The Phone Book: The Curious History of the Book That Everyone Uses but No One Reads

by Shea, Ammon

• ISBN13: 9780399535932
• ISBN10: 0399535934
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-05
• Publisher: Penguin Group USA

Summary

From the first printed version in 1878 (it had 50 listings and no numbers) to the phone book's role in presidential elections, Supreme Court rulings, criminal investigations, and much more, this surprising volume reveals a rich and colorful story that has never been told--until now.

Author Biography

Ammon Shea is the author of Reading the OED and two previous books about obscure words. He lives in New York City, surrounded by large, old books.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. xiii
The First Phone Book	p. 1
"It Talks!"	p. 23
Of Cuttlefish and Poetry: Unusual Telephone Books	p. 67
Living by the Book	p. 85
The Phone Book Hall of Fame	p. 97
Reading the Phone Book	p. 113
"A Shopping Mall in Print": The Yellow Pages and How They Got That Way	p. 154
Ripped in Half: The Story Behind a Storied Tradition	p. 169
The Future of the Phone Book	p. 184
Final Note	p. 199
Further Reading	p. 201
Notes	p. 203
Index	p. 211
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