I know what you're thinking - how on earth can one give two stars and a DNF (Did Not Finish) to a book that is added to the list of "best non-fiction"? Well, let me explain.

This is indeed an interesting book. It holds great significance for book lovers. It is filled to the brim with educational, thought-provoking, and challenging information regarding books and their importance in the world. However, having said that, at times, it reads more like a textbook than anything else, and not in a favorable sense.

I didn't exactly not finish this book. Instead, I put it aside for a future time when I feel that I have both the time and the intellectual depth to properly appreciate the content within this book. Or, to put it another way - it's the "it's not you; it's me" literary version!

I am certain that I will return to it and complete it at some point. But currently, I'm not focused enough to fully appreciate its intellectual heft.

“Every Book Its Reader” by Nicholas Basbanes is a remarkable tribute to the written word.

Inspired by a collection at the British Museum, Basbanes poses the thought-provoking question - “what are YOU reading?”

By closely examining the bookshelves of influential figures like Winston Churchill, Helen Keller, Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, and Adolf Hitler (to name just a few), he uncovers what their chosen literature reveals about them and how it might have shaped their momentous decisions.

I was captivated by the personal libraries of these influential individuals that Basbanes explores. However, the book itself had its drawbacks. It was rather wordy and challenging to fully understand. The use of elaborate, academic language necessitated having a dictionary at hand while reading.

Basbanes interviews other bibliophiles, mostly educated academics, which sometimes made the book seem dry and dense. There was some fascinating historical information in “Reader,” such as the history of ‘banned books,’ but other parts were less engaging, and the long chapters meant that the less interesting sections dragged on.

“Reader” appeared to be more about Basbanes and the “popular book people” he knew than about the world of reading itself. He constantly name-dropped, insisting that the reader be aware of every person he had spoken to during his research for the book (most of whom seemed significant to Basbanes but were unknown to me). Additionally, many of the personal interviews were simply catalogued within the pages, which didn't really enhance the overall story.

The concept behind the book is excellent, and for book lovers, Basbanes intricately details how reading has truly “changed the world.” I adored the passion that Basbanes and his subjects had for the written word and immediately felt a connection with them. I desired more information about the books read, by whom and why, and less emphasis on Basbanes' academic friends and the dense language.

Overall, “Every Book Its Reader” has its strengths and weaknesses, but it offers an interesting perspective on the relationship between books and the people who read them.

The Book Person

The book person is a unique individual. They have a deep love and passion for books.

For them, books are not just objects made of paper and ink; they are gateways to different worlds, sources of knowledge, and companions in solitude.

The book person can often be found in a quiet corner of a library or bookstore, completely immersed in the pages of a good book.

They lose track of time as they get lost in the stories, ideas, and emotions that the books convey.

Whether it's a thrilling adventure, a thought-provoking novel, or a factual non-fiction work, the book person devours them all with equal enthusiasm.

They have a collection of books that they cherish and protect, and they are always on the lookout for new titles to add to their collection.

The book person's love for books extends beyond reading. They may also enjoy discussing books with others, sharing their thoughts and insights, and recommending their favorite reads.

In a world where technology and distractions abound, the book person remains a constant,坚守着 their love for the written word and the power of books to inspire, educate, and entertain.

This book encompasses a wide range of topics.

One chapter is dedicated to exploring what can be gleaned about historical figures by examining their marginalia, that is, what they wrote in the margins of their books.

The author delves into how translating a work into a different language can drastically alter it.

One topic that I found particularly fascinating is how the meaning of a document can vary depending on who reads it and at what point in history.

The example provided is how the Bible and the Constitution have been interpreted differently over time.

To be honest, this book can be a bit dull at times, but there are certain parts that are quite interesting. It makes you think about how language and interpretation play crucial roles in our understanding of history and various works.

Overall, while it may not be a page-turner from start to finish, it does offer some valuable insights and food for thought.

Books have always held a special place in the hearts and minds of many people. They are not just collections of words on paper but gateways to different worlds, ideas, and emotions. Some people are truly passionate about books, and they consider them to be an essential part of their lives.

For these book lovers, books are a source of knowledge, inspiration, and entertainment. They can spend hours lost in the pages of a good novel, learning about different cultures and historical events, or exploring new ideas and perspectives. Some people even have entire libraries in their homes, filled with their favorite books.

Moreover, books can also have a profound impact on a person's life. They can inspire us to pursue our dreams, change our way of thinking, or help us through difficult times. Many famous writers and thinkers have credited books with shaping their lives and influencing their work.

In conclusion, books are truly fascinating, and the people to whom they are important are a unique and interesting group. Whether you are a casual reader or a die-hard book lover, there is no denying the power and beauty of books.

What are others reading?

I ask this question of strangers and friends all the time. It provides a valuable hint into what people find interesting and what influences them.

This particular book takes on the task of asking this question towards some of history's most interesting people.

The notes discovered in the margins, which offer a peek at the sparks of thought, pique my interest even more.

Personally, I can't bring myself to write in a book. I have no idea why, but I'm glad that others felt strongly enough to jot down their slips of thoughts.

These marginalia add an extra layer of depth and perspective to the reading experience.

They allow us to see how different people have engaged with the text and what ideas it has sparked in their minds.

It's like having a conversation with the author and other readers across time.

By reading these notes, we can gain new insights and perspectives that we might not have otherwise.

It enriches our understanding of the subject matter and makes the reading experience more engaging and meaningful.

So, the next time you pick up a book, don't just focus on the words on the page.

Take a moment to look at the margins and see what others have to say.

You might be surprised by what you discover.

I endeavored to love this book, for it seemed as if it was worthy of being loved. Alas, I could only 'merely' like it.

There were two issues with this book for me. Firstly, it lacks a clear structure. Mr. Basbanes penned this book in a kind of refined stream of consciousness, which makes it arduous to anticipate what topic will follow next. At times, I was agreeably surprised by his selections. In fact, the section regarding what the U.S. presidents read was perhaps my favorite. However, the meandering nature did indeed make it challenging for me to relish the book as a whole.

Secondly, Mr. Basbanes is a competent reader, and I regard myself as having a reasonable intellect. Nevertheless, some of the sections were rather dense and replete with the names of individuals I had never heard of before.

All things considered, I didn't care for this book as much as I would have preferred.

I initially lost interest, but then I got pulled back in approximately 10 times.

There are indeed numerous interesting aspects within this text. However, one has to endure some fussy, detailed, and rambling passages.

Moreover, the question of how inclusive this is of women, people of color, and queer people remains unresolved. Although there was some debate, in the final analysis, it appears that the author and the majority of the people he interviewed believe that "dead white guys" hold more significance than the expanding experience and perspective of the written word in today's world.

That being stated, I have added a substantial number of books by dead white guys to my reading list. This shows that despite my reservations about the author's stance, there is still value to be found in the works of these individuals.

Perhaps by exploring their writings, I can gain a better understanding of the historical context and the ideas that have shaped our literary heritage.

Nevertheless, it is important to also consider the voices and perspectives of those who have been marginalized or overlooked in the past.

By doing so, we can ensure that our literary canon is more representative and inclusive of the diverse experiences and identities that exist in our society.

This is truly a book-lover's dream. Or, to be more precise, a dream dictionary. It has always been in my "Currently Reading" pile. Whenever I'm plagued by that terrible hiccup I've dubbed Bibliophilic Purgatory, I flip through the pages of this book, selecting choice anecdotes, lingering over highlighted quotations and images. It's a book stuffed with information and trivia about books, their writers, collectors, readers, and lovers. It made me feel giddy. In some cases, it had me thinking, "Hey, I'm doing something truly amazing with my life."

Let's skip hand-in-hand through the chapters of this wonderful book—those that are most memorable to me, of course. [That's how much I adore it—I'll talk about it even at the risk of boring you to tears with my inane rambling! Wahoo!] [Regarding the details, corrections from those who have read this are always welcome! :p]

1. The Magic Door. This chapter is about general book-loving. Basbanes presents us with [tear-jerking] stories of bibliophiles—most of them showing the lifelong attachment of people to books. One is about a woman who wrote to May Lamberton Becker (who wrote a column called "Readers Guide" for the New York Evening Post, among others), asking, "May I ask you to tell me of a few books that you have loved, that have made you sit up and shout with delight? I am going to buy four new books this winter…" Imagine stretching your budget to satisfy your love of reading—and still only having enough for four carefully chosen ones. And then there's the story of A. David Schwartz, the owner of Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, who took his time among the shelves of his stores, looking for that "good book to die with." All of the stories are truly amazing.

3. Eye of the Beholder. This chapter deals with the whole business of talking about books—what "good" books are, what their "true value" is, and about censorship. We're given a rundown of the whole Shakespeare-Bowdler hoopla, as well as a profile and interview with Harold Bloom [who appears many times in this book]. Here's one of the quotes I took away from this chapter (I couldn't agree more with it): "I learned early on that when people share their reading habits with you, what they are really granting is privileged access to their deepest interests and predilections, even their dreams, needs, and anxieties." (p.47)

5. In the Margins. Without a doubt, this is my favorite chapter. It provides us with a concise survey of the history of marginalia among notable personalities, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge at the forefront [Trivia Alert! Coleridge is "credited with bringing the word'marginalia' into English usage from the Latin to describe his habitual process of writing in books." (p.91)] It's also the chapter that I blame for the fact that I now scribble on the pages of my books. Basbanes just makes it sound so awesome and historic to write on one's books, haha. Basbanes quotes Heather Jackson, a professor at the University of Toronto who has studied the phenomenon of marginalia: "One of the most intriguing qualities of marginalia, the attitude of defiance in which they are often produced," an altogether "elusive but important quality" of the practice. (p.93)

11. The Healing Art. Among the topics covered in this chapter: 1) Where we get our love of reading—Robert Coles relates how he grew up with bibliophile parents who taught him the love of reading, where no book was too intimidating, and who read to each other every night; and 2) How vital books are to our lives, [if we let them]. Robert Coles talks about Walker Percy, a Southern writer, in a way that, I suppose, applies to anyone who loves books: "Through novels he found kindred spirits, writers who could conjure up this world, help him to understand his own world, and also make him feel less lonely, because when you read, you are in the company of another person. The other person's words and thoughts become part of yours, and connect with you, and reading is a kind of human connection. It's an embrace of another person's thoughts, ideas, suggestions, premises, worries, concerns—the whole list of nouns is what I think reading enables, and prompts in a person. We are the creature of language, and through language we affirm ourselves, we find out about the world, including ourselves, through words, and we share with one another through language." (p.263)

It's a well-researched book, yet the language is never stilted or boring—you can absorb so much information without feeling overwhelmed. I suppose it's because Basbanes' prose is easy to follow, fluid, and as fascinated by the wonders of books as I am. And I can sense how Basbanes himself is afflicted with this "gentle madness" of bibliophilia—this is not a detached survey of literature and the manias associated with it. Basbanes loves what he is doing—there's no doubt about that.

So. What does it mean to love books? [Answer: It means awesome.] How does one love books? [Answer: Awesomely.] It's definitely a dork-out read. But it's a book that allows you to dork-out with pride. [That is a great catchphrase, if I do say so myself, haha.] Darn it, but I love this book.

For bibliophiles, Nicholas A. Basbanes is truly a godsend. He has published at least five books related to books and those who are passionate readers and collectors. I had previously reviewed "A Gentle Madness", Basbanes' celebration of book collectors. This particular work, in my opinion, has a much wider appeal. The premise of this book is to explore the profound impact that books have had on their readers. Basbanes takes us on a captivating tour of the lives and libraries of the famous.

He starts with the history of those who recommend books. It is truly delightful to discover that Bob on Books follows a long and honorable tradition. We learn about the great popularity of May Lamberton Becker and her "Readers Guide" columns in the late 1800s, which covered a wide range of interests. One of the most charming stories is that of a rural reader with limited access to books, who asked for books that "had made her [Becker] sit up at night" so she could order them by mail. Becker sent her a package of books, which arrived after the reader had surgery for a terminal condition. She wrote back, "With books I slip out of my life and am with the choicest company."

Basbanes also discusses the various attempts to compile lists of "greatest books", a literary canon. This includes the efforts of Anita Silvey, who has read over 125,000 children's books and compiled a list of 100 best books for children. We also learn about the efforts of the Lilly Library to identify and collect the books that people will be reading in 300 years.

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to famous readers and how they interacted with their books. We learn about "the silent witnesses", the notes that Henry James jotted in his books. Basbanes continues this theme in a whole chapter on "Marginalia", the notes that readers write in the margins of their books - a horror to librarians but a treasure trove of information for those studying the history of reading.

We are introduced to David McCullough, an avid reader who tells the story of Nathaniel Greene and Henry Knox, brilliant Revolutionary War leaders who learned strategy and tactics from books. We learn how Lincoln, Adams, and others carried books with them wherever they went. Basbanes traces the artistry of translators, chronicles the biblical scholarship of Elaine Pagels, and introduces us to the child psychologist Robert Coles, a former literature major who came to recognize the power of stories for children and the rest of us. We also meet Daniel Aaron, the man responsible for my bookcase full of Library of America volumes, who has done for American writers what other series have done for Europeans. We visit the libraries of Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers, inventors who were nourished by their reading.

The book concludes by featuring the Changing Lives Through Literature program and the transformative influence that books have had on the lives of the imprisoned. (Sadly, access to literature for prisoners is being restricted in many states.) What Basbanes does throughout is explore the significance of books in our lives. Reading his work not only confirms my own deep sense of the value of reading but also inspires me to grow as a reader and truly pay attention to what I read.

Summary: A celebration of those who compiled book lists and made recommendations, the impact of books on various individuals, and the reading lives of famous individuals.

I don't remember much about this book.

However, one thing that stands out is that it made me eager to continue with my plan of reading the classics.

At that time, I hadn't even begun this project as I was still in the stage of reading about how to read the classics.

Nevertheless, this book had a significant impact on me.

Moreover, I managed to find some excellent quotes for my new commonplace book.

These quotes not only added value to my collection but also inspired me to think more deeply about the subject matter.

The experience of reading this book was both enlightening and motivating.

It reminded me of the importance of perseverance in achieving my goals and the wealth of knowledge that awaits me in the world of classics.

Although I may not remember every detail of the book, its influence on my reading journey will surely last.

I look forward to delving deeper into the classics and uncovering more hidden gems along the way.

A book about reading books. What could be better than that?

Such a book is not only a source of knowledge but also a gateway to countless adventures and experiences. It allows us to explore different worlds, meet diverse characters, and gain insights into various cultures and perspectives.

Reading a book about reading can inspire us to pick up more books, expand our literary horizons, and deepen our love for the written word. It can also provide valuable tips and strategies on how to read more effectively, how to analyze and understand different types of literature, and how to develop our own unique reading style.

In conclusion, a book about reading books is a precious gem that can enrich our lives in countless ways. It is a must-read for anyone who loves books and wants to take their reading experience to the next level.