Long before the first printed books, there were creative individuals who invented clever ways to keep records and tell stories so that future generations would remember and know what life was like during their lifetime.
It all started around 3500 BCE with the Mesopotamians, who created clay tablets using a tool called the calamus to make cuneiform markings. These markings were cryptic drawings that depicted the daily lives of animals and humans coexisting in the ancient world. The “story” tablets were then dried using fire and served as a means of documentation. Despite the focus these people had on survival during that time, this certainly was an innovative and creative form of communication. However, due to the limitations of clay in terms of flexibility and portability, people began to look for new ways to keep records and tell stories.
In Egypt, around 3000 BC, people started using the papyrus plant to make scrolls for writing, with the earliest one dating back to the reign of King Neferirkare Kakai. The Greeks used parchment made from the skins of sheep and goats as a more durable alternative to papyrus. Papyrus resembles modern paper but was more like a textile with ink.
Then, in China around 100 BC, Ts’ai Lun invented paper using materials such as mulberry bark and old rags. This marked the beginning of modern book production using materials like bamboo and silk. The Diamond Sutra, estimated to have been printed during the Tang Dynasty around the first century, is considered the first printed book with bound pages. It was created using a technique called woodblock printing.
During the Middle Ages, books were meticulously copied by hand by monks. These books were so unique that they were considered handcrafted works of art, personalized by the scribe, the bookbinder, the owner, and the illustrator.
Indeed, writing was an art form but it had limitations. It was simply hard to replicate. That was until the most innovative form of record keeping was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1439 using his metalworking skills. Gutenberg designed a methodical and reliable printing press that allowed for the mass production of written material. The first mass-produced book was of course The Gutenberg Bible, printed in 1455 using movable metal type. The new printing press allowed people to print books, pamphlets, and newspapers, which became more easily accessible for the mass population.
Most of us take for granted the technological advances that have led us to where we are today. We may even look back on history and consider some of the inventions to be rudimentary compared to what exists today. But, if it wasn’t for our ancestors’ curiosity and commitment to sharing knowledge, we would not be able to read, write, or communicate so easily. And, we would not have beautiful libraries and museums filled with historical documents and creative writing materials to visit.
With the invention of the microprocessor in the 1970s, the typing, layout, and design of books became easier and the market exploded. They might not have realized it then, but when Project Gutenberg began converting books into digital form in 1971, it also ushered in the Internet Age, and with it, the e-book, or electronic book and eventually the Kindle and other digital e-readers.
Going forward, the future of books is likely going to be holographic, and paperless and relying heavily on AI further pushing the boundaries of creativity.
But it is not just the technology that makes books a creative medium, it is also the types of books that people create that can often be the most innovative..
These books have definitely pushed the boundaries of creativity.
- Heat Activated book: A book that can only be read when exposed to heat.
- No words: Book made entirely of drawings and pictures to tell the story.
- No Vowel: A book made entirely with words that do not contain the letter E. Now that is a difficult task!
- Waterproof book: Finally, a book that you can read by the pool.
- Augmented reality books: Books that use digital devices to make words come alive
Regardless of the type of medium that is used the intention has always been the same, to share knowledge and document the human experience and no matter how far we go, we can never replace human imagination and innovation.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Writing has always been her passion and a voice for those who cannot speak. She considers herself fortunate to write every day and says her mantra is, “I drink coffee, write, and I know about people and technology.” Her writing is diverse and can be found online on websites like LifeHack, You Have a Calling, Medium, TechCrunch and, She Knows.
