books

The 1980s Book Series That Literally Claimed It Had To Be Read To Be Believed

9 Spooky Spells from an Icelandic Book of Sorcery

'Sorcerer's Screed' was first published in 1940.

7 Gorgeous Old Illustrations of Sea Creatures

The ocean is full of incredible creatures vying for our attention. The Rare Book Room at the American Museum of Natural History is giving them the spotlight they deserve

21 Bone-Chilling Secrets About R.L. Stine

The author who terrified (and enthralled) you as kid spills on writing, the state of horror, and his history with humor.

11 Not-So-Miserable Facts About A Series of Unfortunate Events

How the elusive Lemony Snicket turned some rather, well, unfortunate events into a literary juggernaut.

Midnightdreary via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0

The Search for Baltimore’s Next Poe Toaster

As in the local tradition, not the kitchen appliance.

5 Reasons Physical Books Might Be Better Than E-Books

Studies have shown that if you want to really remember something, it's easier to do with paper.

Edwin H. Manchester, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

H.P. Lovecraft’s Spooky Poem About Edgar Allan Poe

"Espy amidst these tombs the shade of Poe"

When Ancient Texts Vanish, Scientists Can Make Them Reappear

Science is making text that hasn't been visible for hundreds of years reappear. Here's how.

11 Unusual Bookstores You Can Visit

Sure you can buy books on Amazon, but there’s something about going to a bookstore and picking the right title out by hand. Here are some unique bookstores that have almost as much charm as they have books.

Artist Uses Google Street View to Create Postcards from Around the World in Eighty Days

This illustrator is bringing a classic novel to life using modern technology.

This Medieval Manuscript Has Stumped Codebreakers for More Than a Century

Some scholars have dedicated decades of their lives to cracking the code.

12 Harrowing Facts About The Things They Carried

This widely read novel about war is more fact than fiction.

Build Your Own Nautilus Bookshelf

This bookshelf is inspired by the nautilus and perfect for the kids.

15 Fun Facts About Dick and Jane

Once a beloved teaching tool, Dick and Jane was later denounced as dull, counterproductive, and even misogynistic. Still, whether you loved or hated them, there’s no denying that little Dick and Jane have earned their place in history.

15 Influences on Agatha Christie’s Work

In honor of her 125th birthday, below are 15 of the countless influences the late Queen of Crime culled for her popular novels.

Feeling Low? A Bibliotherapist Might Be Able To Help

The healing power of books finally gets some proper terminology.

39 Weird Books That Really Exist

Here are 39 odd or oddly named books that would look great on your shelf.

A Chart That Diagrams Closing Sentences From Classic Novels

The closing lines of novels are grammatically different than their opening lines. Here's how.

An annotated page from Roal Dahl's 'The BFG' by Quentin Blake is displayed at Sotheby's auction House on December 4, 2014 in London, England.

11 Facts About The BFG

The BFG is a whoopsey-splunkers tale about a young orphan girl and her friend, the Big Friendly Giant. Learn more about Sophie and her adventure in propsposterous Giant Country.

The Book That Promises to Put Your Kids to Sleep in Minutes

'The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep' uses a variety of techniques to get children to fall asleep quickly.

12 Ruthless Facts About Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel's cunning novel details Cromwell’s rise from blacksmith’s son to right-hand man of Henry VIII.

The First Multicolor Print Book Has Been Opened and Digitized

In the 17th century, the coloring process known as polychrome xylography was revolutionary.

The Lost Book of Titian Peale, America's First Lepidopterist

Titian Ramsey Peale II went to his grave in 1885 believing that his life’s greatest work would never be published. It finally has been.