The index, tucked away in the back of a book, is often overlooked. But after reading Dennis Duncan’s delightful history of the tool, you’ll never forget to check the index again. In Index: A History of the: A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age, Duncan traces the index’s 800-year history, from medieval monasteries and universities to its uses for the tech boom in the present day. In doing so, he makes a case that indexes have not only impacted our literary and intellectual culture, but also shaped the way we communicate and engage with power. They might even have saved lives along the way. —Cady Lang
Buy Now: Index, A History of the on Bookshop | Amazon
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The Inside Story of Princeton's Cinderella Run at March Madness
- The Case for Betting on Succession's Tom Wambsgans
- For Both Donald Trump and Alvin Bragg, the Central Park Jogger Case Was a Turning Point
- If Donald Trump Is Indicted, Here's What Would Happen Next in the Process
- Alison Roman Won't Sugarcoat It
- Why Not All Observant Muslims Fast During Ramadan
- It's Time to Say a Loving Goodbye to John Wick
- Who Should Be on the 2023 TIME100? Vote Now
- Column: Ozempic Exposed the Cracks in the Body Positivity Movement