On July 14th, 1946, at the dawn of the post-World War II baby
boom, Dr. Benjamin Spock published The Common Sense
Book of Baby and Child Care. It would become a foundational
work on the topic of parenting, transforming how generations
of children were raised.

The book, which has sold more than 50 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages, stands as one of the
best-selling nonfiction works of the 20th century.

Dr. Benjamin McLane Spock
(May 2, 1903–March 15, 1998)

In the decades after publishing what would become
a worldwide childcare bible, Benjamin Spock gained
renown for his political activism.

He became a prominent opponent of the Vietnam War,
the military draft and nuclear weapons; in 1968, he was
convicted for aiding draft resisters. In 1972, he ran—
and lost—as the People’s Party’s presidential candidate.

Being shown is one of the oldest books in existence, the
Crosby-Schoyen Codex.

One of the oldest Christian liturgical books is expected to sell
for more than $2.6 million at an auction in London.

The Crosby-Schøyen Codex was written on Egyptian papyrus
from around 250-350 A.D., and produced in one of the first
monasteries.

"It’s right at that period, that transitional period, when papyrus
scroll starts turning into codex form," Eugenio Donadoni,
Christie’s Senior Specialist, Medieval and Renaissance
Manuscripts, told Reuters. "So, books as we know them
today. What we have in this book is the earliest known texts
of two books of the Bible."

Fox News

ROSS SIMPSON

On August 27, 1955, the first edition of “The Guinness Book of
Records” was published in Great Britain; it quickly proved to
be a hit. Now known as the “Guinness World Records” book,
the annual publication features a wide range of feats related
to humans and animals.

The inspiration for the record book can be traced to Sir Hugh
Beaver, managing director of the Guinness Brewery in Dublin.

Compiled by sports journalists Norris and Ross McWhirter

The very first Guinness Book of World Records.

Sir Hugh Eyre Campbell Beaver
(4 May 1890 – 16 January 1967)

A special edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone"
will hit the auction market in September after surviving — what
could have been — a disastrous fire. 

The book is one of 15 published to mark the 15th anniversary
of Harry Potter. Author J.K. Rowling signed it and dedicated it. 

The owner (Carina Haouchine) of a special edition Harry
Potter book is putting it up for auction after it was nearly
lost in a fire. 

Joanne (J.K.) Rowling