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Every Book Its Reader: The Power of the Printed Word to Stir the World Hardcover – November 29, 2005

by Nicholas A Basbanes (Author)
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 13 ratings
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Inspired by a landmark exhibition mounted by the British Museum in 1963 to celebrate five eventful centuries of the printed word, Nicholas A. Basbanes offers a lively consideration of writings that have "made things happen" in the world, works that have both nudged the course of history and fired the imagination of countless influential people.

In his fifth work to examine a specific aspect of book culture, Basbanes also asks what we can know about such figures as John Milton, Edward Gibbon, John Locke, Isaac Newton, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Adams, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Henry James, Thomas Edison, Helen Keller -- even the notorious Marquis de Sade and Adolf Hitler -- by knowing what they have read. He shows how books that many of these people have consulted, in some cases annotated with their marginal notes, can offer tantalizing clues to the evolution of their character and the development of their thought.

Taking the concept one step further, Basbanes profiles some of the most articulate readers of our time -- David McCullough, Harold Bloom, Robert Fagles, Robert Coles, Helen Vendler, Elaine Pagels, Daniel Aaron, Christopher Ricks, Matthew Bruccoli, and Perri Klass among them -- who discuss such relevant concepts as literary canons, classic works in translation, the timelessness of poetry, the formation of sacred texts, and the power of literature to train physicians, nurture children, and rehabilitate criminal offenders.

"Basbanes has a deep and abiding passion for books -- a joyful addiction," Dan Smith wrote in the Toronto Star of Patience & Fortitude, characterizing his body of work as "part travelogue, part scholarship, and all story." The tradition continues with Every Book Its Reader.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harper
  4. Publication date
    November 29, 2005
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.21 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0060593237
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0060593230
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As in A Gentle Madness and other books, syndicated columnist Basbanes again proves his fascination with the minutiae of bibliophilia, relating with relish how many volumes were in various famous readers' collections, who wrote in their margins, who kept commonplace books, and other book-related ephemera before getting to the heart of this book: his discussions with well-known readers of today. These include Harold Bloom on Shakespeare and the politicizing of literature in the academy; Helen Vendler on her experience of poetry from adolescence on; and the impressive Robert Coles on his literary relationships with writers such as William Carlos Williams and Walker Percy, as well as his own call to action for children around the world. This volume is like a pot in an overenthusiastic cook's kitchen: a little bit of everything has been thrown in. As in cooking, however, too many notes spoil the palate. Basbanes writes fluidly and there are intriguing tidbits—the chapter on the development of religious texts is especially strong—but the book as a whole has no central argument or philosophy to make it cohere. Illus. not seen by PW.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

No one writes with more verve and fluency about the history of books and reading than bibliophile Basbanes. In his fifth lively, original, and free-flowing book, Basbanes wonders about what books Shakespeare might have read, and he explicates the source for bowdlerize: Henrietta and Thomas Bowdler published a sanitized, family-safe edition of Shakespeare's plays in 1807. A fascinating survey of writers' libraries, including those of Edward Gibbon and Henry James, leads to a consideration of the practice of keeping "commonplace books," or notebooks in which writers copy "significant excerpts" from books they read. A conversation with historian and biographer David McCullough engenders discussion of the reading habits of American presidents, while Elaine Pagels offers useful analysis of how people view the Bible, and visits with literary scholar Matthew J. Bruccoli inspire thoughts on the value of collecting writers' artifacts. Basbanes also insightfully profiles passionate book lovers and sages Robert Coles, Helen Vendler, and Harold Bloom. A reader's delight, Basbanes' work testifies to all that literature does for the human spirit. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper (November 29, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060593237
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060593230
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.21 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

About the author

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Nicholas A. Basbanes

Nicholas A. Basbanes

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I've written ten books, the most recent titled "Cross of Snow: A Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow," which was published in June 2020, and has since been named a Book of the Year by the Times Literary Supplement (TLS). In 2016, I was named a Public Scholar by the National Endowment for the Humanities in support of work on this book. My previous work, "On Paper: The Everything of Its Two Thousand Year History" was one of three finalists for the 2014 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction awarded by the American Library Association and the Carnegie Corporation; and also the recipient of an NEH grant. My first book, "A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books," was a finalist in 1995 for the National Book Critics Circle Award. I lecture widely on a variety of subjects, and write the Gently Mad column for Fine Books and Collections Magazine. My articles, OpEds, and reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Humanities, Smithsonian, and Civilization, among other publications. I am a native of Lowell, Massachusetts, and went to Bates College, where I majored in English. From 1968 to 1971, I served as a naval officer aboard the aircraft carrier Oriskany, and made two combat cruises to Vietnam. I got my master's degree in journalism from Pennsylvania State University. My wife and I have two adult daughters, and live in Central Massachusetts.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
13 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

