<p>The book has a unique status as an <b>emblem </b>of human <b>culture</b> and <b>civilization</b>. It is a vessel for sharing stories, dispersing knowledge, examining the nature of our extraordinary species and imagining what lies beyond our known world. Books ultimately provide an invaluable and comprehensive record of what it means to be human. <br><br>This volume takes a curated list of <b>fifty</b> of the most <b>influential </b>books of all time, putting each into its historical context. From ancient game-changers like the <i>Epic of Gilgamesh</i>, through <b>sacred texts</b> and works of <b>philosophical </b>rumination by the likes of Confucius and Plato, via <b>scientific treatises</b>, <b>historic ‘firsts</b>’ (like the first printed book) and <b>cultural </b>works of enduring impact (think Shakespeare, Cervantes and
