* Earliest forms of writing: Early humans communicated through cave paintings, petroglyphs, and clay tablets. These predate any recognizable "book" format.
* Scrolls and Papyrus: The ancient Egyptians developed papyrus, a material used to write on scrolls. These scrolls were essentially long strips of paper rolled up for storage and reading. Ancient Greeks and Romans also used scrolls.
* Codex: The codex, a format closer to our modern book, emerged around the 1st century AD. It consisted of sheets of parchment or vellum sewn together and bound. This allowed for easier navigation and reference.
* Printing press: The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century revolutionized book production, making them more accessible.
Therefore, attributing the creation of the "first book" to a single person is not accurate. The concept of a book developed over time, with many individuals contributing to its evolution.