How to Open a Book

Download Article
Download Article

This wikiHow article will teach you the steps to opening a physical paper book.

Steps

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Open-a-Book-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Book-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Open-a-Book-Step-1.jpg\/aid9422004-v4-728px-Open-a-Book-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The bottom of the book should be parallel to your torso.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Open-a-Book-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Book-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Open-a-Book-Step-2.jpg\/aid9422004-v4-728px-Open-a-Book-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Book covers are usually a different texture than the book pages. If you cannot find the book cover, use the very top layer of the book. Place your thumb under the cover, then apply pressure on the cover's top with your index finger.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Open-a-Book-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Book-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Open-a-Book-Step-3.jpg\/aid9422004-v4-728px-Open-a-Book-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Everything under the cover should remain on the table top. The cover will not detach from the spine of the book, but instead lay at an angle next to the rest of the book. The book will now be open with the cover being face down towards the table to the left of the rest of the book.
    • Some non-English books may open to the right instead.
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Does this apply to newspapers?
    HumanBeing
    Top Answerer
    You can open a newspaper following these steps; just remember newspapers have a front page, not a front cover. If you're unsure which is the front page of the newspaper you are trying to open, look for the biggest headline - this will be something attention-grabbing printed in the biggest letters used in the newspaper. The newspaper's name will also be on the front page.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 27
  • Question
    Does this work for movie cases?
    Ty Stillwell
    Community Answer
    No, just pry the case open by pulling the front and back away from each other.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 22
  • Question
    Does this work for audio books?
    Community Answer
    No, this does not work for audio books, as audio books are not physical objects.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 15 Helpful 58
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • You could lay the book on your lap, or on a tabletop in front of you. This will make the process easier.
        Thanks
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to DIY a Totally Fetch Burn Book
      A Beginner's Guide to Writing a Book Report (with Examples)
      How to
      Order a Phone Book
      How to
      Wrap Books As a Gift
      How to
      Fix Wavy Book Pages
      How to Share Kindle Books with Family and Friends
      How to
      Tell the Edition of a Book
      4 Ways to Know If an Old Book Is First Edition
      How to
      Understand Homestuck Quadrants
      How to
      Quote a Book
      How to
      Write a Book Summary
      How to
      Choose a Good Book
      How to
      Analyze a Book
      The Microsoft Word Thesaurus: Find Synonyms & Antonyms Easily
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 35,124 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement