Purvis created hundreds of books during his career, by drawing, painting and collaging the pages of found books. The quality, functionality and theme of the books varied greatly, most books where functioning sketch books or a convenient re-source to create works on paper that would be later cut out and used in his paintings and collages, other examples visually and/or thematically correlate to the subject matter of the book itself. Purvis also made books that where intended as purely sculptural works to be displayed as objects. Then ten books selected will focus on the thematic examples, with at least one "functional" and one "sculptural" example. Average dimensions are between 6 to 14 inches in any one direction and up to 5 inches in depth.