A Place for Everything

In A Place for Everything, New York Times-bestselling historian Judith Flanders explores the history and impact of alphabetical order, tracing its evolution from the Library of Alexandria to modern platforms like Wikipedia. She highlights influential figures such as Samuel Pepys and Denis Diderot, while revealing how even iconic leaders like George Washington promoted this system despite resistance from traditional classification methods, like Yale's social status listing until 1886. With a blend of curiosity and humor, Flanders delves into how the alphabet has quietly shaped libraries, reference materials, and even Olympic events, offering a unique perspective on this seemingly invisible framework of Western knowledge.