It probably isn't surprising that I am interested in library history. In fact, this isn't the first one I have read, but it is one of the best.

The book starts in ancient times, focusing at the early libraries found in Mesopotamia and Sumer before moving on into Egypt and other well-known cultures. What is interesting is the book doesn't just focus on the library, but highlights developments in the creation of paper, the printing process, literacy rates, and the educational environments in various locations around the world throughout history.

One thing I really appreciated is that the book lived up to the promise of the title. Throughout the whole narrative, there are beautiful graphics and reproductions of related documents that help provide depth to the coverage of the topic. The illustrations include works of art, pictures of the libraries being discussed, and illustrations or photographs of the important people being highlighted in the narrative.

Each chapter focuses on a time period, such as ancient times, the early Middle Ages, the late Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Colonial Period in America, early America, and modern times. Much of what is covered in relation to American history was familiar since I teach it in one of my classes, but it was presented in a refreshing way.

What I really liked was that Stuart also highlighted the development of libraries elsewhere in the world, including the Islamic world, Africa, Asia and South America. It was interesting to learn that Ethiopia was a major learning center as well as India, China, Korea and MesoAmerica having strong traditions of writing and librarianship without the often assumed Western influence.

The final chapter introduces brief descriptions and photographs of many of the largest and most important libraries in the world today.

Anyone looking for a nice overview of the topic will find this to be a good option. The only complaint that I have is that it is pretty heavy. Because of the illustrations, the book is published with high-glossy pages. It makes the illustrations more impressive, but it is a little rough on the wrists.