A book is a set of printed pages, usually with words and illustrations, fastened together and fixed inside a cover. Books have been used to record, expound, and transmit knowledge and information for centuries. Books are the modern successors to many earlier written mediums, such as scrolls and codices. The book is an important object in the history of writing and culture, and its design has influenced a wide range of other cultural objects. It has also led to a variety of strategies for organizing, cataloguing and creating access to books for various purposes.
The word book is derived from the Latin libratus, meaning “shelves.” A collection of books is sometimes called a library. Books are generally classified according to their subject matter into two broad categories: fiction and nonfiction. Within these broad categories are sub-categories that distinguish different types of writing and reading experiences, such as children’s literature and reference works that gather collections of information about a specific topic. Books are often published in a variety of formats, including print and digital forms such as ebooks.
There are many opinions about what defines a great book. Some common factors include a compelling story, a good character arc, well-rounded and balanced plot development, and clear diction and prose style. Book design and layout are also considered essential to the reader experience. These factors are the basis of what makes a book enjoyable to read.
Books have been used for a variety of purposes, from announcing events to recording private information and ideas. The earliest books were hand-written on materials that were light enough for easy portability but sturdy enough to preserve the text over long periods of time. These early books were not the same as today’s bound volumes, but they predated them by centuries.
The modern book is the result of several inventions in writing materials, printing, and binding. Its evolution from the manuscript to the printed book was facilitated by the invention of paper, which replaced papyrus and other ancient materials such as parchment or vellum. The book was further developed by the invention of the codex (a folding sheet containing several folded leaves) and later the printing press.
Today, most books are printed using offset lithography. Books are manufactured in a few standard sizes, based on the size of sheets that were printed originally and trimmed after printing. The size of the trimmed page, known as trim size, is specified for each book by the printer, and varies depending on the country in which it was published.
There are also other methods of producing a book, such as digital printing and flexographic printing. These methods produce a book in smaller quantities than traditional offset, and are capable of producing individual pages on demand. This technique is sometimes referred to as print-on-demand or short run book publishing. It allows a small number of copies to be made without the need for a large initial investment, and reduces waste due to make readies or spoilage.