All the Knowledge in the World: The Extraordinary History of the Encyclopaedia
The author is correct in that the account of the phenomenon of the encyclopaedia is indeed astonishing. From being a bastion of printed knowledge, within just a few short years in recent memory for most of us, the weighty and lengthy volumes that could be found in all public libraries and in many aspirational homes throughout the world became just about extinct. They were, of course, replaced by the wonders of the internet and the World Wide Web; in particular in recent years, the unique achievement of Wikipedia has pushed the printed volumes firmly into the antediluvian past.
Simon Garfield provides a fascinating account of the history and development of the encyclopaedia, which was predominantly a Western institution. It is a thoroughly well-researched and explained account, with a wealth of information and understanding, told with humour and brio. It makes the reader wish to return to the substantial tomes that were a feature of earlier years, to feel the heft of the volumes and examine the comprehensive learning and erudition that were contained within.
