Random Notes

Do Not Panic: But there may be some reason to be concerned about the future of book publishing. Or rather, about its future as a business devoted largely to books for their own sake, as opposed to books as “products.” To an unprecedented degree, and in unprecedented ways, the book industry is becoming a business like many others.

The transformation began during the Seventies, as one after another independent, closely held publishing house was swallowed whole by one after another loutish media baron or multinational corporation. Corporatized houses began acquiring other, independent houses. Bureaucracy flourished in what had been a fairly liquid, collegial, even scholarly industry. Author advances spiraled upward uncontrollably. And the influence of editors began giving way to the influence of agents and corporate executives.

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Do Not Panic: But there may be some reason to be concerned about the future of book publishing. Or rather, about its future as a business devoted largely to books for their own sake, as opposed to books as “products.” To an unprecedented degree, and in unprecedented ways, the book industry is becoming a business like many others.

The transformation began during the Seventies, as one after another independent, closely held publishing house was swallowed whole by one after another loutish media baron or multinational corporation. Corporatized houses began acquiring other, independent houses. Bureaucracy flourished in what had been a fairly liquid, collegial, even scholarly industry. Author advances spiraled upward uncontrollably. And the influence of editors began giving way to the influence of agents and corporate executives.