Book Publishers and a Changing Landscape

Posted by Jack on 01.06.2009 at 2:50 pm

Over on the New York Times Books section the pillory of publishing houses continues as ritzy lunches and lavish corporate outings are scrutinized.  This is no outsiders barrage though. Unlike the one we’ve seen in automobiles and finance groups, this is primarily the internal struggle of an industry trying to grapple with its own unsustainable excesses.  

As the article points out:

Read more…

1 Comment » | Tagged Book & Author News, james patterson, new york times, on my soapbox, the book industry

Looking Back: Events of 2008

Posted by Jack on 12.30.2008 at 12:33 pm

2008 was a crazy year.  

On the plus side, we saw history being made left and right: Barack Obama elected as the first black president of the United States.  There’s nothing I can write about this that hasn’t been said already, but wow, what a spectacular event that was.  It’s nice to see that your fellow citizens have the ability to surprise.

Before that Michael Phelps (yes he has a book) was on TV 24/7 as he dominated swimming in a way I haven’t seen since Flipper.  And on the plus side his voice was MUCH less annoying.  But seriously, the Olympics came and captured us like no other event really can, with everything from table tennis, to archery, to US gold in basketball, to the ever spectacular running (Usain Bolt anyone?  Have you Read more…

1 Comment » | Tagged Uncategorized, on my soapbox

Top Ten Fridays: Better World Books

Posted by Jack on 12.19.2008 at 12:23 pm

The following is a different kind of list. These are my Top Ten favorite things about Better World Books:

10. Feeling Connected – Through the wonders of Facebook it’s so easy to know what’s going on in the company. At 200+ people we’re right on the fringe, but it’s still like middle school where you know everyone–or at least have heard a slightly incriminating story about them–and thus are comfortable wishing anyone a happy birthday (even at the UK office!), new birth (to Casey and Justin’s newborn!), marriage (way to go Dustin!), or holidays (everyone!).

9. The Employee Discount – I would be bankrupt if it weren’t for the sweet discount that we get for being the loyal horde that is BWB employees. It’s just that simple.

8. Customer Service – Have you ever had a problem with an order? If you’re one of the few who have you’ve encountered our studly team of CS rockstars, you know that they’re a rare kind. They don’t just want to talk to you, they won’t rest Read more…

12 Comments » | Tagged Uncategorized, happy holidays!, on my soapbox

Better World Books Wants You to Get Selfish

Posted by Jack on 12.10.2008 at 4:32 pm

Get selfish.

It’s a phrase you’re going to be hearing quite a bit these days.  “Get selfish.”  Forget about what you want to do for others, it’s time you focused on what’s important: your rent, your job, i.e. you.

“Get selfish.” You’re going to hear about how you should change the focus, how now is the time to be serious about buckling down and hear the government talk of cuts in spending that include either the proverbial “hatchet” or “scalpel” to limit the issue.  You will be told to be careful with your spending and your assets.  You will lament your 401k, and if you haven’t done any retirement planning you will be told how dire the situation really is.

You’re going to hear “Get selfish.”  make time for you.  “Get selfish.” Give less, save more.  “Get selfish.” Do what you need to do.

What you’re not going to hear is about how hard it is for those elsewhere.  You’re not going to hear about the people who, forget about a mortgage, have never had clean water.  You’re not going to hear about people with diseases and no access to doctors.  You’re not going to hear about people in the US who drop out of high school to keep a roof over sibling’s heads.  You’re not going to hear about kids who never had a chance.  You’re not going to hear about the people who need your help the most.  Now.

If it’s getting hard for you, imagine what it’s like for those in need.

If you can connect with that–if you can feel for the people who will really be missing out this holiday season, that’s the way to be “recession-proof.”  The environment and people aren’t things that need to be focused on “when you have a chance,” they need to be as much of a priority as anything else.  These are not tertiary concerns.  The challenge in these times is to see further ahead than that next rent check, believe me, I know it’s hard.  But if not us, then who?  If not now then when?

So get selfish, readers.  Get selfish about improving your world and everyone in it, get selfish about making your environment cleaner, and get selfish about what mark you will leave on society, not about what mark society tries to leave on you.

Have your say » | Tagged Impact, on my soapbox

On the Book Industry and its Byproducts

Posted by Jack on 12.08.2008 at 3:05 pm

Across the pond, Two Ravens Press weighs in on the book industry these days:

The further demise of the book review is predicted by Robert McCrum in The Observer today.  “The book world is in full-blown transition,’ he says. ‘Blogs are rampant; Google is digitising every text going; e-readers are transforming the experience of reading. Books (and book reviewing) have been pushed to the margin. It doesn’t help that in a global recession publishing is also feeling the pinch.”

It’s an interesting question, whether blogs really are supplanting professional critical reviewing. I’m a big fan of really good serious literary blogs, which take the level of discussion about books to a place that a typical review, no matter how well done, can’t. A blog enables you to have a debate about books: what worked for you as a reader and what didn’t, and that’s a very valuable thing.

I agree with the value of book blogs (natch!) but would contest that there will always be a place for good writers.  I would go so far as to suggest that this is could become the Age of the Great Writer, Read more…

9 Comments » | Tagged Uncategorized, authors, book industry, journalism, on my soapbox, writers