Reading a book transports you to your own secret world. A good book provides more than just a momentary escape from reality; it may make a significant difference in your life. How old is the world’s oldest library? Which country has the most readers? These and many other fascinating facts are sure to stun you.
We read plenty of writing in our everyday lives without even noticing it, from news stories to Instagram captions, business emails to text messages.
We don’t have much time to dedicate to a substantial novel – and would rather spend that time skimming through fast reads that do not demand much attention or care. This collection is full of interesting facts that will make you enjoy books all over again.
18 Crazy Facts About Books And Reading
1. Three Books At The Harvard Library Are Suspected Of Being Bound With Human Skin
Des destinées de l’ame, a book at the Harvard Library, is 99.9% certain to have been bound with human skin. Since the 1930s, it has been preserved in Harvard’s Houghton Library.
The practice of binding books with human skin was not widespread in the 15th century and was carried out for various reasons, including honoring the deceased.
2. There’s A Term For Loving The Aroma Of Old Books
You guys know how much you adore the aroma of old books. They smell like dust and have a lot of history. You may now call it something. “Bibliosmia” is the term you’ve most likely been looking for your entire life.
3. Previously, Author Names Were Not Printed On The Covers Of Their Books
The first printed book covers were considered works of art. There was no room for the author’s name since they were covered in artwork, leather, and even gold.
4. Warsaw Has The Highest Number Of Libraries Per Population, With 11.5 Libraries For Every 100,000 Residents
Warsaw, Poland’s capital, is a book lover’s paradise. Seoul and Brussels are close behind, with 11 and 10 libraries per 100,000 residents. Tokyo had the highest average number of book loans, at 111.9 million in only one year!
5. The Longest-Ever Book Title Is Nearly 3,700 Words Long
The Historical Development of the Heart…, written by Vityala Yethindra and released on March 20, 2019, has a whopping 26,000 characters.
It’s so long because the author chose to incorporate all of the different species mentioned in the book, as well as over 50 different questions answered in the book, in the title.
6. The Bible Is The Best-Selling Book
The Bible is sold all throughout the world, making it the most widely distributed book in the world! According to estimates, there are 5 billion printed copies of it around the globe. Wow!
7. The Most Costly Book In The World
The Codex Leicester is the world’s most costly book. You won’t believe how much it is sold for. In 1994, the scientific book was sold for $30.8 million. It was Leonardo da Vinci’s scientific journal!
8. The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer Was One Of The Earliest Novels To Be Typewritten
This novel was one of the first to be written using a typewriter and was published in 1876. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is about a little child growing up near the Mississippi River. This book’s tale is undoubtedly one of the finest adventure novels for youngsters and teenagers available today.
9. “Bestsellers”
The term “bestseller” for books was first used in Alice Brown’s Fools of Nature in 1889. In addition, Alice Brown was an American author, poet, and dramatist most recognized for her work on local color tales. Alice Brown died on June 21, 1948, at the age of 91, after being born on December 5, 1857.
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10. Hugh Beaver founded the Guinness Book of World Records
Hugh Beaver, the manager of Guinness Breweries, went to a shooting party in County Wexford in the 1950s and missed his shot at a golden plover. In contrast, he claimed it was the quickest game bird in Europe but couldn’t find a reference book to back up his claim. That is why Hugh Beaver established the Guinness Book of World Records.
11. The Latin Version Of Winnie The Pooh Became A New York Times Bestseller
The only Latin book to make it to the the New York Times Bestseller List was “Winnie Ille Pu,” a Latin translation of “Winnie the Pooh.” As a result, it has become the book of choice for Latin students in high school.
12. In Norway, If You Publish A Book, The Government Will Buy 1000 Copies
If a book is published in Norway and passes quality inspection, the government will purchase 1000 copies. Furthermore, if it is a children’s book, the government will purchase 1,500 copies and distribute them to libraries around the country.
13. E-books And Audiobooks Are Most Likely The Future Of Reading
Some people still prefer physical books, but alternative literature, such as E-books and Audiobooks, are becoming more popular. As a result, most tech-savvy individuals find these options to be more comfortable, non-bulky, and easier to operate.
14. Readers Have Longer Lives Than Non-Readers
Some research published in social science and medicine found that readers live longer lives. Furthermore, reading books for at least 30 minutes to an hour every day can lengthen one’s life. As a result, readers live nearly two years longer.
15. The First Generation Kindle, Which Was Introduced On November 19, 2007, Sold Out In 5 1/2 Hours
The first-generation Kindle was priced at $399 and was out of supply for five months, until late April 2008. With its 250 MB of internal capacity, it could carry up to 200 non-illustrated volumes at once. It also had a speaker and a headphone port for listening to music.
16. Reading Makes You A Better Person
One of the most coolest aspects of reading is how much it can affect a person. Reading is not only fun, but it is also an excellent self-development tool. Making it a practice to read a book every now and then might help you become a better person.
17. Reading Can Make You Happier
Because a good book may help with stress and despair, it’s easy to see why those who read more are more self-confident and joyful. The University of Liverpool discovered that readers are happier, less stressed, cope better with adversities, and have more close relationships than non-readers after interviewing over 4,000 individuals. Isn’t it a fascinating fact?
18. Our Eyes Can Travel In Different Directions When Reading
Doesn’t that sound like a medical condition? That’s not strabismus. It’s perfectly typical in healthy adults with 20/20 eyesight. When we read, our eyes are generally drawn to several letters at once. In fact, this occurs about half of the time we spend reading. It’s a process that helps us read and understand faster, and it begins to develop as soon as we learn to read.
CONCLUSION
The value of reading cannot be overstated. Reading a good book is one of the greatest joys known to man, from lowering stress to strengthening character and opening up a wide universe of knowledge. We hope we were able to pique your interest in the strangest, most intriguing, and enjoyable facts about reading, and that you will remember some of them the next time you’re wrapped up under your blanket with a good book.
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