Book

There have been many books written about early writing forms and how writing was kept ,advanced from simple pictures and marks on cave walls, to the magnificent Illuminated Manuscripts of the Middle Ages up to including the preponderous number of books today.And that doesn't even include the explosion of the electronic storage of the written word that is now advancing at an unimaginable pace.When one reads this book and considers even what has happened in the last couple of centuries---one can only imagine what lies ahead. As I have said there have been many excellent books on this subject.It's hard to recall any that have covered the history of books so well is so few pages.Even the thought of accomplishing this in only 64 pages is mind boggling;but that is exactly what is done here.The text is rather brief,but the superb photographs and illustrations are such that it would take one all over the world to see;but are presented here in a way that is almost like making a visit to many museums and collections. Anyone interested in the craft of bookmaking will certainly be impressed with what they will find here. One does not often find a book that is suitable for people of all ages who are interested in such a complicated subject.

My three-year-old niece sits on her Grammy's lap with one of her beloved books and says so wistfully, I wish I was big so I could read these words. Just one tiny speck in the incredibly long line of people wanting to know those words. Have you ever wondered who created those first words, who created pictures for those words? Who created the first medium for placing those words? And on and on until there sits little Carolina wanting so badly to read them. Eyewitness creates another "museum between covers" as the New York Times describes the Eyewitness series, and answers the above questions. We don't know who the actual first persons were, but we do know the culture, the race of people, the locations. Archaeology unearths that much. Then again, anthropologists, historians, artists provide more answers. With each successive step, a more advanced symbolism of words is applied all the way to a scholarly outlay. Until we come again to little Carolina trying to decipher the code. "Book," unsurprisingly begins at the beginning with a first accounting of expressing thoughts on a medium: cave art for a hunting quest, seals for contracts, bills of sale. Then the tools of the trade are illustrated through gorgeous arrays of brushes, inks, calligraphy, materials to write upon. That great translating tool, the Rosetta Stone, is shown and an explanation given for its use. To have language that goes into a scroll or stone requires ABCs. Similar sets exist for multiple peoples with variations here and there. Precision begins in placing the letters for straightness and practicality, then evolving into works of art, so to speak. Only the best scribes and finest materials were used in creating the Koran and the same with the illuminated manuscripts of the European monks. Do you ever wonder who thought of pounding the stalks of papyrus to make the first writing material? Or who thought of taking the skin of a young sheep, scraping off flesh and hair to create parchment. Do you know it took one sheep to make one sheet of parchment and an entire flock to make a book? In China someone thought to use mulberry bark and bamboo, in Europe rags were used to make paper. The second half of the book shows the development of the primitive printing press, then all the rapid advancements and more ways devoted to making books beautiful. Think of all the new branches of human invention that words bring: inks, nibs, vocabulary, handwriting, children's books, typewriters, libraries. It is all so amazing what man can do to communicate not only thoughts, but even setting those thoughts in their own houses of beauty--books. Perhaps that is why we want leather-bound classics--to show we value what is inside. And there's little Carolina, so anxious to take her place in the procession.

"One of the most famous libraries of the ancient world was at Alexandria in Egypt. Scholars and scientists came from all over the Greek-speaking world to study there and to add to the library's collections by translating and copying more tests. At one tiome it is said to have more than 400,000 works on papyrus rolls stored on shelves, each with a label to identify it." The DK books offer a beautiful way to learn about the world. In this selection you will find photographs of clay tablets, pens and ink and even printing presses. Contents: What is Writing First Signs Writing with Signs Egyptian Writing ABC - Did you know the Etruscans wrote from right to left or that the Greeks would sometimes write in spirals. Before Paper - Want to see a picture of papyrus and see how it was made into paper? Paper - Who really invented paper? A Medieval Psalter - Now this is what I'd call a book. How absolutely beautiful. In the Middle Ages magnificent books were produced and are called "illuminated" manuscripts. Manuscript Books Books from Asia Islamic Books - More richly decorated books Getting Ready to Print Typesetting On Press Early Printed Books Typefaces Binding Illustrated Books Learning Words Handwriting Children's Books - a picture of the original Alice in Wonderland Words at Work The Typewriter - all writer's should see this! The Book Market Keeping Your Words All the basics of writing from ancient picture scripts to medieval manuscripts and printed books. The pictures of illustrated books from the past are well worth the price of this book. Essential reading for all book lovers! ~The Rebecca Review

DK eyewitness books are some of the greatest non-fiction books around. The distinctive white background and high-quality photography gives this book an edge over any other nonfiction picture book. And -- these pictures are real! They're beautiful photos of all things related to books, accompanied by informative captions and text. Learn about the history of books and bookmaking, books in different cultures, and everything else related to books (augmented by beautiful museum-like photos).If you know someone (young or old) who loves books, then you must introduce them to this book!