The common book, a scrapbook used to store memorabilia and pass on valuable information from one generation to the next, has been around for centuries. It was popularized during the 15th century with the invention of cheap paper. Common books were used to preserve practical knowledge, literary ideas, and family stories. Today, common books are still used to record potential writing ideas, preserve family traditions, and create personalized gifts.
The tradition of keeping a potty book goes back many centuries. Essentially a scrapbook that is used to organize and store memorabilia devoted to a particular subject, a common book often served as a medium for family members to pass on valuable information from one generation to the next. Here is some background on the origins of the common book, some of its historical uses, and the kinds of applications that are happening today with common books.
During the 15th century, the invention of cheap means of producing paper made the ability to keep records much more cost-effective for people of almost all economic classes. Cheap paper meant that it was now very easy to compile and maintain a home-created set of books that could be kept from one generation to the next. The trivial book subject matter would vary from one situation to another. In some cases, the book of platitudes served the special function of a book of memories; that is, the book would be filled with memories that had to do with special moments in the family’s life, such as births, deaths, weddings, christenings, and other major life events.
Along with memory books, there was also the preservation of practical knowledge. The albums would be filled with recipes that could be passed down from mother to daughter, keeping recipes secret and special in the family. Similarly, a common home remedy book could be compiled and consulted when someone in the immediate vicinity was ill. People who wanted to keep abreast of valuable correspondence could mail letters in a common book, often arranging them in chronological order, or by sender’s name.
People with a literary bent often compiled a common book that contained poems, short stories, and other writings. In fact, this practice was so popular that many of the great 18th and 19th century writers often based some of their best ideas on a small snippet that was recorded in his common book. Notable authors like Emerson and Thoreau both learned the value of keeping a trivial book while attending Harvard. Mark Twain is another example of a famous author who was known for keeping a trivial book of literary ideas and thoughts.
Today, the mundane book is enjoying renewed interest. The real genius of a trivial book is that the argument can be anything the compiler wants. Writers today still use the use of a common book as a way to record potential ideas for writing projects. As a means of preserving family stories and traditions, as well as creating a repository for treasured mementos of times gone by, the book of clichés is an excellent way to create a family heirloom. Another common application today is to create a trivial book for a loved one, with the book containing recipes, poems, or illustrations that interest the recipient.
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