A history of the book in 100 books by Roderick Cave
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743317143.
(Age: Secondary - Professional) Since reliable and affordable access
to the internet became readily available to most, we have heard
cries that 'The book is dead!'; 'It's all online so you don't need
books!'; and 'Empty your library's shelves of books and replace them
with devices.' Despite the growing body of evidence that children
need to develop traditional literacy skills using print, teacher
librarians are constantly having to defend their decision to keep
the traditional format on the shelves.
But here in the richly illustrated tome is the evidence that such
calls for change are not new. Over the history of mankind changing
technologies have changed the format of books, from ancient cave
paintings to inscriptions on tombs of the ancient Egyptians and all
stops in between through to the printing of books for the masses and
now the accessibility of ebooks, the book as a device has evolved.
While the advent of the ebook may be seen as a revolution by some,
and the printed-paper book that we are so familiar with may go the
way of the tablets of Babylon - although the notion of the
'paperless office' is yet to come to fruition - this book is an
attempt to celebrate the endurance of the concept through the very
careful selection of just 100 books which illustrate the huge range
of formats and styles from all continents, except Antarctica. Many
of those selected are not the most obvious choices, in fact choices
have been made to deliberately stimulate the reader's interest to
explore further.
Arranged into eleven chapters that suggest a broad chronological
approach, each entry has been meticulously researched yet written in
a very readable way. There is an extensive, illustrated glossary
explaining terms from 'abugida' to 'graphic novel' to 'zaum' as well
as a comprehensive bibliography to lead the reader further afield.
This is not a text whose purpose is to show that the book as we know
it is doomed - indeed, the authors declare that it is not - but
rather to show that despite its evolution in format, its importance
and purpose to educate and entertain has essentially remained
unchanged. Throughout civilisation, humans have had a need to record
and share events, thoughts, discoveries and dreams whether that be
on bone, bamboo, bark, paper, clay or computer screen.
Whether this is a personal purchase or one bought to support the
curriculum, it is an important addition to understanding our
continuing passion for and love affair with books.
Barbara Braxton