From Scrolls to Screens: The Fascinating History of Books and What It Means for 2025 Reading Trends

We often take for granted the book in our hands, its crisp pages, sturdy spine, and convenient size. But have you ever paused to wonder how we went from inscribing symbols on clay tablets to swiping through an e-reader in bed? The history of the book is not just a tale of ink and paper; it’s a story of human innovation, cultural exchange, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

As we dive into the most exciting reading trends of 2025, it’s worth looking back at where it all began. Understanding how books came to be helps us appreciate not only the physical object but also the act of reading itself, a ritual cherished across civilizations and centuries.

The Age of the Scroll: When Reading Meant Unrolling

Long before the familiar codex (the ancestor of today’s paperback), people relied on scrolls. The earliest known scrolls date back to ancient Egypt around 2400 BCE, made from papyrus reeds glued together and inscribed with hieroglyphs. These were used for religious texts, administrative records, and literature like The Book of the Dead.

Scrolls were dominant across Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome. Philosophers like Plato and poets like Virgil composed works meant to be unrolled and read from left to right. But scrolls had limitations: they were fragile, hard to store, and difficult to reference. Looking up a passage meant painstakingly unfurling meters of text.

Fun fact: The longest known ancient scroll is the Epic of Gilgamesh, written on clay tablets and later transcribed, its story surviving over 4,000 years!

The Game-Changer: The Birth of the Codex

Around the 1st century CE, a revolutionary format emerged: the codex. Essentially a stack of bound pages, the codex was more compact, durable, and user-friendly than scrolls. Early Christians embraced it for copying religious texts, its format allowed for quick referencing of scripture, essential for teaching and debate.

By the 4th century, the codex had largely replaced the scroll across the Roman Empire. Early codices were made from parchment (animal skin) or vellum, and each book was painstakingly copied by hand, usually by monks in monasteries during the Middle Ages. These illuminated manuscripts were works of art, often adorned with gold leaf and intricate illustrations.

Imagine reading The Book of Kells or The Lindisfarne Gospels, each letter crafted with reverence, each page a masterpiece. It’s no wonder these texts were treasured, sometimes locked away in libraries accessible only to scholars and clergy.

Gutenberg’s Revolution: The Printing Press and the Democratization of Knowledge

While handwritten books were beautiful, they were also rare and expensive. That all changed in 1440 when Johannes Gutenberg introduced the printing press with movable metal type in Mainz, Germany. His invention slashed the cost and time of book production.

Gutenberg’s first major work? The Gutenberg Bible, printed around 1455. Only about 180 copies were made, but its impact was seismic. Books were no longer reserved for the elite. By the end of the 15th century, over 20 million books had been printed in Europe.

The printing press ignited the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution. Ideas could now spread faster than ever. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses? Printed and distributed widely. Scientific discoveries by Galileo and Newton? Shared across continents. The printed book became a vessel of change.

Industrial Age to Paperbacks: Books for the Masses

Fast forward to the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution brought steam-powered presses, mechanized papermaking, and the rise of mass-produced books. Literacy rates soared, and reading became a popular pastime.

Enter the paperback revolution of the 20th century. In 1935, Penguin Books launched affordable paperback editions in the UK, selling books for just sixpence. Suddenly, literature wasn’t just for academics, it was for everyone. Novels by George Orwell, Agatha Christie, and Ernest Hemingway reached millions.

Public libraries expanded, book clubs flourished, and the idea of a personal “to-read” list began to take root. The modern reader was born.

The Digital Era: E-Books, Audiobooks, and Beyond

Then came the 21st century, and another transformation. The release of devices like the Kindle (2007) and apps like Audible reshaped how we consume stories. Today, e-books account for nearly 20% of all book sales, while audiobook listenership has grown by double digits annually.

In 2025, we’re seeing even more innovation:

• AI-curated reading lists that adapt to your mood and interests
• Immersive audiobooks with soundscapes and voice acting
• Social reading apps that let you highlight and discuss books in real time

Yet, despite the digital surge, print books remain resilient. In fact, physical book sales have seen a 5% year-on-year increase in 2025, proving that many readers still crave the tactile experience of holding a book.

Why the Past Matters for Today’s Reading Habits

Understanding the history of books isn’t just nostalgia, it empowers us to make mindful choices today. When you pick up a book, you’re participating in a 4,000-year-old tradition. That bookshelf? A modern-day library, echoing the scrolls of Alexandria.

And with distractions everywhere, from social media to endless notifications, knowing how hard-won access to books once was can inspire us to read more intentionally. Whether you’re into fantasy epics, literary fiction, or self-help guides, the journey matters as much as the destination.

Here are a few ways to embrace this legacy:

• Set a reading goal, whether it’s 12 books a year or 30
• Join a book club or start one with friends
• Try a mix of formats, audiobooks for commutes, print for bedtime, e-books for travel
• Keep a reading journal to reflect on what you’ve read and why it moved you

What’s Trending in 2025: A Quick Peek

This year, readers are embracing:

• Slow reading, savoring a single book for weeks
• Genre-blending novels that mix sci-fi, mystery, and romance
• Books about books (meta, we know!), like The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and new releases about librarians, authors, and rare manuscripts
• Sustainability in publishing, with more eco-friendly inks and recycled paper

And if you’re wondering what the best books of 2025 are, critics are raving about poetic debuts, climate fiction (“cli-fi”), and global voices from Nigeria, South Korea, and Colombia.

Final Thoughts: Honor the Past, Read for the Future

The book has survived empires, plagues, wars, and technological revolutions. It’s adapted, evolved, and endured. And as long as there are stories to tell, the book, whether carved in stone or streamed to a device, will find a way.

So this week, whether you’re digging into a medieval-inspired fantasy or a memoir about a life well-read, remember: you’re part of a grand, ongoing story.

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