Method for pressing a book block (1, 1'), which has a rounded back (2, 2') and a longitudinal axis running along the back (2, 2'), in which pressing is carried out over the rounded back (2, 2') with the following process steps one after the other: • the book block (1, 1') is clamped between two gripping jaws on both sides in an area near the back parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rounded back (2, 2'), • a pressing body is moved at least once against the rounded back (2, 2') of the book block (1, 1'), in which it is put on this perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and in the middle or at least near the middle of the rounded back (2, 2') and then moved at least over a section of the back, in which • the pressing body presses the book block (1, 1') over the back (2, 2') parallel to the longitudinal axis on at least one continuous movement path that may be preselected, lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the back (2, 2'), and in which • the form of the at least one movement path of the pressing body is preset through a gear (10, 10') that is made variable, in which after presetting a first actuator produces a certain adjustment of the gear (10, 10') continuously before and/or whilst the pressing body is moved over the back (2, 2'), characterised in that to move the pressing body the gear (10, 10') has at least two first gear elements (11,21) that may be moved horizontally and symmetrically to each other by means of a first actuator, each with two cams with grooves (12, 13, 22, 23) or at least two second gear elements (81, 82) that may be moved horizontally and symmetrically towards each other or away from each other by means of the first actuator, each with a crank lever (85, 86) mounted in a pivot point (87, 88) so that it may turn, in which the pressing body is mounted by means of a crossbar, and that by means of this gear (10,10') the movement path is preselected, in which the first actuator moves the first gear elements (11, 21) or the second gear elements (81, 82) horizontally towards each other or away from each other. • the book block (1, 1') is clamped between two gripping jaws on both sides in an area near the back parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rounded back (2, 2'), • a pressing body is moved at least once against the rounded back (2, 2') of the book block (1, 1'), in which it is put on this perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and in the middle or at least near the middle of the rounded back (2, 2') and then moved at least over a section of the back, in which • the pressing body presses the book block (1, 1') over the back (2, 2') parallel to the longitudinal axis on at least one continuous movement path that may be preselected, lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the back (2, 2'), and in which • the form of the at least one movement path of the pressing body is preset through a gear (10, 10') that is made variable, in which after presetting a first actuator produces a certain adjustment of the gear (10, 10') continuously before and/or whilst the pressing body is moved over the back (2, 2'), characterised in that to move the pressing body the gear (10, 10') has at least two first gear elements (11,21) that may be moved horizontally and symmetrically to each other by means of a first actuator, each with two cams with grooves (12, 13, 22, 23) or at least two second gear elements (81, 82) that may be moved horizontally and symmetrically towards each other or away from each other by means of the first actuator, each with a crank lever (85, 86) mounted in a pivot point (87, 88) so that it may turn, in which the pressing body is mounted by means of a crossbar, and that by means of this gear (10,10') the movement path is preselected, in which the first actuator moves the first gear elements (11, 21) or the second gear elements (81, 82) horizontally towards each other or away from each other.