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The Book on the Bookshelf

3.62 of 5 stars 3.62 · rating details · 496 ratings · 71 reviews

From the author of the highly praised The Pencil and The Evolution of Useful Things comes another captivating history of the seemingly mundane: the book and its storage.

Most of us take for granted that our books are vertical on our shelves with the spines facing out, but Henry Petroski, inveterately curious engineer, didn't.As a result, readers are guided along the astonis...more

Paperback, 304 pages

Published September 12th 2000 by Vintage (first published 1999)

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Aug 06, 2011 Gary Lang added it · review of another edition

In The “Book on the Bookshelf”, Petroski does what he has once done for the pencil, and focuses on the lifetime of one designed object – here the book shelf – to illustrate how learning, print, information sharing, information security policy, and library science have evolved. The book runs from the time before there were books, when scrolls were the way we captured our culture and made it available for others to read in the present and the future. It ends in the 1999 – the year the Petroski boo...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Paul rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'd like to give this half a star less, but that is unfortunately not possible, so in the spirit of being generous, I'll give it three stars.

This book could easily have been shortened by 15-20% had the editor been a bit more liberal with his red pen in eliminating some of the more boring personal anecdotes along with the many paragraphs of repetitious overkill. For example, I am genuinely amazed by the sheer number of references and stories the author uses (ad nauseum) to demonstrate the tendenc...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Jaci rated it 4 of 5 stars

I actually learned a lot about shelving, esp. about the desk area, filling up to the top, and THEN filling the shelves under the desk. Interesting. Which makes me think I've found my calling.
p.4: "Indeed, the presence of bookshelves greatly influences our behavior."
p.22: "Is an empty bookshelf an oxymoron?"
p.24: "It is extraordinary that so simple a device as the separation of words should never have become general until after the invention of printing."
p.69: "Windows and natural light were als...more

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Oct 13, 2009 Ginnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you appreciate incredibly detailed accounts of how items, such as modern books and bookshelves came to be, Henry Petroski's your author!

This fascinating (although at times painfully slow) book explains the changes of reading material into bound books as we know them as well as how the shelves they are stored on in libraries evolved over time and use. After reading this book, I haven't looked at a library in the same old (for granted) way.

In the last section of the book he discusses the variou...more

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Jan 20, 2009 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2009

If there's one thing I'm taking away from Henry Petroski's The Book on the Bookshelf, it's the fact that no technology is so basic as to be self-evident. I always thought of the humble bookshelf as a foregone conclusion: faced with a bunch of narrow rectangular solids, it only makes sense to place them vertically, front-to-back along a horizontal surface, with some kind of identifying label along their edges, yes? Petroski's book, a history of the development of book storage technology in the We...more If there's one thing I'm taking away from Henry Petroski's The Book on the Bookshelf, it's the fact that no technology is so basic as to be self-evident. I always thought of the humble bookshelf as a foregone conclusion: faced with a bunch of narrow rectangular solids, it only makes sense to place them vertically, front-to-back along a horizontal surface, with some kind of identifying label along their edges, yes? Petroski's book, a history of the development of book storage technology in the West, entertainingly disproves this assumption.

Petroski points out that, given the high value of early books, which were each hand-lettered and often bound between jewel-encrusted covers, a very secure storage technique was needed. In pre- and early medieval monasteries and universities, the few books available were kept in steamer-type trunks with multiple (often three) locks, each with a different key. The librarian would keep one key, and two other responsible persons would have the other two, so that all three key-keepers would need to congregate at the book trunk anytime someone wanted to withdraw a book. In this way, accountability would also be maintained: at least three people would witness each book withdrawal, which would minimize lost volumes. Not only that, but the ritual of book return is enough to chill the blood of a person like me, who nearly always returns her library books shockingly late, often without having read them:

The librarian shall read a statement as to the manner in which brethren have had books during the past year. As each brother hears his name pronounced he is to give back the book which had been entrusted to him for reading; and he whose conscience accuses him of not having read the book through which he had received, is to fall on his face, confess his fault, and entreat forgiveness.

Of course, I might be more motivated to finish my library books if I knew I would have to fall on my face and beg to be pardoned.

