Merchants of Culture: The Publishing Business in the Twenty-First Century

Nicole Cushing said A Bit Outdated on the Digital Side, But Great Interviews on How the Sausage Gets Made. What I liked: I've been studying publishing for several years now and I managed to learn something new. (The chapter on "Extreme Publishing" was illuminating.) And even the most jaded observer of the field will find a few juicy (and jaw-dropping) revelations here about how the sausage of CorpFic gets made.What I didn't like: A lengthy chapter on the digital revolution is, by this point, a bit out of date. Yes, some of the general principles still apply, but there's no commentary on the current resurgence of print or even the self-publishing movement and its role in putting price pressure on. "If You Want To Learn About the Publishing Business, This Is the Book To Get" according to Amazon Customer. I set out wanting to learn more about the publishing industry, and thanks to this highly informative book, I did. I particularly enjoyed the anonymous professionals and their uncensored comments about where publishing has gone in the 21st century. My only caveat is that the book tended to repeat itself on occasion; other than that, the prose, though written by a Cambridge don, is clear and really describes a complex subject in terms the layman can understand. I now know about The Gap and paying for display place in bookstores which I had no idea existed. A job very well done!. Fields of Dreams Christian Schlect A serious book that, if read, would be found enjoyable by people employed in the publishing industry, those interested generally in fast-changing business sectors, writers, and all others with an eye to cultural shifts.John B. Thompson's effort explains much of the mystery of how books get published, what goes into marketing titles, and why some authors make millions. More important, Professor Thompson clearly explains, with little use of academic jargon, the epic changes (computers, business consolidation, the Internet, Kindle, etc.) of the last few decades in book publishing---from the co

Offering an in-depth analysis of how the digital revolution is changing the game today, Merchants of Culture is the one book that anyone with a stake in the industry needs to read.. Norton & Company For nearly five centuries, the world of book publishing remained largely static. "All you need to know about the industry at a time of momentous change." -Drake McFeely, chairman and president, W.W. But at the dawn of the twenty-first century, the industry faces a combination of economic pressures and technological change that is forcing publishers to alter their practices and think hard about the future of the book.John Thompson's riveting account dissects the roles of publishers, agents, and booksellers in the United States and Britain, charting their transformation since the 1960s

Thompson is Professor of Sociology at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge. John B.

Thompson's research has produced an excellent history and analysis; it's a wonderful book, highly recommended."—Australian Book Review"The single most impressive fact to drive home about this remarkable book is that Thompson displays a rare gift, that of presenting a world of the most heart-stopping complexity in short, simple, inter-related steps This is a book to buy and use and keep on your shelf."—Tribune"A superb history and analysis of publishing and bookselling, from the 1960s to the present, against the background of the rapidly expandin