Income Taxes - Reconciliation From Federal Statutory Tax Rate to Effective Tax Rate (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations Tax Rate Reconciliation [Abstract]
Federal statutory tax rate	21.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Change in valuation allowances	29.50%	2.80%	(7.10%)
Interest limitation valuation allowance	84.60%	0.00%	0.00%
State and local income taxes, net of U.S. federal income tax benefit	(14.40%)	(2.90%)	0.00%
Impairment charges	(0.00%)	6.60%	(32.30%)
Foreign tax	16.40%	4.20%	(1.20%)
Adjustment of uncertain tax positions and interest	(19.20%)	(3.20%)	0.50%
Reorganization	0.00%	0.00%	3.90%
Foreign tax rate differential	(13.10%)	(21.20%)	3.00%
Impact of the Tax Act	19.40%	146.20%	0.00%
Tax impact of net gain on sale of Donnelley Financial and LSC shares	0.00%	(21.60%)	0.00%
Tax impact on GILTI	15.30%	0.00%	0.00%
Tax impact on sale of Print Logistics	(9.30%)	(0.00%)	(0.00%)
Other	3.70%	(1.90%)	0.70%
Effective income tax rate	133.90%	144.00%	2.50%

Effective income tax rate reconciliation foreign taxes.

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Effective income tax rate reconciliation, impact of Tax Cuts And Jobs Act of 2017.

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Effective income tax rate reconciliation, interest limitation valuation allowance.

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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to impairment gains losses.

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Effective income tax rate reconciliation, reorganization adjustments

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Effective income tax rate reconciliation tax contingencies and interest.

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Effective income tax rate reconciliation, tax impact of net gain on sale of shares of affiliates.

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Effective income tax rate reconciliation tax impact on GILTI.

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Effective income tax rate reconciliation, tax impact on sale of print logistics.

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Percentage of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss).

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