Founder Alfred Cahen had been a bookbinder when he bought Bible and dictionary publisher World Syndicate in 1929, Syndicate was dropped from the company name in 1940. In 1939 they started printed 49c hardbound nonfiction reprints as Tower Books (usually self-help, pop psychology books); other imprints include The Living Library and Rainbow Classics. Fiction was added in 1942. By 1963 Times- Mirror acquired World; in 1973 World had all but returned to Bibles and dictionaries. The following year William Collins bought the Bibles and dictionaries and World virtually ended though the name was used for another five years as William Colllins Company and World Publishing company. In 1979 World was dropped. World Publishing is not World Books.
