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A History of Reading Paperback – October 1, 1997

4.5 out of 5 stars 218 ratings

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At one magical instant in your early childhood, the page of a book—that string of confused, alien ciphers—shivered into meaning. Words spoke to you, gave up their secrets; at that moment, whole universes opened. You became, irrevocably, a reader. Noted essayist Alberto Manguel moves from this essential moment to explore the 6000-year-old conversation between words and that magician without whom the book would be a lifeless object: the reader. Manguel lingers over reading as seduction, as rebellion, as obsession, and goes on to trace the never-before-told story of the reader's progress from clay tablet to scroll, codex to CD-ROM.
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This wide-ranging and erudite exploration of the topic of reading is suffused with the spirit of Manguel's fellow Argentinian Jorge Luis Borges. Manguel takes us through the history of reading as if leading us room by room through the infinite library Borges constructed in one of his famous stories. Manguel's approach is not chronological, but thematic. His chapter topics jump from attempts to censor reading to the physical surroundings favored by readers, from the limitations of translations to the esotericism of books written for a restricted readership. Throughout he moves easily through time and geography to quote anecdotes and examples from diverse sources. Manguel's enthusiasm, and the impressive breadth of his reading, will make his readers eager to rush to the nearest library.

Review

... a brilliantly associative account ... charms through the scope of Mr. Manguel's erudition, and his balance of scholarship with literary exuberance. -- The New York Times Book Review, Michael Milburn

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 1997
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140166548
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140166545
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.24 pounds
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.16 x 1.04 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 218 ratings

About the author

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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
218 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book highly readable and among their top five favorites, with interesting data about reading history and stimulating discussions about books. They appreciate the language, with one customer noting how beautifully it is used.

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20 customers mention "Readability"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, with several describing it as one of their top five favorites.

"...Since the writer of this book is quite widely read, many of the works discussed are rather refined or even obscure...." Read more

"...It was an enjoyable and memorable experience, and I hope to return to read it again...." Read more

"...it offers a nice perspective on books, the act of reading, and libraries" Read more

"..._The History of Reading_ was a real joy to read." Read more

17 customers mention "Interest"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fascinating and informative, providing a lovely trip through history that stimulates wonderful discussions about books.

""A History of Reading" is an eclectic collection of essays on books, bibliophiles, bibliophobes, bibliokleptomanes, printing, translation,..." Read more

"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..." Read more

"...Hooray for that! This book carried me on a fascinating and pleasurable journey through time...." Read more

"The History of Reading is a wonderful book...." Read more

4 customers mention "Language"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one noting how beautifully the language is used, while another highlights the transition from reading aloud to silent reading.

"...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..." Read more

"...Alberto Manguel is such a good writer; I’ve become a fan. The illustrations also were well chosen and interesting." Read more

"...Very accessible writer. He's clearly a lover of books, reading and history." Read more

"...of very interesting data about the history of reading, the language is used beautifully. Very entertaining and informative." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Llego en excelentes condiciones.
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2001
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    "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!
    60 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    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.
    10 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2020
    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.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2022
    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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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    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
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2013
    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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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2005
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Alberto Manguel spent a good deal of time "crossing his t's and dotting his i's" in this book. The research is solid, and serves well as a spring board into the deeper book history and history of scholarship. The chapters are stand-alone vignettes, not necessarily following a choronological model throughout the book.

    Manguel also ventures into auxiliary areas of interest, like the history of eyeglasses, and history of printing. _The History of Reading_ was a real joy to read.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Debashis Das
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in India on May 12, 2021
    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.
  • Maddy
    5.0 out of 5 stars interesting and well written
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2023
    I enjoyed it very much
  • Ann M Reiswig
    5.0 out of 5 stars a great book
    Reviewed in Canada on December 3, 2013
    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.
  • Dr. Fayaz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good
    Reviewed in India on October 19, 2018
    Very useful for understanding the journey of reading.
  • Saurav
    2.0 out of 5 stars Otherwise well written
    Reviewed in India on April 14, 2019
    The title is a bit misleading. More than a history it is a personal account of the author's reaging preferences and habits.