Reviews

Paper: An Elegy by Ian Sansom

setauuta's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I enjoyed the take on the history of paper this book follows, in which it looks at the different ways paper impacts our lives, rather than being a straight history of paper. It's a broad approach, covering multiple areas that could probably be their own books on their own, but only touches on them lightly. The last chapter in particular puts a lot of elements together and just barely scratches the surface, leaving the reader wanting more information and analysis. Overall, though, a solid view on how paper impacts our day to day lives.

pehall's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Excellent read. Eclectic and informative as well as great fun.

naum's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A rather quirky book, a celebration of *paper*.

Not so much a history, but there are interesting historical bits about paper making, map making, printing, etc. interspersed throughout.

Must confess that it seems like a rather dreadfully boring topic, but I continued to be drawn back to reading.

aditurbo's review

Go to review page

2.0

More about the author's tendency to show off with quotes and references to other's work than about paper. I can't believe I did not enjoy a book about this subject.

glucksi's review

Go to review page

informative slow-paced

3.5

hannahwest's review

Go to review page

slow-paced

2.0

enchiladaplate's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Really interesting.

halfmanhalfbook's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

A delightful little book celebrating the material that is paper.

This is the type of book that the English do best, quirky, a single subject, and by someone with an obsession boarding on OCD!

It covers all sorts of subjects, from money to origami, it is a book that allows the author to describe his passion for this now ubiquitous material. There are lots of anecdotes and stories, and it is written in a pleasant style, with a moderate number of diagrams.

Great little book. If you liked Just My Type, you'll like this

gargamela's review

Go to review page

3.0

I picked this book because the cover promised a deep incursion into the history of paper and an exercise of imagination related to a world without paper. However, what I got was an eclectic collection of the author's musings on particular topics such as the uses of paper in art, politics etc. Some of its trivia was interesting, but I felt that no topic was explored in an orderly fashion and, in the end, this left me with the impression of a coffee table book that was missing the beautiful pictures.

halfmanhalfbook's review

Go to review page

5.0

A delightful little book celebrating the material that is paper.

This is the type of book that the English do best, quirky, a single subject, and by someone with an obsession boarding on OCD!

It covers all sorts of subjects, from money to origami, it is a book that allows the author to describe his passion for this now ubiquitous material. There are lots of anecdotes and stories, and it is written in a pleasant style, with a moderate number of diagrams.

Great little book. If you liked Just My Type, you'll like this
More...