As more books accumulated, and architecture changed, the locked chest evolved into a system of tilted lecterns, with or without seats, to which individual books were attached with iron chains. The tradition of chained libraries was apparently preserved for a shockingly long time in some places; the last college in Oxford to remove the chains from their books did so in 1799. At first the books were left open or closed on their designated lecterns, but as library collections grew, each lectern began to have multiple books. This necessitated shelves added above the lecterns themselves, where chained books could be lain when not being consulted. These shelves are the ancestors of the modern bookshelf.

But lots of things still had yet to evolve about book shelving before it would be recognizably "modern." Books were usually shelved horizontally in piles, for example, and even when space considerations forced people to start shelving them vertically, the chains attached to their covers dictated that they be placed with their fore-edges, rather than their spines, facing outward. Based on an informal sampling of my friends and acquaintances, this is the single most disturbing part of Petroski's book. People react strongly to the idea of shelving books spine-inward; comments like "that's just wrong" and "I don't like to think about it" kept cropping up when I mentioned the practice. But in addition to the chains, which would have scraped the covers of the neighboring books if the spines had been faced out, there are other reasons that a fore-edge first shelving technique makes sense. There was no identifying information on the spines of books, for example, until well into the seventeenth century. For a long time, they were completely unadorned, in stark contrast to the elaborate front and back covers. In addition, Petroski brings up the fascinating point that, even when they began to be decorated,

The exoskeletal spine, which holds up the innards of the book structurally...was still the machinery of a book...and so it continued to be the part that was hidden as much as possible, pushed into the dark recesses of bookshelves, out of sight. Shelving books with their spines inward must have seemed as natural and appropriate a thing to do as to put the winding machinery of a clock toward the wall or behind a door, or both.

This is so interesting to me. I would, of course, never think of positioning a computer or desk lamp so that its electrical cords were on conspicuous display, and medieval and Renaissance folks apparently felt the same way about book spines. I wonder what this reaction, so seemingly universal, is about. Why do we find unattractive the parts of our technology that make it work? Do we only stop feeling put off by the functional/structural elements of a thing when we no longer perceive it as "technology"? The idea that book spines, so infinitely appealing to me now, once seemed distasteful bits of mechanics, makes me wonder how future generations will perceive our messes of wires and cords. Maybe my great-great-grandchildren will, like J.K. Rowling's Arthur Weasley, take to collecting plugs.

I found the last third or so of Petroski's book less interesting than the first two-thirds. Once the bookshelf assumed more or less its modern form, it was just a matter of optimizing space and usability in libraries, and I don't have the engineer's soul to enjoy such conversations as much as some people. Nevertheless, the book as a whole was highly enjoyable - the kind of thing from which I tend to read out tidbits as I find them to whomever is around to listen (usually David, who is a good sport). It was a great way to kick off the Dewey Decimal Challenge (000 century), and I'm looking forward to picking out an equally thought-provoking choice for next month.(less)

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Jul 02, 2012 Sherri added it

This was a book that at times was fascinating to read and at times was a slog to get through. Petroski went into such finite detail on every aspect of books and bookshelves that there is no way he could get by without repeating himself and boring his reader on occasion.

Having said that, I will say that I learned a lot from this book and did enjoy reading it. One of the most fascinating details was that books used to be chained (up until the 16th century) to the bookshelf so they wouldn't be sto...more

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Dec 16, 2010 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

It was clear throughout this attempted "history of the bookshelf" that Petroski was probably more interested in the history of book display than he was in shelves themselves. However, in focusing specifically on shelves, he limited the extent to which he could discuss other relevant sorts of display (books on coffee tables, books in stores, etc.) that may have provided interesting contrasts to some of the information he gave. Likewise, I wanted more information about the symbolic connotations of...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Trauman rated it 4 of 5 stars

[via @trauman] The first half of this book focuses on the co-evolution of the physical/material form of the book (from tablet to scroll to codex) and the way Western culture has fostered access to this form. They evolve in tandem. Really informative. Very clearly written. Should be great resource for my dissertation: shows how objects must evolve in conversation/tandem with their cultural/material contexts. Really expands the notion of what sorts of things might be considered "book technologies....more

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Jan 22, 2012 Makifat added it

