The height is noted as 17", but keep in mind that the top of the bag is more curved than the photo appears. I have a 15.5" screen laptop that I was expecting to fit in this bag, but unfortunately it did not. I decided to go with a different Wenger bag - the Granite - which has a padded compartment and more generous head room in the main compartment. My laptop fits in the Granite as if it was made to, so I would advise it as a laptop bad for a screen size 15.6" and under.
The Bungee was a decent bag, and I believe it would do fine for normal book use.