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Alberto Manguel
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A History of Reading Hardcover – January 1, 1996

by Alberto Manguel (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 212 ratings
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Was owned by a PHD collage professor.
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  1. Print length
    372 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1996
  5. ISBN-10
    0670843024
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0670843022
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000K2T5C2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; 1st edition (January 1, 1996)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 372 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0670843024
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0670843022
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 212 ratings

About the author

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Alberto Manguel

Alberto Manguel

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Internationally acclaimed as an anthologist, translator, essayist, novelist, and editor, Alberto Manguel is the bestselling author of several award-winning books, including A Dictionary of Imaginary Places and A History of Reading. He was born in Buenos Aires, moved to Canada in 1982 and now lives in France, where he was named a Chevalier de l'Ordre français des Arts et des Lettres.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
212 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reader in Upstate NY
5.0 out of 5 stars A Story Without an Ending
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2020
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What a lovely trip through history on one of my favorite topics – reading. It was an enjoyable and memorable experience, and I hope to return to read it again. In the Endpaper Pages, in his last paragraph, Alberto Manguel states that “The History of Reading, fortunately, has no end.” His last words are “It’s not finished.” Hooray for that! This book carried me on a fascinating and pleasurable journey through time. Alberto Manguel is such a good writer; I’ve become a fan. The illustrations also were well chosen and interesting.
3 people found this helpful
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bibliomane01
5.0 out of 5 stars A Magpie's Nest of Bookish Treats
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2001
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"A History of Reading" is an eclectic collection of essays on books, bibliophiles, bibliophobes, bibliokleptomanes, printing, translation, censorship, reading glasses and the Heian period in Japan. A browser's delight, it can also be devoured in a single sitting (guilty). From reading aloud to reading silently and from the physical pleasures of a book's shape, binding and smell to the less corporeal qualities of books that prompted Pinochet's Chile to ban "Don Quixote" as subversive, Alberto Manguel's bibiomanic panorama is a thoroughly enjoyable celebration of one of life's greatest pleasures. In it, the reader will encounter Callimachus of Cyrene, who worked in the "vanished library" of Alexandria and laid the foundations for what we know today as the library catalogue; compare and contrast the difffering approaches to public readings of Charles Dickens and Pliny the Younger; and decide once and for all whether it is preferable to read lying down or at a desk. Tolle, lege!
58 people found this helpful
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David McAllister
4.0 out of 5 stars A history of writing and of book production
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2018
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More a history of writing and of book production. Also some interesting observations and incidents in the lives of some of the author’s favorite writers. Since the writer of this book is quite widely read, many of the works discussed are rather refined or even obscure. Religious writers seem to me to be disproportionately represented. But quite engaging throughout, like being in the company of a very well-read friend.
6 people found this helpful
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Dianne Leonard
5.0 out of 5 stars I'D TAKE THIS ONE TO A DESERT ISLE
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2022
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The History of Reading is a wonderful book. If I had to choose five books to take to a desert isle (or to prison) this book would easily make the cut. I've read several of Alberto Manguel's books, and this is the best.
One person found this helpful
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Bruce 22
5.0 out of 5 stars Startling Experience
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2013
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The thought I had while reading this book is that, I wish that I had read back when I was an undergraduate which was well before it was published! This writer has a wonderful vision of the art of Communication and constantly had me remembering lots of pieces of my own life! On the other hand it showed me that missed out on most of the possibilities in this life.
6 people found this helpful
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Randi Holtz
3.0 out of 5 stars school
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2013
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found it to be helpful as i start out my research for my thesis project. it offers a nice perspective on books, the act of reading, and libraries
3 people found this helpful
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Writer
5.0 out of 5 stars A True Companion
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2001
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It is wonderful to read about a subject that you value so much written by someone who feels the same way. The value for me, however, was the prism Manguel offers through which reading is separated into a variety of dazzling colors. I enjoyed the history, the anecdotes, his personal experiences, and his ability to carry a thread from our earliest ancestors desire to understand the written word to the present. His references caused me to visit the library and bookstores once again and enjoy authors that I had either forgotten or with whom I was not yet familiar. It is a book I will recommend frequently to anyone I know who loves reading.
17 people found this helpful
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Jaime Pichardo
4.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2021
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Intense book
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Top reviews from other countries

Macarena
5.0 out of 5 stars interesting and well written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2023
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I enjoyed it very much
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Debashis Das
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in India on May 12, 2021
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I have been waiting for this book long time. And ultimately it arrived in a good condition by courtesy to Amazon.The paperback edition from Penguin is beautiful, gorgeous and eye soothing. It would surely be a treasure in my shelf.
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Ann M Reiswig
5.0 out of 5 stars a great book
Reviewed in Canada on December 3, 2013
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Manguel must be one of the most erudite people on the planet. This book is a compendium of western civilization with reading as the cornerstone. A real tour de force.
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Dr. Fayaz
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good
Reviewed in India on October 19, 2018
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Very useful for understanding the journey of reading.
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Ferry Maid
5.0 out of 5 stars A History of Reading.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2013
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Arrived in wonderful time but cannot yet review as still unread. It looks as if it will be a fascinating read and the chapter headings give a good idea of the interesting contents which I look forward to reading in due course.
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