Books for All! Bücher für alle! Livres pour tous! ¡Libros para todos!: This was the slogan of UNESCO's worldwide efforts to improve access to books. In the present work, the author conducts case studies of book promotion projects, and evaluates their impact. At the same time, the examination raises fundamental questions about the societal role of the book. It offers a global comparison of differently structured book markets and international book cultures. Thus, it makes a major contribution to the international history of the book trade in the 20th century and to our understanding of the role of the book in world culture. Simultaneously, the examination can be read as a case study about the working methods and functions of a large international organization.