Abstract
This paper presents a theoretical and methodological review of prevailing approaches to conceptualizing the book as a form of media within Western social sciences and humanities. It analyzes three primary scholarly perspectives: media theory, historiography of the book, and a sociological framework that integrates the sociology of texts with the cultural history of reading and book production. Each approach exhibits distinct interpretations of the book’s role: as a medium influencing perception and culture (media theory), as a catalyst for social transformation (historiography), and as a constituent of communication systems distinguished by its materiality and social context (sociological perspective). This comprehensive review aims to elucidate methodological divergences and convergences in the scholarly understanding of the book as media.