Blades wrote this humorous account of various forces that can intentionally or accidentally destroy book collections, ranging from pests and fire to women and children. Blades’ accounts give readers an insight on the lifestyle and technology of a previous era, highlighting gas lamps and asbestos stoves for example. While his advice is antiquated, Blades offers an interesting and irreverent account of a serious need. Books, after all, are fragile and in need of the utmost care regardless of the century.