books

Books are a medium for recording and transmitting information, ideas, and stories, traditionally consisting of written pages bound together within a cover. A book may be printed on paper or be a digital file or an audio recording. Most books include a text component, sometimes accompanied by illustrations, and are organized by chapters, headings, and pagination. Physical books have formats such as hardcover, paperback, and mass-market editions; digital books use formats like EPUB or PDF and can be read on e-readers, tablets, or computers. Audiobooks present spoken-word renditions read by narrators or authors.

The history of books spans ancient writing materials such as clay tablets, papyrus scrolls, and parchment manuscripts, culminating in the codex. The modern book emerged after the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, enabling mass production and wider literacy. Subsequent developments included serialized publishing, paper quality improvements, and the advent of digital formats in the late 20th century, transforming access and distribution.

Books serve various purposes: fiction and non-fiction, reference and textbooks, journals, and religious or ceremonial works. They support education, research, cultural transmission, and personal enjoyment. Libraries, schools, publishers, authors, and booksellers form the ecosystem that supports creation, curation, and access. Measurements such as title, author, edition, and International Standard Book Number help identify and catalog titles.

Preservation and access are ongoing concerns because of material degradation and copyright. Digitization and accessibility initiatives, large-print and braille editions, and audio formats improve reach. The book remains a central form for recording human knowledge and imagination, even as digital technologies broaden how stories are stored and consumed.