Interesting stories about the role of libraries throughout time and in different cultures, investigating why we have libraries, what private and public libraries say about us, and what we expect to gain from them. This book begins with and then tries to answer the following question: Why do we "continue to assemble whatever scraps of information we can gather in scrolls and books and computer chips, on shelf after library shelf, whether material, virtual or otherwise, pathetically intent on lending the world a semblance of sense and order, while knowing perfectly well that, however much we'd like to believe the contrary, our pursuits are sadly doomed to failure?" If you love books, you'll find the answers thought provoking and comforting. You may also walk away with a long list of books to add to your own library! I don't think I've ever come across someone as widely read as Alberto Manguel. I'm now looking forward to reading The Dictionary of Imaginary Places and A History of Reading.