November 2005. The Renaissance, by Paul Johnson. I have been to Florence probably 5-6 times in my life, but after reading Paul Johnson's book, I want to go back and revisit that city with a new perspective on the art and artists of the Renaissance. Johnson's book is very fast paced and, as the Forbes endorsement on the cover says, packs an enormous amount of information and insight. On page 21, Johnson puts the pace of change into perspective with the statement that before the printing press, there were fewer than 100000 books on the entire continent of Europe. By 1500, the number increased to 9 million. As we discussed this book, and that particular observation, we noted that there were more books contained in the Barnes and Noble store in which we were meeting, than on the continent of Europe before the printing press. So, if you are planning a trip to Florence, or know of anyone planning such a trip, I recommend that you read this short book and also grab a copy of the Knopf Guide to Florence. There are no better guides than the Knopf guides for historical detail. Back to reading list
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