History of Book Culture as a Fundamental Problem of Library Science

The reviewed monograph “The Origins of Book Culture” by Y.N. Stolyarov is a unique domestic study of the origins of book culture, such as myths, folklore, religious beliefs, and epos. Each of the origins is considered in a separate chapter of the book. The author sets the task to restructure the domestic tradition of book culture and traces the evolution of the sources from the standpoint of modern book science. In the evolution of myths, folklore, beliefs, and epos one there is seen the cognized objectivity of the world, even the prediction in the future. This is done for the first time and it is one of the main merits of the author. Y.N. Stolyarov relies on many original works of the past and the present of the researchers of Russian and foreign texts. This makes the book rich in research and reference materials, presented by specific times and names. The text of the monograph convinces the reader that the author formulates his own concept of knowledge on the book culture and offers the library professionals to move to a new level of its study and understanding. Describing the role and place of the book, Y.N. Stolyarov shows it as a carrier of communication from ancient times. Of particular interest are his observations about the origins of abstracting. Reading the book leads to conclusion that the instinct of culture is inherent to human. The sense of human activity lies in culture movement and evolution. In the process of evolution, this movement becomes an arena for competition. The world of book culture ceases to be universal; it becomes a product of its diversity. Monograph is beautifully published, has an annotated index and detailed bibliographic list of literature. Y.N. Stolyarov’s book should be considered as a launching platform for studying the deep fundamentals of the book culture of every nation and people.

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