Friday 25 April 2008

What is a book?

What is a book? This is a question we will want to answer if we want to enable books to reflect the electronic age and not the ink-on-paper era, just as Gutenberg and his heirs fully exploited that once-new technology back when, well, the ink was still fresh.

I don't think a precise definition is possible, certainly not one that will clearly and unambiguously delimit books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and any other print media, and also add electronically without claiming blogs, RSS feeds, wikis, mail-lists, and website forums. Each of these are distinct entities.

Some clear examples of ' What is a book?


  • a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
  • physical objects consisting of a number of pages bound together; "he used a large book as a doorstop"
  • ledger: a record in which commercial accounts are recorded.
  • a number of sheets (ticket or stamps etc.) bound together on one edge.
  • record: a compilation of the known facts regarding something or someone.
  • a major division of a long written composition.
  • script: a written version of a play or other dramatic composition.
  • a collection of playing cards satisfying the rules of a card game
  • record a charge in a police register.
  • a collection of rules or prescribed standards on the basis of which decisions are made.
  • reserve: arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance.
  • Koran: the sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina.
  • register in a hotel booker
  • Bible- the most bought book world wide.




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