It’s always interesting to look at the history of some of the things we use on a daily basis but rarely think about. For example, take a look at the keys on your computer keyboard. Why are they arranged in rows like that? Who chose the order of the letters on each row? And why did people start to type instead of writing things out by hand? You can read about the history of typewriters and typing to get the answers to these questions, and you can also find books that feature typewriters and how they’re used as part of the story. We’ve listed five of these books below. If you know of any more, or of books that have computer keyboards as central plot elements, share them in the comments!

The Iron Whim: A Fragmented History of Typing (Darren Wershler-Henry)
A global and a personal look at the history of the typewriter, and the way that it has influenced authors and writing over the years.

The Typewriter: An Illustrated History (Dover Publications)
First published in the 1920s, this is a fascinating look – a real look, with pictures – at early typewriter models dating all the way back to 1829. Although the antique typewriters are no longer used, it’s fun to think about what they might look like when put into an ultra-modern setting in one of today’s high-tech office spaces!

The Typewriter Sketchbook (Paul Robert)
Another look back at the first typewriters, the people who invented and improved them, and how these machines were gradually incorporated into business use.

The Story of My Typewriter (Paul Auster)
Novelist Paul Auster has written many award-winning books, including In the Country of Last Things, The Brooklyn Follies, and Sunset Park – and he wrote all of them on his typewriter, a manual machine that he’s had for more than 30 years. In 2002, he wrote a short book about his faithful typewriter, illustrated with sketches and paintings by artist Sam Messer, which shows that the tools we use to write with can be just as compelling as the works themselves.

Typewriter in the Sky (L. Ron Hubbard)
A novel about a man who finds himself transformed into a character in a book that someone else is writing on a typewriter. Are we writing our own story, or is there someone else tapping out the keys to what happens next in our lives? Read this book and find out!