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Past, Present, And Future
PublicAffairs
November 2009
On Sale: October 27, 2009
240 pages
ISBN: 1586488260
EAN: 9781586488260
Hardcover
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Non-Fiction
The invention of writing was one of the most important technological, cultural, and sociological breakthroughs in human history. With the printed book, information and ideas could disseminate more widely and effectively than ever beforeβand in some cases, affect and redirect the sway of history. Today, nearly one million books are published each year. But is the era of the book as we know itβa codex of bound pagesβcoming to an end? And if it is, should we celebrate its demise and the creation of a democratic digital future, or mourn an irreplaceable loss? The digital age is revolutionizing the information landscape. Already, more books have been scanned and digitized than were housed in the great library in Alexandria, making available millions of texts for a curious reader at the click of a button, and electronic book sales are growing exponentially. Will this revolution in the delivery of information and entertainment make for more transparent and far-reaching dissemination or create a monopolistic stranglehold? In The Case for Books, Robert Darnton, an intellectual pioneer in the field of the history of the book and director of Harvard University's Library, offers an in-depth examination of the book from its earliest beginnings to its shifting role today in popular culture, commerce, and the academy. As an author, editorial advisor, and publishing entrepreneur, Darnton is a unique authority on the life and role of the book in society. This book is a wise work of scholarshipβone that requires readers to carefully consider how the digital revolution will broadly affect the marketplace of ideas.
 Media BuzzDiane Rehm Show - NPR - November 23, 2009
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