“We can imagine the books we'd like to read, even if they have not yet been written, and we can imagine libraries full of books we would like to possess, even if they are well beyond our reacher, because we enjoy dreaming up a library that reflects every one of our interests and every one of our foibles--a library that, in its variety and complexity, fully reflects the reader we are.”
This work delves into the nature of libraries as places of refuge, memory, and human ingenuity. Through personal reflection and cultural history, the author examines how libraries have shaped human thought across civilizations, addressing their architectural forms, their role in preserving forbidden or endangered texts, and the intimate act of reading within their walls. The book traverses different cultures and eras, considering both ancient accumulations of clay tablets and modern digital archives, to presents libraries not merely as repositories of printed matter but as living institutions that reflect the values and aspirations of the societies that create them. more
Alberto Manguel, born in 1948, is a renowned writer from Argentina. His works span various literary forms, including novels, essays, and translations, and are known for their unique style and profound insights into human culture. more
“Who wants to feel everything everyone else feels all the time?”
“People always wanted someone to blame, didn't they?”
“Bleeding isn't optional for most of us.”
“Religion turned some folks belligerent.”
“Humans were peculiar. They were by turns squeamish and appallingly violent.”
“You're so far off base this time you can't even see the base!”
“I do love you. I think you know that, but just in case...I love you.”
“How to put this feeling, this certainty, into something as limited as words?”
“Civilization is vastly overrated.”