Museums Matter: In Praise of the Encyclopedic Museum

Museums Matter: In Praise of the Encyclopedic Museum (2011) is a book by art museum director James Cuno, published by the University of Chicago Press. Cuno defends encyclopedic museums such as the British Museum and the Louvre, arguing that they promote understanding across cultures by gathering objects from many civilizations under one roof. He answers critics who want artifacts returned solely to their countries of origin.

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Fareed Zakaria: “This week's book of the week is "Museums Matter" by James Cuno. It's summertime and maybe you will be tempted into one of the great museums of the world. These museums are under attack from some places for housing stuff from other countries and cultures, often acquiring it in not-so-lovely ways. Well, the author, the head of the J. Paul Getty Trust, explains why the great encyclopedic museums, like the Metropolitan Museum, are essential to understanding the modern world. Understanding globalization, diverse cultures and basically are a force for good. It is a brilliant book, brief and very well written.”