Sunday, October 10, 2010

129,864,880 unique books of the world

As of August 1, 2010, the best estimate of the number of unique (as defined) books in the world is 129,864,880, according to Google Books.  It is amazing that such an effort at counting was launched.

This number is very nearly the number of minutes in 247 years (247* 365.25* 24* 60). And 247 years is the span from 1763, the year the Seven Years' War ended, to 2010.

Browsing the world's books ceaselessly  at the rate of one book a minute would take me from 1763 to now. However, from now on, I would be in a comfortable position since English language books are published only at the rate of one title every 1.82 minutes.

No comments: