EPISODE · May 25, 2026 · 28 MIN
389. What Was the First Book Ever Written? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
from Thinking in English · host Thomas Wilkinson
Humans have been speaking languages for tens of thousands of years. We told stories around fires, passed down myths from parents to children, and memorised important information about survival and history. But for a very long time, nobody could write anything down. Then, at some point, humans invented writing. Writing allowed people to record laws, preserve stories, collect knowledge, and communicate across generations. Eventually, writing gave us books. Today, I want to explore the history of books, from ancient clay tablets in Mesopotamia to modern audiobooks and e-books on smartphones. We’ll look at the origins of writing, the oldest surviving texts, the first true “books,” the world’s first novels, the printing revolution, the bestselling books in history, and finally… the future of reading itself. And we will do all of this while learning some new vocabulary and practicing your English listening comprehension. Conversation Club - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/patreon/conversation-clubs/ TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/05/25/389-what-was-the-first-book-ever-written-english-vocabulary-lesson/ AD Free Episode - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) $10 Free Credits on iTalki (Affiliate Link) - https://www.italki.com/affshare?ref=af17506448 My Editing Software (50 % Discount Affiliate Link) - https://descript.cello.so/BgOK9XOfQdD Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Humans have been speaking languages for tens of thousands of years. We told stories around fires, passed down myths from parents to children, and memorised important information about survival and history. But for a very long time, nobody could write anything down. Then, at some point, humans invented writing. Writing allowed people to record laws, preserve stories, collect knowledge, and communicate across generations. Eventually, writing gave us books. Today, I want to explore the history of books, from ancient clay tablets in Mesopotamia to modern audiobooks and e-books on smartphones. We’ll look at the origins of writing, the oldest surviving texts, the first true “books,” the world’s first novels, the printing revolution, the bestselling books in history, and finally… the future of reading itself. And we will do all of this while learning some new vocabulary and practicing your English listening comprehension. Conversation Club - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/patreon/conversation-clubs/ TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/05/25/389-what-was-the-first-book-ever-written-english-vocabulary-lesson/ AD Free Episode - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) $10 Free Credits on iTalki (Affiliate Link) - https://www.italki.com/affshare?ref=af17506448 My Editing Software (50 % Discount Affiliate Link) - https://descript.cello.so/BgOK9XOfQdD Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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389. What Was the First Book Ever Written? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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