July 30 is Paperback Book Day, so bibliophiles rejoice!
Figuring out why today is Paperback Book Day took a decent bit of research, so I’ll share my findings with you.
Penguin Books published its first paperback books on July 30, 1935. Although other books with paper covers had been published for many years (such as penny dreadfuls, yellow-backs, dime novels, and even pulp magazines), only one other publisher had attempted to publish any respectable quality writing without a hardcover.
That company (Albatross Books) printed several books in 1931 and 1932, but went under quickly. However, when Penguin Books began printing a few years later, their cheap reprints of popular books became immensely popular very quickly. Therefore, their opening day, July 30, can now be celebrated as Paperback Book Day!
Celebrate by reading a favorite paperback, a new paperback, or trying your hand at being a “Paperback Writer” yourself!
“Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.”
Ecclesiastes 12:12b
A Year of Holidays 