Johannes Gutenberg: The Printer Who Gave Words to the World (Inventors Who Changed the World)

Grade 5–8—This introductory biography begins with a history of printing in the ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Chinese civilizations, moves on to the Middle Ages when volumes were handwritten by scribes, and finishes with the Renaissance, which saw an increased demand for books. Gutenberg enters this history in 1400s Germany, when he developed movable metal type and a large printing press that greatly increased book production. Though many details of the man's life are unknown, the book offers some interesting tidbits—for example, his most famous works, the eponymous Bibles, were manufactured by another printer as the result of a lawsuit, and Gutenberg never saw any profit from their sale. These descriptions of lawsuits and political intrigues confuse the narrative at times, though they help illuminate Renaissance life.