10 reasons why Reclam Publishers' little yellow books are so popular
Widely available, slim and trim, and affordable, too: Reclam paperbacks have been around for more than 150 years, filling the shelves of German bookshops and libraries. Here's why Germany loves the small yellow books.
They're on every German student's reading list
The stack is high: There are now some 3,500 titles in Reclam's Universal Library ("Universal-Bibliothek") series of literary classics, including many by famous German writers and artists (above). But let's not kid ourselves: Who honestly managed to read more than 100 during their studies?
They're nice and small
Each German household probably holds more of these little books than meets the eye. They're so small that they easily disappear behind larger volumes.
Some titles are bilingual
Along with the yellow booklets in German, there are the orange bilingual volumes, while the red ones are in a foreign language, and the the blue ones offer study guides to accompany the literary works.
Their covers that show they've been loved
Scribbled and stained covers can be found on many well-loved, or at least well-used, Reclam volumes. It's more proof that these books didn't just sit on a shelf.
They're witnesses of the past
Some authors' names might trigger nostalgia or chills, but they all have a home in the Reclam format.
Documenting ideas
Reclam publishes more than just the classics of literature. Speeches, theories and other essays are also included in the series, such as this book of three speeches by contemporary German political activist Jan Philipp Reemtsma.
They include must-reads
Reclam includes books that every student should read, including "The Diary of Anne Frank."
They're a template for creativity
Scribble, doodle and scrawl: Whatever helps when a class is really boring. The notes of long ago can make for interesting reads on top of the book — literally.
They inspired copycats
Penguin Classics were first created 80 year ago. Acclaimed graphic designer Willy Fleckhaus definitely drew on the original Reclam model for the covers he designed for German publisher Suhrkamp (above right).
They're cheap!
If thick, expensive tomes can turn off prospective readers, the Reclam books' low cost added to their enduring popularity.