Call number
Genres
Publication
Vintage; Reprint edition (2014)
Pages
xvi; 430
Description
A consideration of all things paper--the invention that revolutionized human civilization; its thousand-fold uses (and misuses); its sweeping influence on society; its makers, shapers, collectors, and pulpers--by the admired cultural historian.
Awards
Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction (Finalist — Nonfiction — 2014)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Nonfiction — 2013)
Notable Books List (2014)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013
Physical description
xvi, 430 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
0307279642 / 9780307279644
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member detailmuse
A few years ago, the British Association of Paper Historians noted [...] that there are something on the order of twenty thousand commercial uses of paper in the world today...
That’s good news -- that this book is an exploration not of extinction but of persistence, innovation and ecology. It’s
My favorite chapters were about Japanese papers (from the splendid variety of household items to the Fu-Go paper-balloon bombs of WWII); about Crane and Company (longtime supplier of cottony papers suited to making currency ... and fabulous stationary); about the historical and security value of hard-copy documents (political, scientific, social, and even personal: some years ago, I returned to using paper daily planners and am still bereft that years of my calendars went “poof” when I gave up my old Palm device and its software); and about the mass of papers adrift (and recovered, and cataloged) after the Twin Towers fell on 9/11.
My favorite single passage was revelatory about calligraphy:
Paper was introduced to the Arab world a little more than a century after the death, in 632, of the Prophet Muhammad [...A]s Islamic faith spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula, it became necessary [...] that a definitive Koran be codified in Arabic script [...] Since it was the words of the prophet, and not images, that were revered above all else, [...] calligraphy emerged as the most venerated form of Islamic art.
Basbane’s history is selective not exhaustive (not "the everything" of the subtitle); his style is mostly to travel to sites/people of interest and present his research almost as personal essays, a la Taras Grescoe’s or Mary Roach’s books or Anthony Bourdain’s TV series. He’s not funny like Roach or compelling like Bourdain; he’s more like Grescoe -- deep and thoughtful -- and this book is a good fit for a considered (vs. casual) reader.
(Review based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher.)
That’s good news -- that this book is an exploration not of extinction but of persistence, innovation and ecology. It’s
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a history of how paper has been made and used since its origins ~2000 years ago in China and its spread to Japan, Korea, and then to Arabia, Europe and the United States (where the author spends the bulk of the book).My favorite chapters were about Japanese papers (from the splendid variety of household items to the Fu-Go paper-balloon bombs of WWII); about Crane and Company (longtime supplier of cottony papers suited to making currency ... and fabulous stationary); about the historical and security value of hard-copy documents (political, scientific, social, and even personal: some years ago, I returned to using paper daily planners and am still bereft that years of my calendars went “poof” when I gave up my old Palm device and its software); and about the mass of papers adrift (and recovered, and cataloged) after the Twin Towers fell on 9/11.
My favorite single passage was revelatory about calligraphy:
Paper was introduced to the Arab world a little more than a century after the death, in 632, of the Prophet Muhammad [...A]s Islamic faith spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula, it became necessary [...] that a definitive Koran be codified in Arabic script [...] Since it was the words of the prophet, and not images, that were revered above all else, [...] calligraphy emerged as the most venerated form of Islamic art.
Basbane’s history is selective not exhaustive (not "the everything" of the subtitle); his style is mostly to travel to sites/people of interest and present his research almost as personal essays, a la Taras Grescoe’s or Mary Roach’s books or Anthony Bourdain’s TV series. He’s not funny like Roach or compelling like Bourdain; he’s more like Grescoe -- deep and thoughtful -- and this book is a good fit for a considered (vs. casual) reader.
(Review based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher.)
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LibraryThing member JBD1
I finally had the chance this week to finish Nick Basbanes' long-awaited On Paper; I had intended to get it read before he came to Rare Book School this summer to speak about the book, but events got in the way of that well-intentioned plan. [Full disclosure: Nick spent several days at RBS this
As with several of Basbanes' previous books, this one combines well-sourced historical treatment with personal reporting: Basbanes traveled widely and interviewed an impressive number of people for the book. His trips to China and Japan, where he observed traditional hand papermaking firsthand, provide an excellent complement to his historical survey of papermaking in those regions.
The book does have a bit of a scattershot feel about it, as it veers from topic to topic (auction prices for items on paper, the NSA's recycling process, William Dugdale's preservation of Old St. Paul's Cathedral through his printed study of the building, the value of hyper-inflated Zimbabwean currency) and interview to interview (Peter Drummey of the Massachusetts Historical Society, CIA Technical Services whiz Tony Mendez, origami artist Michael LaFosse). After the very poignant last chapter, on the paper remnants of 9/11, there is no useful summation of the book's lessons about the power of paper as a medium, which is the salient point throughout the book.
Likewise, the book focuses to a large degree on the United States (with several notable exceptions, including the treks to China and Japan, historical surveys of papermaking in the Middle East and Europe, sections on the Stasi files and Zimbabwean currency, &c.). This is to be expected, but perhaps the subtitle might have been slightly overbroad. Overall, though, a well-researched and intriguing tale of paper's vitality and centrality.
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summer, I have met him previously several times, and we write for the same magazine].As with several of Basbanes' previous books, this one combines well-sourced historical treatment with personal reporting: Basbanes traveled widely and interviewed an impressive number of people for the book. His trips to China and Japan, where he observed traditional hand papermaking firsthand, provide an excellent complement to his historical survey of papermaking in those regions.
The book does have a bit of a scattershot feel about it, as it veers from topic to topic (auction prices for items on paper, the NSA's recycling process, William Dugdale's preservation of Old St. Paul's Cathedral through his printed study of the building, the value of hyper-inflated Zimbabwean currency) and interview to interview (Peter Drummey of the Massachusetts Historical Society, CIA Technical Services whiz Tony Mendez, origami artist Michael LaFosse). After the very poignant last chapter, on the paper remnants of 9/11, there is no useful summation of the book's lessons about the power of paper as a medium, which is the salient point throughout the book.
Likewise, the book focuses to a large degree on the United States (with several notable exceptions, including the treks to China and Japan, historical surveys of papermaking in the Middle East and Europe, sections on the Stasi files and Zimbabwean currency, &c.). This is to be expected, but perhaps the subtitle might have been slightly overbroad. Overall, though, a well-researched and intriguing tale of paper's vitality and centrality.
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LibraryThing member moibibliomaniac
The sub-title of this book speaks volumes about what this book is about –– anything and everything that has to do with paper, including how many sheets of toilet paper American soldiers were rationed during WWII. If you're primarily concerned with the bibliographical aspects of paper, you will
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be disappointed in this book. But if you want to know everything about paper –– and I mean everything –– then this book is for you. Show Less
LibraryThing member peacemover
In "On Paper" Nicholas Basbanes offers an insightful and interesting history exploring the revolutionary impact of paper on human society. From its obvious uses as a writing and artistic media to its role in legal transactions and recorded history, to its more mundane applications in hygiene and
From its origins in Ancient China, through to modern times, Basbanes traces the evolution of paper's multitude of uses, methods of production, and intimate connection to human society. He begins, after offering a brief historical introduction, by recounting a trip he and other paper historians made to China to explore the traditional ways paper is made there. Through quotes and historical references, he gives a window into how paper has been ascribed significance throughout the ages.
The impact paper had on trade and commerce is explored in depth in subsequent chapters. From the Silk Road trade to modern currency, paper has played a vital role. He also explores the historical relevance of paper making in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Arab world in both recording history and the transmission of ideas.
Basbanes also looks at some of the roles paper played in the Industrial Revolution- as a means of record-keeping and writing, as well as a host of innovations, including balloons, rags and hygienic and medical uses. The evolution of paper-making from the medieval era to the present is also surveyed including fascinating illustrations, diagrams and posters from various historical eras.
A few fascinating stories are also offered about some rare finds of historical documents, including a first printing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, that was reportedly found in the back of a painting that was about to be discarded after being purchased at a yard sale for $4. The person who found this rare first printing of the Declaration of Independence then auctioned it through Sotheby's where it sold for more than $8 million.
Later in the book, Basbanes explores the notebooks of some of the great minds of history, including William Shakespeare, Leonardo DaVinci, Ludwig von Beethoven, Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. He also explores some of the tools and methods great architects, artists, illustrators, engineers and scientists have used with paper. The author then looks at artistic uses of paper in origami and magic, for instance. After a brief look at printing and publishing, he concludes with a poignant chapter on the uses of paper in memorializing others.
The breadth of material covered in this volume is impressive. The quotes and illustrations help provide context for the uses of paper highlighted by the author. The writing is interesting and engaging for anyone who enjoys reading history. "On Paper," by Nicholas Basbanes is a well-written history that I thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend it.
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industry, this book explores them all. Basbanes begins with papyrus, a precursor of paper, and the first recorded use of paper by the Chinese in 105 CE.From its origins in Ancient China, through to modern times, Basbanes traces the evolution of paper's multitude of uses, methods of production, and intimate connection to human society. He begins, after offering a brief historical introduction, by recounting a trip he and other paper historians made to China to explore the traditional ways paper is made there. Through quotes and historical references, he gives a window into how paper has been ascribed significance throughout the ages.
The impact paper had on trade and commerce is explored in depth in subsequent chapters. From the Silk Road trade to modern currency, paper has played a vital role. He also explores the historical relevance of paper making in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Arab world in both recording history and the transmission of ideas.
Basbanes also looks at some of the roles paper played in the Industrial Revolution- as a means of record-keeping and writing, as well as a host of innovations, including balloons, rags and hygienic and medical uses. The evolution of paper-making from the medieval era to the present is also surveyed including fascinating illustrations, diagrams and posters from various historical eras.
A few fascinating stories are also offered about some rare finds of historical documents, including a first printing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, that was reportedly found in the back of a painting that was about to be discarded after being purchased at a yard sale for $4. The person who found this rare first printing of the Declaration of Independence then auctioned it through Sotheby's where it sold for more than $8 million.
Later in the book, Basbanes explores the notebooks of some of the great minds of history, including William Shakespeare, Leonardo DaVinci, Ludwig von Beethoven, Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. He also explores some of the tools and methods great architects, artists, illustrators, engineers and scientists have used with paper. The author then looks at artistic uses of paper in origami and magic, for instance. After a brief look at printing and publishing, he concludes with a poignant chapter on the uses of paper in memorializing others.
The breadth of material covered in this volume is impressive. The quotes and illustrations help provide context for the uses of paper highlighted by the author. The writing is interesting and engaging for anyone who enjoys reading history. "On Paper," by Nicholas Basbanes is a well-written history that I thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend it.
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LibraryThing member jcbrunner
Long awaited and long delayed, the final product does not match the high quality of Basbanes' usual output. This is due to two aspects of the book: The first one is the extreme focus on the United States. Part I tells the story how paper came to the United States and having contributed the world
Paper like any technological output can be used for good and bad. The author might not be familiar with the nefarious activities of the East German STASI with their files. He should, however, know about Hoover's FBI files. Some of the stories told are nice and interesting, it just fails to even come close to fulfill its subtitle "The Everything of Its Two-Thousand-Year History". A sufficient but not satisfactory read.
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fades out. The more critical aspect is the uncritical and nostalgic approach of the author. This is an old man's book whose author refuses to acknowledge anything that does not fit in a rose-tinted "greatest generation" view. He is giddy with joy to receive in Fort Meade a small medal from the NSA with its creepy motto "We won't back down. We never have. We never will." While the book was probably finished just before the Snowden revelations, the author's subservience to authority and lack of critical reflexion is troubling.Paper like any technological output can be used for good and bad. The author might not be familiar with the nefarious activities of the East German STASI with their files. He should, however, know about Hoover's FBI files. Some of the stories told are nice and interesting, it just fails to even come close to fulfill its subtitle "The Everything of Its Two-Thousand-Year History". A sufficient but not satisfactory read.
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LibraryThing member dono421846
Exhaustive review on paper, at times veering toward the pedantic. The best parts occur in the latter chapters when Basbanes interviews persons involved in some aspect of the paper industry. These sections, however engaging, appear to be opportunistically chosen, and do not cohere into a reasoned
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argument or presentation. This limitation appears most starkly at the conclusion, when the book ends rather abruptly without a summary of the broader points of the exercise. All in all, not his best effort, but after the first hundred pages becomes sufficiently pleasurable. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
An accessible, engaging, fascinating, and freewheeling tour through 2,000 years of history examining how the invention of paper impacted human civilization and how it became ubiquitous and inseparable from everyday life. Lively and delightful.
LibraryThing member nlmii
I found this book interesting but hard to come back to. I could see it more as a college student's research source than what my 2015 self attempted to use as entertainment during his first year of bachelor's degree life. Both Nicholas and Mark Kurlansky's "Paper" are quite long, for paper is
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apparently older than several well known countries and even empires. I may give it a re-read now that I am done with school. Perhaps it would behoove me to try this tome as an audio book. Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
I felt impatient about the introduction and the first chapter, but once Basbanes really gets going talking about the history of papermaking, I was hooked. I have to admit that I don't get as jazzed about currency or bureaucracy as some of the later chapters demand, but on the whole a very engaging
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history with bits I loved to pieces. Show Less
LibraryThing member JBarringer
Compared to Kurlansky's book about paper, which I also read this year, this book is a bit harder to read. It has a central theme, paper, but each chapter reads more like a separate essay or article and some of the topics are not as paper related as others. Still, each chapter was interesting, even
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the ones that were a bit more rambling. And, for paper enthusiasts this would be a fun read, with lots of random trivia on all sorts of tangentially related subjects, as well as about paper. Show Less