In July 1995, Amazon began service as an online bookstore. The first book sold: “Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models of the Fundamental Mechanisms of Thought” by Douglas Hofstadter and other members of the Fluid Analogies Research Group. The book explored the mechanisms of intelligence through computer modeling.
Highlighting Amazon customers’ favorite books from around the globe
Our colleagues identified the titles that flew off Amazon’s virtual shelves in the past year, and mapped them out. Explore the maps to learn what books readers loved the most in each U.S. state, and in countries around the world.
Earlier in 1995, on April 23, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created the first World Book Day. That date is significant, according to Wikipedia, because it is the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, as well as that of the birth and death of several other prominent authors.
This year, UNESCO notes, reading is more important than ever. At a time when most schools around the world remain closed, and people are limiting their time spent outdoors, UNESCO says “the power of books should be leveraged to combat isolation, reinforce ties between people, expand our horizons, while stimulating our minds and creativity.”
It is in this spirit that Amazon Science marks the day by showcasing some of Amazon.com’s top-selling books on artificial intelligence. The list includes some of the passages that are most frequently highlighted by Kindle readers.
