communications industry structure, including mass media, advertising, and telephone companies
Al-Nadim brought the insights of a court companion and bookseller to cataloging books in his Fihrist. Social relations, not knowledge, sells books. … Read the post al-Nadim's Fihrist provides insights into popular book demand
In the first century of Islam, Abdullah ibn Abbas and Ka’b al-Ahbar confronted a wide variety of Jewish and Christian stories about the origin of writing. … Read the post Abdullah ibn Abbis, Ka'b al-Ahbar, and the origin of writing
Within the grandeur of the Ulpian Library in ancient Rome may well have been linen, silk, and ivory books. … Read the post linen, silk, and ivory books in ancient Rome
Lack of fungible resources among potential readers and status guarding among book owners constrained book circulation in the ancient world. … Read the post book circulation amid world of social distinctions
Whether Adam Scrivener refers to Adam Pinkhurst, Adam the first human, or both, Adam Scrivener intermediates and corrupts the author’s communication. … Read the post Chaucer and Adam Scrivener in the communicative division of labor