ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Anthropodermic bibliopegy

Anthropodermic bibliopegy is a complex and unusual term that refers to a very creepy practice of binding books with human skin. Yes, you read that right- some books have been covered with human skin as a way of preservation, decoration, or as a way of commemorating a particular event or person.

Back in the olden days, people conducted this practice to honor someone important who had passed away. Some people even believed that this act would keep the person's spirit alive, while others thought it would help preserve the book better.

To create such "human leather," the skin was first removed from human corpses, usually from people who donated their bodies to science or are prisoners or slaves. Afterward, the skin would undergo a curing process, such as tanning, until it resembled animal leather, complete with strange sewn markings, tattoos and scars.

While some people may think that this practice is disgusting or immoral, others consider it a historical artifact, and it is often studied by science researchers as a way of understanding human history, anatomy, and cultural values. However, by modern standards, using human skin is not only unethical but illegal, and this practice is no longer allowed.

So, in conclusion, anthropodermic bibliopegy is the practice of binding books with human skin, which was once done a long time ago to commemorate deceased individuals or as a way of preservation. However, it is no longer allowed, and people may study it only through historical texts and research data.