Andrew Pettegree offers a globe-trotting examination of the enduring place of libraries in society. The cross-cultural analysis does a wonderful job exploring the classical monuments to knowledge, as well as the ever evolving shape and purpose of the modern library. I found Pettegree's examination of the temporal nature of libraries to be a particularly unique aspect of the work. It was fascinating to see how frequently the idea of a collection outlasted it's physical existence. I highly recommend this work to historians, library science practitioners, and anyone who holds a deep love for these inspiring, stimulating, and fascinating monuments to knowledge. Pairs nicely with the works of Alberto Manguel