Making a Book from Scratch
If you tried to make a book from scratch, how would you do it?
The Art of Making a Book
An appreciation of the book as physical object.
Stick to Your Ribs: The Library With No Books In It
Editor’s Note: This post is being republished to coincide with the launch of the Digital Public Library.
What the Heck Does a Book Cost?
The sheer number of new marketing programs for books makes it hard to determine just how much a book costs. This post details all the factors involved with pricing.
The Results Are In — A Survey of Book Purchasers
The results from a recent survey on book discovery and purchasing are now available. Print is declining, but still an essential component of the business.
Chefs’ Selections: The Best Books Read During 2012
Once again, the Chefs list their favorite books read this year — everything from Presidents to statisticians to cancer to owl soup. Enjoy!
Speed and Retention — Are e-Readers Slower and More Forgetful?
E-readers seem to slow information accession and fog retention. Should we worry as the era of “big paper” begins its final stages?
Is Piracy Really the F**king Answer?
A viral book sensation’s obvious story may not be as obvious as some think, harder to replicate, and indicative of a strong counter-trend.
Mourning the Printed Book — The Aesthetic and Sensory Deprivation of E-books
Nostalgia about the book will be upon us soon enough. But we’ve been down similar paths before, and so have prior generations.
Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing — Authors Now Call the Shots
A best-selling author turns down a $500,000 advance in order to self-publish, while a self-published author who has earned $2 million takes a book contract. What’s going on here?
The Google Books Settlement: Where Things Stand, and Some Suggestions for What's Next
The Google Books Settlement actually hit its second roadblock this week. Here’s why, and where matter might go from here.
Why Does Availability Seem to Drive Down the Quality of Information Goods?
While it seems that availability drives down the quality of information goods, some exceptions make it clear this is not an unavoidable fate. Can scientific publishing beat the trend?
Can You Actually "Sell" an E-book? How You Answer Affects Your Revenue Assumptions
Customers have accepted the analogy that they “buy” e-books, but publishers may be faced with accepting the fact that they’re selling licenses. What this could mean to their bottom lines may not be the most painful part of this shift.
Will Reference Books and Journals Survive? A Debate
A debate at PSP reveals much, especially after it ends.
Does Thinking Benefit More from Contemplation or Exchange?
Distractions spur thoughts, so why do we want deep, contemplative thinking?