In America in 1938 a little book appeared in drugstores and in newsstands that would fit into the typical jacket pocket. It was just an experiment, but copies jumped off the shelves, and the paperback was born. The publisher was encouraged to bring out more and by the summer of 1939 everybody was buying and reading them. Regarded by many as disposable distractions a few people put them aside and started collections that we now realise are both valuable and collectible. The Great American Paperback is a museum of over 600 brilliant covers, each of them a miniature gem, evocative of the fashions and attitudes of its era. This book is destined to become a classic among librarians, graphic designers, collectors and anyone who loves paperbacks.