Blue Light Special, Aisle 12, BOOKS!

 

Last week, The New York Times had an interesting article about bargain-hunting for books. The article, by David Streitfeld, suggests that the struggles of the publishing industry are not the fault of the recession, or nonexistent reader attention spans, or even a decline in people who read books. The struggles, it seems, are our fault.

You and me, the ones who use the Interwebs to buy (and sell) books.

Let me explain.

There are countless sites nowadays that sell used books — many for as little as a penny — and while you and I are undoubtedly saving a great deal of money (a brand-spankin’ new hardcover can run 25 bucks or more, which isn’t insigificant to we working stiffs), we are, admittedly, not giving our money to those responsible for bringing us the book in the first place. Namely, the author and the publisher. “This is not about Amazon peddling new books at discounted prices, which has been a factor in the book business for a decade,” writes Streitfeld, “but about the rise of a worldwide network of amateurs who sell books from their homes or, if they’re lazy like me, in partnership with an Internet dealer who does all the work for a chunk of the proceeds.”

Ruh-roh! I am leary to admit this — because used books are orgasmic for me — but methinks I agree with Mr. Streitfeld. Even if that duct taped-together copy of Men Are from Mars is only one cent, the penny should, in all good conscience, go to John Gray and not a lady in Baltimore who is clearing out her dead spinster aunt’s bookshelf. Does John Gray need the money? Probably not. Would it be better utilized going to Lady Baltimore? I’m sure it would. This is the dilemma we face when we buy used books online.

And like any addict, I’ll close with this: I know it may not be the “right” thing to do, but it is a simple little act that brings me a lot of pleasure. No one’s getting hurt. I can stop any time I want.

And I don’t want to.

 

Story Source  The New York Times via Rare Book News  |  Image Source  Black Marks on Wood Pulp

January 5, 2009 | Filed Under Random Acts of Snarkness | Leave a Comment 

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