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a vintage black and white image of a bookstore from old newspaper
Home Libraries

Books in Early America

This July 4th holiday weekend had me revisiting some books and writing about... books and writings in early America. I wanted to share something that I ran across in a pamphlet from Williamsburg, VA that talks about how prevalent books were at the time of the American Revolution. This slim
05 Jul 2025 3 min read
stack of four books
Book Culture

Bookish Days Celebration Calendar

I have created a page where I hope to chronicle (and continually update) all of the dates, events and commemorations for book lovers. One of the best things about the bookish community is when we all band together to speak up, protect or celebrate the printed word. While there is
30 Jun 2025 2 min read
illustrated image of four colorful books
Book Design

The Illustrated Dust Jacket

It's a bit of a dreary gray sky start to the week for me. When I need some inspiration and a lift, I often pick up Martin Salisbury's The Illustrated Dust Jacket. This book is a wonderful large size and is chock full of all the
09 Jun 2025 2 min read
close up of black text on off white page
Collecting and Collectors

Kirkpatrick Prize for Young Book Collectors

I love programs that get young people interested in collecting books. Some clever folks are hosting fun events these days, like the Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize aimed at getting young women collecting. I am highlighting one that is taking applications right now. The Taylor C. Kirkpatrick Prize for
03 Feb 2025 1 min read
image of two bookshelves full of books spine out
Home Libraries

Happy #LibraryShelfie Day

I have been avoiding the digital world for the past few weeks to help preserve my sanity. I have been swimming in the analog paper and glue universe that is my home library. It's very calming and grounding. I love it. But I did have to log on
22 Jan 2025 1 min read
The Book-Makers - Book of the Year 2024
Book Awards Featured

The Book-Makers - Book of the Year 2024

I am picking Adam Smyth's The Book-Makers: A History of the Book in Eighteen Lives as the 2024 Book of the Year. Smyth does a masterful job not only explaining the cultural impact each evolution of the book and book production had, but he elevates the names and
31 Dec 2024 2 min read
The 2024 "Books About Books" Book Awards
Book Awards Featured

The 2024 "Books About Books" Book Awards

It's been another very full year of great books. Looking back it seems that many of the new titles in the books about books category have a strong theme of the "importance of books" connecting them. I don't know if this is in response
30 Dec 2024 6 min read
Cyberbooks by Ben Bova
Bibliofiction

Cyberbooks by Ben Bova

Folks, this is why you stop in random used bookstores whenever you get the chance – Cyberbooks by Ben Bova… for $2!! What a find! I had no idea this book even existed. I absolutely love the cover of this mass paperback that came out in 1990. A quick internet search
28 Aug 2024 2 min read
Tattered Cover founded by Joyce Meskis
Book Culture

'Why Books Still Matter' Spurs Us to Action

Books are not staid things and the upcoming Why Books Still Matter looks to show us why. Books are important and, if done well, can spur us to action. I’m very much looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this next Rivertowns Books.  First, the book
06 Mar 2024 2 min read
private library award banner
Book Awards

The Private Library - Book of the Year 2023

I am picking The Private Library by Reid Byers as the first-ever Books About Books Book of the Year winner. I feel like I should have set up a drumroll or some sort of fanfare… maybe next year… Note: This post may contain affiliate links and is a follow-up post
31 Dec 2023 3 min read
a stack of book spines
Book Awards

The Inaugural Books About Books Book Awards

I love a good end-of-the-year book awards list or “best of” feature. They’re great, but they often have many of the same titles on them. It’s rare to find a site or list that has a truly unique take on books, which is a shame. There are sooooo
30 Dec 2023 5 min read
yellow book cover with red type for the secret lives of booksellers and librarians
Book Stores

The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians

James Patterson has a new book coming out on April 8, 2024, titled The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians. It’s one I’m looking forward to reading. There seems to be some competition for the subtitle. I’ve seen it listed as both “Their stories are better than
04 Dec 2023 1 min read
orange interior pages of the book showing more pages from other books
Book Design

New Aesthetics in Book Design

Today was a good mail day as I finally was able to get my hands on a copy of A Book on Books: New Aesthetics in Book Design, and let me just say this book is more than I was hoping for. I had no idea that it was so
17 Nov 2023 2 min read
close up of brown cloth section of Rosenbach book cover
Collecting and Collectors

Rosenbach Museum and Library

I ran across a neat post over on Travel Between the Pages and just have to share as it’s about Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach who is well known among folks who collect books about books. I count myself fortunate to have a couple of Rosenbach’s books on
12 Nov 2023 1 min read
close up of black cover for Books and Islands
Book Reviews

Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country by Louise Erdrich

I thoroughly enjoyed Louise Erdrich’s Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country. This book is as much a memoir as it is a history of the Ojibwe people, books, writing, and nature appreciation. Throughout the whole book, Erdrich looks to answer “Books. Why?” Those two words, with that punctuation, are
11 Jun 2023 2 min read
bookshelf with lots of books, center is cover for John Dunning's book, green plant next to it.
Authors

John Dunning, Bibliomystery Author, has Died

John Dunning, an award-winning author of bibliofiction, rare bookseller, and book collector, has died at the age of 81. His website says, “In 2006, John had a large benign brain tumor which was surgically removed, but it caused the loss of one eye and progressive neurological problems. Sadly he passed
30 May 2023 2 min read
purple cover and title of my back pages author richard charkin
Memoir

My Back Pages by Richard Charkin

Well-known publisher and industry organizer Richard Charkin’s memoir, My Back Pages: an undeniably personal history of publishing 1972-2022, coming out on April 17, 2023. The cover of My Back Pages credits Tom Capmbell with helping write the 174-page book published by the UK publisher Marble Hill Publishers. Marble Hill
28 Mar 2023 2 min read
close up of black words on white dictionary page
Book Culture

Odd Words from the Book World

There is a New Yorker video making the rounds this week, and it’s terrific. It features quick chats with a cast of characters, each a bonified book expert or rare book dealer, while they discuss their favorite vocabulary and odd words from within the rare book world. It’s
21 Mar 2023 2 min read
close up of cartoon illustrated people writing on papyrus
Book Awards

A Land of Books by Duncan Tonatiuh

A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexicah Word Painters is a book I ran across after seeing the news that the author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh was named a 2023 Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Honor Book. Not only do the illustrations in this book look fun to flip through,
16 Mar 2023 1 min read
outdoor maroon street sign with white type on it for oak knoll book and press
Publishing

Oak Knoll Press

Oak Knoll is the preeminent publisher of books about books. If you’re reading this site, then I am pretty sure you are already familiar with Oak Knoll Press. I have not heard how they were in the early days (starting in the late 19070s), but for the past ten
15 Mar 2023 2 min read
illustrated close up if man reading a red book at end of an aisle of books
Book Stores

Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire

I was flipping through the most recent issue of BookPage when I ran across an introductory full-page piece by Oliver Darkshire, the author of Once Upon a Tome. The article’s title is “From Antiquarian Bookseller to Author: Oliver Darkshire’s memoir about working at a 262-year-old bookshop has a
09 Mar 2023 2 min read
books about books on the shelf; all spine out
Site News

Kicking off Books about Books

“Often have I sighed to measure By myself a lonely pleasure, Sighed to think I read a book Only read, perhaps, by me.” – William Wordsworth It’s the beginning of March, and just like the Romans who would shake the dust and frost off their swords every spring and head
28 Feb 2023 2 min read
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