About the Author

Henry Petroski is the Alexander S.Vesic Professor of Engineering and Professor of History at Duke University, where he also serves as chairman of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He lives in Durham, North Carolina.

Reviews

"For anyone interested in the craft of reading, [this book] is a compulsive necessity." --The New York Times Book Review

"A fascinating history of two related common objects, impeccably documented and beautifully illustrated." --Civilization

"After reading this book, you will not look at a book or a bookshelf in the same way." --Seattle Times

"If 'God is in the details,' then those seeking God should read Petroski's books." --Library Journal

"For anyone interested in the craft of reading, [this book] is a compulsive necessity." --The New York Times Book Review

"A fascinating history of two related common objects, impeccably documented and beautifully illustrated." --Civilization

"After reading this book, you will not look at a book or a bookshelf in the same way." --Seattle Times

"If 'God is in the details,' then those seeking God should read Petroski's books." --Library Journal

If "God is in the details" then those seeking God should read Petroski's books (including The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance and The Evolution of Useful Things). In all of his books, Petroski reveals the technological issues and surprising histories of everyday things. Here he details the evolution of the bookshelf. Most people, librarians included, think of bookshelves, if they think of them at all, as an inevitable response to the development of books. Petroski starts by questioning why books are shelved vertically on horizontal shelves with their spines out and follows with the story of how the storage and shelving of books as well as the design and construction of libraries has developed: from the scrolls and codexes of ancient times to medieval monastic libraries (where books were chained to desks) to the development of modern bookstacks, the evolution of compact shelves, and a consideration of the future of the book. Petroski includes delightful glimpses of noteworthy book collectors of the past and how they organized their books. Well written and richly illustrated, this book is not just for bibliophiles. Highly recommended.ÄPaul A. D'Alessandro, Portland P.L., ME Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.