Books

“No. 2256. Copyist: Musa b. Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Kansusi from the area of Takrakar. Copied in 1144 H / 1731 G in Takrakar (Gao, Mali).”

Library Full of Precious Manuscripts Burned in Timbuktu

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How to Tour Jane Austen’s English Countryside

Follow in the footsteps of Mr. Darcy and the Bennet sisters and take in the manors and gardens of rural England

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There’s No Such Thing as Reading Silently to Yourself

Sitting in a corner reading silently - as you might be doing right now, for example - turns out to impossible

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Readers Who Bought Lance Armstrong’s Book Want Their Money Back

Lance Armstrong's doping confession has cost him his Tour de France medals, sponsors and his charity. But now, readers who bought his books, want their money back too

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We’re Better at Remembering Facebook Statuses Than Book Lines

Turns out, the average person is far more likely to remember a Facebook status than they are a painstakingly edited sentence from a book

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The Gory Details of Artist Katrina van Grouw’s Unfeathered Birds

A British artist, with experience in ornithology, explains how she created anatomical drawings of 200 different species of birds for a new book

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War and Peace of Mind for Ulysses S. Grant

With the help of his friend Mark Twain, Grant finished his memoirs—and saved his wife from an impoverished widowhood—just days before he died

Red Acorn, 40 years old

Covered in Ink, Cross-sections of Trees Make Gorgeous Prints

Connecticut-based artist Bryan Nash Gill uses ink to draw out the growth rings of a variety of tree species

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Texas’ New Library Won’t Have Any Books

In San Antonio, an entirely bookless library system

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The Novice’s Guide to Venturing Into the World of Craft Beer

From food pairings to the best brews for beginners, Dan Koester presents a comprehensive guide to craft beer

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The Candor and Lies of Nazi Officer Albert Speer

The minister of armaments was happy to tell his captors about the war machine he had built. But it was a different story when he was asked about the Holocaust

At Auction: A 1766 Copy of ‘Aristotle’s Masterpiece,’ a Best-Selling Sex Guide Banned in England Until 1961

Banned in England until 1961, a copy of this 17th-century text is going up for auction

The lack of independently-moving fingers makes replying an arduous process.

Congratulations, You Accidentally Wrote a Book Last Year

People wrote more than 40,000 words on average last year... in email

Gandalf’s fireworks were far better of course.

How to Properly Celebrate a Hobbit Birthday

Today is J.R.R. Tolkien's birthday, and in his honor here's how to throw the best Hobbit Birthday ever

The Tolkien Nerd’s Guide to The Hobbit

Peter Jackson’s blockbuster movie draws upon stories behind stories behind stories, just as J.R.R. Tolkien’s original works did

Double-banded Argus, by Ralph Steadman

Bringing Extinct Birds Back to Life, One Cartoon at a Time

In his new book, Extinct Boids, artist Ralph Steadman introduces readers to a flock of birds that no longer live in the wild

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Last Minute Food-Themed Gift Ideas

There's still time to pick up these magazines, books, kitchen gadgets and food stuffs for your Christmas shopping needs

Is This Hans Christian Andersen’s First Fairy Tale?

A historian in Denmark may have discovered Hans Christian Andersen's first fairy tale ever

Beehive ginger

Flower Power, Redefined

In a new book, Andrew Zuckerman embraces minimalism, capturing 150 colorful blooms on white backdrops

The Makerbot Replicator 2 desktop 3D printer

Holiday Gift Guide: Ideas for the Design Enthusiasts in Your Life

In preparation for the holiday season, a selection of gift ideas related to some of our favorite Design Decoded posts

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