Paper
Paging Through History
WW Norton · Print & ebook · May 23, 2017
From the New York Times best-selling author of Cod and Salt, a definitive history of paper and the astonishing ways it has shaped today’s world.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A breezy, idea-rich history that turns an everyday material into a surprisingly talkative guide.
- Genres
- History of Technology, World History, Civilizations
- Published
- WW Norton, May 23, 2017
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
Cathedral, Forge and WaterwheelJoseph Gies52% matchShares History of Technology
A History of the World in 100 ObjectsNeil MacGregor55% matchShares World History and Civilizations
Victorian Internet,theTom Standage51% matchShares History of Technology
The ShallowsNicholas Carr49% match
For younger readers: The Story of Clocks and Calendars, China: Land of Dragons and Emperors, Imperialism
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
From the New York Times best-selling author of Cod and Salt, a definitive history of paper and the astonishing ways it has shaped today’s world. Paper is one of the simplest and most essential pieces of human technology.
Continue reading
For the past two millennia, the ability to produce it in ever more efficient ways has supported the proliferation of literacy, media, religion, education, commerce, and art; it has formed the foundation of civilizations, promoting revolutions and restoring stability. By tracing paper’s evolution from antiquity to the present, with an emphasis on the contributions made in Asia and the Middle East, Mark Kurlansky challenges common assumptions about technology’s influence, affirming that paper is here to stay. Paper will be the commodity history that guides us forward in the twenty-first century and illuminates our times.
Paper Trail
A breezy, idea-rich history that turns an everyday material into a surprisingly talkative guide.
Come here for
- paper as a lens on world history
- cultural texture with conversation fuel
Expect
- clear explanations
- lively digressions
Where it sits
| History of Technology | 43% |
|---|---|
| World History | 32% |
| Civilizations | 27% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- World History
- Authors
- Mark Kurlansky
- Publisher
- WW Norton
- Published
- May 23, 2017
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- World History