In part a chronicle of paper history which is sure to delight its intended general audience, Basbanes' reliance on expert sources will surely impress those in the field of handmade paper. Citing a meeting with Timothy Barrett as "the seed" for the book, Basbanes makes the rounds within the hand papermaking community including notables such as Kathryn and Howard Clark of Twinrocker, and Henry Morris of Bird & Bull Press. On Paper begins aptly at the birthplace of paper, in China, where the author toured with Elaine and Donna Koretsky of Carriage House. But all readers, whether familiar with hydrogen bonds or not, can expect to go beyond the history of paper since Basbanes taps comparably knowledgeable sources further afield. With an accomplished background in investigative journalism, Basbanes deftly splices together countless disparate topics. Along the way readers come to know how cellulose relates to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and the crucial role paper played in the hands of top CIA exfiltrator Tony Mendez whose "audacious plan" would eventually prompt the movie Argo. Less esoteric but just On Paper: The Everything of Its Two-Thousand-Year History reviewed by akemi martin A one-hundred-trillion-dollar Zimbabwean banknote, dated 2006. Collection of Nicholas A. Basbanes. All photos courtesy of Nicholas A. Basbanes. 44 - hand papermaking as fascinating are the chapters on the quotidian uses of paper. Basbanes gives illuminating facts regarding the vast quantities associated with our nation's production of toilet paper and reveals the connection between the NSA and pizza boxes. Basbanes includes many statistics that will dazzle the reader, for example, a British banknote lasts one year while American bills tend to last three! These facts and figures astound readers but the strength of On Paper lies in the author's ability to analyze this information and show the importance of paper to humanity. Basbanes, "a self-confessed bibliophiliac," hits his stride when contemplating what he believes is paper's main function—a vehicle for transmission. He writes at length about many great thinkers of the past whose use of paper directly led to the realization of their masterpieces. Subsequent generations of people can still learn from Lenoardo da Vinci's drawings, Beethoven's sketches, and Thomas Edison's plans. We can still visit Brunelleschi's duomo in Florence, an architectural feat made possible only by the availability of paper. But perhaps subsequent generations are too busy with digital devices to appreciate paper or to physically search through pages? In a discussion with Harvard librarian Robert Darnton, the two conclude that printed books can seamlessly coexist with digital research tools. Turning away from the main theme of the book, Basbanes begins to touch on the creative use of paper, which "becomes more than just a medium and very much a part of the message." With just a quick mention of distinguished book artists, Claire Van Vliet and Walter Hamady, he turns his attention to prominent figures in the field of origami before suddenly ending such a promising chapter. Singling out origami as the exemplar of creative paper usage paints a monochromatic picture. With a hopeful mention of Dard Hunter's legacy on current professionals such as Twinrocker and Bird & Bull Press, Basbanes still misses the mark. What about the many creative uses of pulp? Surely a pulp-painted Chuck Close portrait not only exemplifies paper's ability to marry form and function but also demonstrates On Paper's overall theme— that "paper \[is\] as an agent of cultural transmission." Even still this is a minor gap, and one that only detracts from readers with knowledge of creative hand papermaking in the fine arts. In the impossible attempt to chronicle the "everything" of paper, one can respect his valiant effort. Many books cover the topic of paper but few manage to integrate the myriad facets of our beloved subject as seamlessly as Basbanes' volume does. On Paper is a joy to read, perhaps owing to the enthusiastic tone in which it is written. He has generously transformed his eight years of painstaking research into an entertaining book sure to gratify anyone curious about paper.