Shelves: books, on

Interesting, but somewhat repetitious history of how books and the means of shelving them evolved over the centuries. Petroski is an engineer who has written other studies of everyday objects (his history of the pencil is particularly well known). As an engineer, he tends to dwell upon the structural dynamics but, mercifully, not on the mathematics.[return][return]There is a touch of whimsey here and there that borders on the precious, but overall this is an interesting and handsome book for tho...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Angel rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-and-reading, library_science, history

This is a history of bookshelves, and how people have been organizing books since the time we had books as scrolls. His main argument is that the book shelf evolved as people needed better ways to store and arrange books; it came forth out of necessity. The idea is an intriguing one, and there is a lot that people who love reading about books will probably enjoy. I found the segments on medieval libraries and monasteries to be very interesting. However, the book lost steam for me about halfway d...more

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Nov 11, 2010 Steve added it

Petroski has one of the most intriguing minds to encounter it's ever been my pleasure to read. He's an engineer who writes as a philosopher of science, and very well. The idea of writing a book just on the relationship between books and how we have stored them over history is itself an indication of his polymath-ism. Add a dose of wry humor and some interesting characters (Melville (I insist on the old spelling -- read to find out more) Dewey stands out) and it's a good read. The 35-page appendi...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Tracey rated it 4 of 5 stars

This non-fiction book is a treat for bibliophiles but could prove a bit of a bore for the average reader. In The Book on the Bookshelf, author Henry Petroski takes an in depth look at the development of books and the humble bookshelf over the centuries including: scrolls and codices, illuminated texts and the modern paperback.

I enjoyed tracing the history of book storage across history, and particularly enjoyed learning more about the practice of chaining precious books to desks in libraries and...more

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Sep 02, 2011 tuttle88 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I really enjoyed this book. One of the most enjoyable I've read all year. The beginning is better than the end probably because the development of book storage into what we would be familiar with is more interesting than the relatively minor changes he deals with towards the end. Fact of the book for me? It is only recently that books have been stored with their spines facing outwards, which just sounds insane to me but makes perfect sense when you know the history.
I probably would have given t...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Storey rated it 3 of 5 stars

A bit dry in parts, but other parts were pretty fascinating...so it evens out into a 3 out of 5 stars. Some of my favorite quotes below:

"The accumulation of books on shelves appears to be inevitable, and the search for ever more places to store books appears to be without limit. The house or apartment with too many books seems always to acquire even more." ~pg. 223

"When I travel, I find myself drawn into bookstores and to books I wonder if I will ever see again. Many of these volumes must be bou...more

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Nov 11, 2007 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: librariana

This book started out strong, a much better read than Matthew Battles' Library: An Unquiet History (which I found deeply disappointing). In fact, in some ways, this, too, is a history of libraries, or more properly, library facilities, told from the point of view of the book and the bookshelf. My favorite bits were the deep analysis of old engravings and illustrations to reveal people's shelving practices.

Unfortunately, the book is organized sort of strangely. The chapters are organized around...more

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Mar 17, 2011 May rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, libraries-books, history, read-2011

Hmm...normally I love reading about the history of books and libraries but this book was a too dry for my taste. While it was mildly interesting to read about the early mechanisms invented for compact shelving, I got the impression the author was more impressed with the engineering involved with than the designs of bookshelves with the books themselves or librarians. Mind you, I didn't finish reading this book so maybe the author addresses those two in later chapters. However, there is only so m...more

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Nov 03, 2011 trav rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-about-books, history

Petroski fascinates me. How can one man spend so much energy and concentration on so many singular topics.

This book focuses on the history of the bookshelf and bookcase. Who knew that for years all books were designed to lay flat on their backs and not standing up? Eventually someone said "hey there's a more effecient way..."

Petroski's research is amazing. This book contains tons of etches, sketches, patents, etc. of all kinds of things bookshelf related.

Though at times I found myself bored with...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Kamal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Petroski's training as an engineer makes him a good guide to the structural advances of book storage devices over the past two millennia. As a book lover and avid reader, I was surprised to learn about chained books and the idea that people had to learn how to store books, a fact that seems self-evident to us today. This is a history of reading unlike so many others in that it focuses (as the title suggests) on books at rest, not books in use. This approach at first seems novel, but soon it beco...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Eben Muse rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-and-bookselling

This is an enjoyable history of the book as an object. Petroski thinks about how books can be contained and stored. I like the fact he starts with books being contained in scrolls, then as a codex. It highlights the fact that a book and it's pages are not the same thing. The history of chained books and the evolution of the shelf is a great way to approach the topic.

