From handwritten illuminated manuscripts zealously guarded in medieval monasteries, to digital books readily available on the Worldwide Web, the evolution of the book during the second millennium has been nothing less that mind boggling. 

What do these changes mean for books both sacred and profane, and for those who make their living promulgating words and information? 

Has the inherent tension between the commercial, aesthetic, and ethical aspects of book publishing changed over time for better or worse?