Reviews
Bedrohte Bücher: Eine Geschichte der Zerstörung und Bewahrung des Wissens by Richard Ovenden
isigfethera's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really interesting look into different ways knowledge has been destroyed (and that people have tried to preserve it) over the years. There’s a lot in here and it raises a lot of different questions, and scenarios, that it doesn’t always have time to address. I felt like there were a couple of things it could have addressed- like if archives can be created as means of oppression or to consolidate power is destruction sometimes warranted? How about when dealing with the deluge of digital knowledge? But for the most part it makes a good argument for the importance of preservation.
There were also times when it all get a bit disparate, or like he was trying to cram in too many bits and pieces, but for the most part I enjoyed the journey and there was a good argument made at the end. The main weakness I felt was that it did sometimes wear the authors job as Bodleian Librarian too heavily. The collection sometimes added unique perspectives but the chapter in the Bodleian felt a bit much.
Overall though this was interesting and thought provoking and does make you want to go and investigate some of the stories further!
There were also times when it all get a bit disparate, or like he was trying to cram in too many bits and pieces, but for the most part I enjoyed the journey and there was a good argument made at the end. The main weakness I felt was that it did sometimes wear the authors job as Bodleian Librarian too heavily. The collection sometimes added unique perspectives but the chapter in the Bodleian felt a bit much.
Overall though this was interesting and thought provoking and does make you want to go and investigate some of the stories further!
_lookingforsilber_'s review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
scarletgeranium's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
mystifiedbulb22's review against another edition
3.0
The most interesting chapters (to me, anyway) explored the nature of data access and preservation in digital contexts, and the lessons we can learn from the dissolution of learned centres in the ancient world. But I think there is definitely value in examining this topic further, which I don't think this book satisfactorily covers in substantial depth.
pluto_kat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
ahaas's review against another edition
3.0
Richard Ovenden is the Head Librarian at Oxford University’s renowned Bodlein Library and in this book he takes us on a journey through the history of libraries and the destruction of knowledge.
I must say, I don’t know why I was expecting more. The title is fairly misleading as the book, while definitely touching on book burnings, is more of a history of libraries themselves. Much of the writing was dry and very academic, which can be great for the subject matter, but I found myself skimming through quite a bit of it.
As a librarian and archivist, I found a lot of jargon specific to the field that people outside of it might not know, too. I ended up giving it an extra star simply because I think the subject matter is an interesting and important one, especially in our current era where banning books has reached unprecedented highs.
While this is definitely great for those in the field or interested in book and library history, I would recommend reading for intellectual value rather than for leisure.
I must say, I don’t know why I was expecting more. The title is fairly misleading as the book, while definitely touching on book burnings, is more of a history of libraries themselves. Much of the writing was dry and very academic, which can be great for the subject matter, but I found myself skimming through quite a bit of it.
As a librarian and archivist, I found a lot of jargon specific to the field that people outside of it might not know, too. I ended up giving it an extra star simply because I think the subject matter is an interesting and important one, especially in our current era where banning books has reached unprecedented highs.
While this is definitely great for those in the field or interested in book and library history, I would recommend reading for intellectual value rather than for leisure.
beccakatie's review against another edition
5.0
The power of accessible knowledge can not be overstated, and this book does an excellent job of highlighting the importance of libraries and archives through history. The relationship between oppression and the destruction of books is pulled sharply into focus.
The way the book is structured into different types of destruction works really well. Although it means the chronology doesn’t always line up, and examples such as Byron are repeated, it really drives home the many directions knowledge can be threatened from.
I found it to be well written and accessible, and appreciated how the book did not shy away from discussions about colonisation and the theft of objects by imperial powers.
The discussion about the digital world and the new threats facing it was really interesting and well written. It’s easy for sections like that to become dated but I don’t believe this section, or the entire book, will fail to be relevant any time soon.
The way the book is structured into different types of destruction works really well. Although it means the chronology doesn’t always line up, and examples such as Byron are repeated, it really drives home the many directions knowledge can be threatened from.
I found it to be well written and accessible, and appreciated how the book did not shy away from discussions about colonisation and the theft of objects by imperial powers.
The discussion about the digital world and the new threats facing it was really interesting and well written. It’s easy for sections like that to become dated but I don’t believe this section, or the entire book, will fail to be relevant any time soon.