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Jan 13, 2009 bookczuk rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookcrossing, great-title, skim-read-til-the-end

Really a fascinating book. I read it in little bits and snippets. It's one of those books that makes you say "I never thought of that. Jeez!" It was especially fun to find the pictures of etchings of St Jerome. When we were in Munich in 2000, mr czuk picked up a copy of of them. It hangs on our wall now and is the illustration for this journal entry.

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Aug 15, 2009 Tiffany rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: bibliophiles!

Shelves: geekature, booksaboutbooks

From the introduction to the Bibliography:
"This book began with a question: From where did the bookshelf and bookcase come? The question soon turned into a hypothesis: The bookcase evolved, as I believe all artifacts do, in response to real and perceived problems with existing technology. In the case of the bookshelf, this meant shortcomings in the way in which books were stored."

The book touches on the question of art vs. function of bookshelves, the evolution of bookbinding, bookcases and book...more

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Jul 30, 2009 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: words-art-language

If you love books, this is a great one for you. It's what I call a "total history" where although the topic is bookshelves, you are led through a much larger history and context... Also, the appendix is definitely the best part -- a list of all the ways one could possible organize their books on a bookshelf!

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Jun 03, 2012 Tim rated it 2 of 5 stars

Fascinating at times in its details and pictures about the evolution of books and libraries (specifically their shelving). I liked his writing in the last chapter on the care of books - but too often the earlier chapters were tediously written, leaden with details, and awkwardly self-referential. A good idea conceptually, a useful reference book, especially the pictures, but not gripping to sit down and read through.

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Nov 01, 2012 Scott Fuchs rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Bibliomaniacs

Shelves: history

Talk about niche publishing ........... Here's one for the truly anal compulsive bibliomaniac. Oh!, that's me.
Even though Petroski once again shows his predilection toward pedantry, this book is filled with more minutiae about books as objects and the shelves, etc. that hold them.
I was in delight throughout.
CAVEAT ............. see the first line of this comment

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Dec 09, 2011 Kyrie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

It was interesting to learn how books were shelved. Seriously. Petroski made it interesting. I learned a lot about books, bookshelves, libraries, windows and shelving systems. I read a chapter a day, which probably helped maintain my interest. I love books, but yes, there is a limit on how much a bibliophile can take on medieval book arranging.
The appendix is as interesting as the books - I never heard of so many ways to organize one books. There were the logical ones - by author, by subject an...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Marvin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Book Nuts

I always enjoy books about books. I will admit that a book about bookshelves was peculiar but I am always game for the unusual. This was a really fun history and I learned a great deal. From the storing of scrolls to libraries on CD, this was a unique journey and I am glad I made the trip. If you are a bibliophile like myself then you will find this book a remarkable chapter in the story of books. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history and books.

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Jan 13, 2013 Erina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wish I could give 3.5 stars. Mostly interesting and good flow to the writing for the most part. I would have liked more on the Library of Alexandria and tragedy of its destruction. Also I kept wanting to check his sources but book not published with academic - level annotations. Overall interesting how household furniture and books evolved together. Despite only 3 stars, I would highly recommend to anyone who loves books.

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Nov 27, 2011 Terry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-about-language-or-reading

A surprisingly well-written, interesting history of book storage with a concentration on bookshelves. Petroski combines historical details, illustrations, and personal anecdotes in a manner to delight bibliophiles.

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Apr 08, 2010 Valerie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: nf-miscellaneous

The first half of this book was really really interesting, but then it got very tedious and not as fun to read and I actually never finished it because it was just too boring.

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Jun 16, 2012 Stephen added it

If you love books, then I think you'll enjoy this treatise of book storage history. Before computer memory, there was no other storage device like the bookshelf.

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About Henry Petroski

Henry Petroski is a civil engineering professor at Duke University where he specializes in failure analysis.

Petroski was born in Brooklyn, New York, and in 1963, he received his bachelor's degree from Manhattan College. He graduated with his Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1968. Before beginning his work at Duke in 1980, he worked a...more

More about Henry Petroski...

Books by Henry Petroski

The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are.

To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design

The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance

Small Things Considered: Why There Is No Perfect Design

Invention by Design: How Engineers Get from Thought to Thing

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