Massimo Listri: The World's Most Beautiful Libraries

When I opened this fifteen pound book up I was absolutely Gobsmacked!!! The photography is stunning. The paper used for both the text and photographs is top quality. The packaging is top notch. The following are my most memorable takeaways from reading this phenomenal book. My hands down favorite was the first library featured, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana In the Vatican City State. The woodwork and library ladders at Biblioteca Palatina in Parma are gorgeous. The ceiling paintings at Real Biblioteca del Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial in Madrid are masterpieces. The Private libraries of Eastnor Castle and Bibliotheque Charles de Beistegui at the Chateau de Groussay were like a dream. Also of note were the handcarved figures at Stiftsbibliothek Waldsassen, the stunning interiors of Stiftsbibliothek Melk, the sheer scale of Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek and Strahovska Knihovna, and the gothic interiors of Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura in Rio de Janeiro. I have a giant personal library of my own, and now this book is the showpiece of my collection.

The pictures are breathtakingly beautiful in this multiligual tome. I've enjoyed reading it in two other languages (great practice) nearly as much. A fabulous gift for the bibliophile in your life, or yourself. The seller packaged this beautiful book to arrive as fresh as it looked hot off the press; I highly recommend.

This is the most beautiful book I have ever owned. Indeed, it may be the most beautiful book I have ever held. Browsing its pages on a reading desk is as sublime an experience as looking at the images enlarged to 200 cm by 160 cm on the walls of the Bassano Saal, Kunsthistorische Museum, Vienna, where I first saw many of these same compositions a few years ago. The introductory essay by Georg Ruppelt, on libraries as the "memory of the world," is hopeful and inspiring, and the brief histories by Elisabeth Sladek of the individual collections and their buildings will interest bibliophiles and architectural historians alike. In the quality of the reproductions and their binding Taschen has exceeded even its own superb standards. My only regret is that Listri had not immortalized the great Mackintosh library in the Glasgow School of Art before its destruction by fire in 2014. Outstanding!

This is the most beautiful book I have ever seen. It was a gift to my mother and I made her agree to will it to me when she passes. The pages are thick and we can stare at the images for hours. I love that they are separated by region so when traveling it makes it easy to make a "must see" list. Worth every penny and more!

BEAUTIFUL!! This book will have you turning the pages for hours!! While I agree with the comments that this book is mainly of European libraries, it DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. The illustrations are breathtaking. Fair warning, it is very large in size and very heavy. I have it placed as the centerpiece of my coffee table and everyone who lays eyes on it is instantly taken. I’ve wanted this book ever since I saw it at Taschen. BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WILL LOVE IT.

I gave this book to my daughter-in-law for her birthday. She loved it! It is a beautiful book! Such high quality!

This book is an awe-inspiring work of art, but it should more accurately be titled "Europe's Most Beautiful Libraries, with limited content from the US, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru thrown in as an afterthought."

I bought this book for my daughter as a gift. She loves to read and already has quite a book collection as a young adult. The book is absolutely beautiful! The photographs, information, text, and quality are wonderful. It is also much larger than I expected. She said it was her favorite Christmas gift this year.

Belíssimas Fotos. Maximo Listri mostra em detalhes a beleza destas maravilhosas bibliotecas.Livro obrigatório para qualquer amante de artes e fotografia.

Excellent book!

Libro muy bonito y de gran calidad. Muy recomendable. Solo quiero dar 3 datos de utilidad: el texto viene en Inglès , Francès y Alemàn; respecto a las fotos, son de gran calidad y en gran cantidad. La gran mayorìa son a pàgina entera y algunas a doble pàgina. Preciosas. El ùnico pero, es que casi la mitad de ellas no fotografìan a la biblioteca en sì, sino estanterìas en donde se ve solamente los lomos de los libros. Por ùltimo: las medidas que se dan son las medidas del estuche de cartòn del libro. El libro (grande y bonito) en realidad mide 40.7 x 30 x 6.5 cm.

Il libro è meraviglioso. È stato un regalo di compleanno veramente molto apprezzato. Taschen è da sempre sinonimo di grande qualità.

Espectacular libro , la calidad de sus fotos junto con el grosor del papel hacen de éste un regaló increíble , lo único es que el libro pesa bastante