A Pound of Paper - Hardcover

John Baxter is a novelist and broadcaster as well as being a hugely acclaimed film critic and film biographer. His subjects have included Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick. His most recent biography is of Robert De Niro.

Critics Rave About A Pound of Paper

"Baxter chronicles his growing obsession with books in a way that's utterly infectious, with sharp wit and self-deprecating humor . . . . Baxter's memoir will be of great interest to serious book collectors because so much of the book conveys the insiders' perspective, but his narrative is truly amusing and rollicking enough to entice book lovers of all kinds."--Publishers Weekly
"[An] entertaining account of his admittedly nerdy life. . . . Tasty junk food for book lovers."--Kirkus Reviews
"Baxter has written an informative book, and a delightful one, that guides the reader through a specialized and eccentric world with a wink and a smile."--Chicago Tribune
"A Pound of Paper leads us on a merry chase in pursuit of books, an undertaking as chancy as betting on the lottery. Baxter . . . prov[es] a most erudite and entertaining guide. . . . Essential to any current or prospective collector who wishes to engage in the hunt for a gem that might be worth a fortune or who simply wants to enjoy the pleasures of the game."--Roanoke Times
"Lively and colorful . . . . Baxter tells his stories with humor, suspense and plenty of style."--Virginian-Pilot
"Erudite and mirthful . . . told with ornery, self-deprecating wit."--Time Out New York
"A Pound of Paper--the weight, more or less of a book-is the peg on which Baxter hangs episodes of autobiography . . . the book collectors who buy this particular pound of paper will profit from it in every sense." --The London Times
"Of the making of many books there is no end. But who's complaining, especially when something as entertaining as John Baxter's A Pound of Paper comes along? At the outset he quotes Groucho Marx: " 'Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read.' " --Glasgow Sunday Herald
"An addictive romp through the unconventional life of an obsessive . . . . John Baxter may claim books lack sex appeal, but he proves the opposite." --Metro [England]


"[An} entertaining account of his admittedly nerdy life... Tasty junk food for book lovers." (Kirkus Reviews)

"An addictive romp through the unconventional life of an obsessive . . . John Baxter may claim books lack sex appeal, but he proves the opposite." (Metro [England])