his but doesn't say who it is--is he being silly or did the person not want to be named? I just couldn't decide but he makes it pretty clear who the person is.Anyway if you're interested in this topic, it's worth the time and space on the shelf.

We tend not to think about things like the bookshelf. It's history and function. And the book on it. Weren't books always shelved the way they are now? Spine out, on a horizontal shelf next to others placed vertically?Well, no. Petroski takes the reader on a an adventure through the reading history of the West, explaining the birth of books and what they were set upon. Numerous illustrations take us from the codex to the chained book to the printed book. From horizontal stacking to front cover out to spine in to spine out.Truly an intriguing romp for bibliophiles and historians. A must for anybody in library science. Well-cited, though with that new style of endnotes that makes me gag. A bib and index, along with an appendix on shelving systems. An endlessly diverting book.

Petroski works well with an ongoing vision of how books and space have evolved and continue to evolve from the past to the future. His biting view tells us that the book is a tool of ongoing use and not the specific and frozen art of any moment.

My 2 star review is because description for this book was “very good” and although it is physically in good shape it smells more like a basement than my basement does! I want the book but I do not want the musty smell to be exposed to my other books. I threw away the dust jacket because it reeked. Disappointed.

Exactly as described, been wanting this, got it. Thank you...