Editing Book (section)

{{Short description|Medium consisting of pages of text or images}}
{{Other uses}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2016}}
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[[File:Gutenberg Bible, Lenox Copy, New York Public Library, 2009. Pic 01.jpg|alt=|thumb|upright=1.35|The [[Gutenberg Bible]], published in the mid-15th century, one of the [[editio princeps|first books to be printed]] using the [[printing press]]]]
{{Literature}}A '''book''' is a structured presentation of recorded [[information]], primarily verbal and graphical, through a medium. Originally physical, [[electronic book]]s and [[audiobook]]s are now existent. Physical books are objects that contain printed material, mostly of writing and images. Modern books are typically composed of many pages [[Bookbinding|bound]] together and protected by a [[Book cover|cover]], what is known as the ''[[codex]]'' format; older formats include the [[scroll]] and the [[Clay tablet|tablet]].

As a [[conceptual object]], a ''book'' often refers to a [[written]] work of substantial length by one or more [[author]]s, which may also be distributed digitally as an electronic book ([[ebook]]). These kinds of works can be broadly [[Library classification|classified]] into [[fiction]] (containing invented content, often narratives) and [[non-fiction]] (containing content intended as factual truth). But a physical book may not contain a written work: for example, it may contain ''only'' [[drawing]]s, engravings, [[photograph]]s, [[sheet music]], [[puzzle]]s, or removable content like [[paper doll]]s.

The modern book industry has seen several major changes due to new technologies, including ebooks and [[audiobook]]s (recordings of books being read aloud). Awareness of the needs of [[Print disability|print-disabled]] people has led to a rise in [[Accessible publishing|formats designed for greater accessibility]] such as [[braille]] printing and [[large-print]] editions.

[[Google Books]] estimated in 2010 that approximately 130 million total unique books had been [[published]]. The book publishing process is the series of steps involved in book creation and dissemination. [[Bookselling|Books are sold]] at both regular stores and specialized bookstores, as well as online (for delivery), and can be borrowed from [[Library|libraries]] or [[public bookcase]]s. The [[Literary criticism|reception of books]] has led to a number of social consequences, including [[Book censorship|censorship]].

Books are sometimes contrasted with [[periodical literature]], such as newspapers or magazines, where new editions are published according to a regular schedule. Related items, also broadly categorized as "books", are left empty for personal use: as in the case of [[Bookkeeping|account books]], appointment books, [[autograph book]]s, [[notebook]]s, [[Diary|diaries]] and [[sketchbook]]s.