11 random facts about books that are weirdly interesting
There’s nothing better than cuddling up with a good book. Books inherently offer solitude and a temporary escape from your own story. They’re basically magic. Avid readers usually have a long history with books that often either started in the womb or shortly after — thanks to parents and their incessant desire to enrich your brain. So it’s no surprise that you (and so many others) are at your happiest when you’re reading.
Even though you might be a full-fledged reading pro and know everything about all the books you’ve ever read, chances are you don’t know all the things about actual books.
Surprisingly, there are tons of random facts about books that are super interesting.
And since you obviously love reading and learning things, we decided to round up some of the most interesting facts about books so you can know a little bit more about the thing you love most.
1. There are over 129 million books in existence.
According to Google, 129,864,880 million books had been published as of 2010. That number is obviously a lot higher now. So when you say out loud “Ugh, can’t find a good book to read,” know that you have a lot to choose from.
2. The most expensive book ever purchased was sold for $30.8 million.
It was Codex Leicester by Leonardo Da Vinci, and it was purchased by Bill Gates, according to Business Insider. Don’t worry though, he probably made the money back within the hour.
3. There’s a word for loving the smell of old books.
You guys, you know you love the smell of old books. They have the aroma of dust and a whole lot of history. Well now you can call it something. “Bibliosmia” is the word you’ve probably been searching for your whole life.
4. The longest sentence ever printed is 823 words.
We have a feeling it’s probably a run-on, but it’s a legit sentence that exists in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, according to Barnes and Noble.
5. Author’s names didn’t used to be printed on the covers of their books.
The covers of the first printed books were considered artworks. They were covered in drawings, leather and even gold — so there wasn’t a place for the author’s name.
6. The first book ever written using a typewriter was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Mark Twain must have had a lot of ink and a lot of patience.
7. President Theodore Roosevelt read one book per day.
Now that’s dedication to reading.
8. The three most read books in the world are…
The Holy Bible, Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, and Harry Potter.
9. Icelandic people read more than anyone.
Perhaps it has to do with the weather, or maybe they’re just taught to really love books. Either way, Iceland for the win!
10. Alice in Wonderland is based on a real 10-year-old girl.
Her name was Alice Liddell, and her family was close friends with author Lewis Carroll. While on a boating trip, she asked him to tell her a story — and that’s how Alice was born.
11. Illiteracy is still a huge problem throughout the world.
One in five adults around the world can’t read or write, with the highest rates in South and West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