John D. Cofield
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Basbanes Paean To Books
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2006
Verified Purchase
I can never get my fill of Nicholas Basbanes. His love of books, libraries, and reading echo so many of my own traits, making his books treats that will bear innumberable rereadings and savorings.

Every Book Its Reader continues Basbanes' familiar theme of the continuing importance of the printed word in today's society. It expands it by focussing on studies of the libraries of eminent booklovers of the past such as Edward Gibbon and through interviews with great living writers/readers like David McCullough and Harold Bloom. Basbanes branches into fascinating discussions on the art of translation, for example, that illuminate obscure but valuable corners of the world of books.

In other words, there is a wealth of information about books and reading in Every Book Its Reader, but the most important reason to read it is its evocation of the joy of reading. Basbanes and his readers will undoubtedly echo the sentiment of May Lamberton Becker, one of his subjects in Every Book Its Reader, in saying that if we get to heaven, we will meet each other in the corner by the bookcases.
14 people found this helpful
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James M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Estimable Essays
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2010
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Mr. Basbanes continues his stream of seemingly unending book lore in this splendacious volume of 12 essays and approximately 40 b&w photo illustrations. I cannot envision any way that one might go wrong in purchasing this book. The previous ten reviewers provided excellent accounts of the work, so my only purpose is to add two recommendations that may be of interest to some. One, if you enjoy Basbanes' books, pick up any or all of the books about books written by Alberto Manguel. His viewpoints on books are recounted more from his personal reading experiences and provide a beautifully written counterpart to Basbanes' fine works. Two, if you really cherish books, consider a subscription to the rather lavish Fine Books & Collections magazine which has resumed its printed publication after a two-year hiatus. (Mr. Basbanes is a regular contributor.)
2 people found this helpful
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Larry H. Atherton
5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent Basbanes book
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2007
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Basbanes has provided another well written,well researched book for serious readers,including some excellent interviews with the right people.From this one, I listed another six to read that he had referenced
in the discussions. I always look forward to his next book.
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Willis G. Regier
4.0 out of 5 stars Basbanes' Fourth Best Book
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2006
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I bought and read this book because I much enjoyed Basbanes' previous trilogy, especially PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE. But compared to his trilogy, this book looks too hurried and thrown together. There has been too little care with the organization and an occasional major gaff intrudes, such as his assertion that some of Goethe's poetry was "set to music by Mozart and Bach" (p. 279). Starting with high expectations, I was disappointed.

Even so, this is a book I will keep, and probably return to, because it still has much to offer. Like his previous books, this is addressed to bibliophiles and deals with topics dear to them. In particular, it deals with readers, many of whom are famous, but some of whom are convicts and some of whom are small children. The book finds a dozen ways to emphasize the value and influence of books. The chapter on physicians and their books should appeal to every doctor on the continent.

Basbanes interviewed a good number of legendary American readers--Harold Bloom, Helen Vendler, Daniel Aaron, Robert Coles--collecting comments that will make this book of interest to common readers and fulltime scholars. Though Basbanes is too much of a gentleman to make much of it, some of these learned people come across as amusing fools, and some flatly contradict each other. Thus Basbanes provides expert testimony that books can be beloved by wildly different people because they read books differently, and because they love different books.

The only author I can compare to Basbanes is the wonderful Holbrook Jackson (an author Basbanes admires, too), because both allow their passion for books to be motive enough: they do not let themselves be distracted (at least not for long) by peeves or pieties. The personalities that guide their readers along are congenial, even affectionate, glad to have your attention and trying to repay it with every page.
14 people found this helpful
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vanchocstraw
5.0 out of 5 stars If you're a reader...
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2010
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Chock full of anecdotes and stories this book is beautifully written, engrossing anyone with even the slightest interest in how reading effects us. Very entertaining and thought-provoking.
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