Turning the Page: The Evolution of the Book

It is one of the on-going ironies of the book business that while each year it surpasses the amount of content produced in previous years, its output reflects so little on itself. Angus Phillips' new book redresses the balance, and will be enjoyed by a wide range of people - from publishers (actual and potential) to keen readers. His broad frame of reference is particularly welcome; accessing research from a wide variety of disciplines and mixing this with both reflection on his own experiences and those of a wide range of industry professionals and other stakeholders. Consistently illuminating, enlightening and fascinating, this important book offers the tempting prospect of time well spent.

Alison Baverstock, Course Leader, MA Publishing Kingston University

Turning the Page is essential reading for anyone interested in how books are changing. Covering all the key topics in a clear and comprehensive fashion, Phillips raises vital questions about authorship, copyright and the very form of the book itself. With a wide and judicious set of examples, there is no better place to learn about the emerging ecosystem of the digital book.

Michael Bhaskar, Digital Publishing Director, Profile Books and author of The Content Machine

Angus Phillips has produced a concise, lively, engaged study of key themes affecting the present and future of the book, offering in erudite yet accessible form insights into reading, publishing and content creation in a digital age. A must for those thinking through how the publishing industry might respond to the challenges of the digital world.

David Finkelstein, Dean, School of Humanities, University of Dundee

As a key industry expert, Phillips can be trusted to present us with a level-headed assessment of the radical transformations the book trade is currently experiencing.

Adriaan van der Weel, Bohn professor of Book Studies, University of Leiden

Phillips covers in clear, well-documented, chapters: 'The democratisation of authorship'; 'Slow books', 'Content in a digital world'; 'Digital capital'; 'The global book'; and 'Diversity and convergence', [and] clearly identifies the big themes, such as do authors need publishers? Do readers need physical bookshops? Are the old patterns of content creation and distribution still relevant? What are the patterns of e-book reading?

Colin Steele, The Sydney Morning Herald

This book will be most useful for schools with undergraduate programs in publishing that are comparable to the one at Oxford Brookes. Itwill be less warmly received in English or journalism departments without a similar emphasis... Summing Up: Recommended.

P. L. Holmer, Southern Connecticut State University, CHOICE