German author Burkhard Spinnen revisits moments of bibliophilia mixed with anguish through a personal and historical journey of the books we encounter and the places we meet them. With anecdotes of serendipitously finding vintage copies of literary classics and bemoaning the loaned book you'll never get back, Spinnen reminds us that even if the eBook has made reading during a commute easier, it will never bring us as much pride as a well-stocked shelf. Or recover the smell of ink on paper, or the pleasure of good margins and letter-spaced capitals. For those wanting to keep their hard copies close and chat with friends about the joy books have brought into their lives, The Book offers up a kindred spirit.