Books: The Watering Hole

I have been in publishing my entire working life -- not because I planned it, but because when looking through internship programs while in college at Barnard (a really long time ago) I saw an opening with a literary agency. I had no idea what a literary agent did, but I was a fairly typical book geek and it seemed like something I could do with my English major besides teach.

I stayed in publishing because once there, I found I couldn't do anything else. My childhood compulsion to read (and talk about how I thought the books could be better) became a way of life -- one about which I am deeply passionate, but also realistic.

For my entire working life, the world of books has gone through huge upheavals: expansions at first, then contraction, contraction, contraction. There were more books than ever to publish, and fewer people to handle them; more books, fewer people to read them; more books, fewer places to sell them; more books, fewer places to get attention for them, because everywhere -- The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Boston Globe -- book review sections were closing down.

So when Arianna asked me to think about a Books section for The Huffington Post, I thought, why a new books section, why Huffington Post, why now?

Because there's never been a better time or place. People who think books are dying don't understand the power of ideas to inspire. And people who think books will die at the hands of the Internet, don't understand the power of what happens when an engaged reader -- of both web and print content -- discovers new ideas, new thoughts, new thinkers, or remembers the impact of a classic. Word spreads faster than ever, and the ensuing debate helps refine ideas for the future.

Filmmaker Mickey Lemle (from whom you will hear in several blog posts), quotes Marshall McLuhan saying something to the effect that one medium doesn't replace another; it frees it to do what it does best. TV didn't kill radio, movies didn't kill theater, the Internet won't kill books. Nothing can replace the experience of settling into a comfortable chair, perfect reading lamp hovering above, favorite beverage on the end table (and for me, a little piece of high octane chocolate), opening a book on your lap and entering into a long, deep conversation of minds: the one that takes place between yours and the author's.

Thanks to the Internet, we have access to a wider range of books than ever before -- those from the conglomerates, to the regional presses, from the world of print on demand to pure digital format. We have access to a wider range of reviews and reviewers (book blogs -- wait till you see how many there are). We have the potential for immediate feedback, to find out what's working and what's not, what's being searched on Google and what's dropping off the map. We have the potential for more dialog than ever before about what we like and what we don't, what we want more of and what we want to see less of. We have the freedom to speak about it candidly but look for the Association of American Publishers' First Amendment warrior Judy Platt to alert us to when that right is in danger.

My hope for HuffPost's Books section is that it becomes a gathering place for all kinds of book lovers -- readers, booksellers, writers, editors, reviewers, book publicists, sales reps, book designers and printers -- to speak to each other, to exchange ideas, to honor where we've come from as well as the road ahead. Books are alive and well, but everything around them is changing. So come and speak to us and to each other. Tell us what you want more of and tell us what's not working. Let us know what books you love, and laugh over a few clunkers we found -- stay tuned for a voting slide show on silliest book titles. Because while the Internet won't kill books, boredom, earnestness and despair just might.

 

Comments

[twohearts]

I would LOVE to be part of a Books section here. It amazes me when I realize how many people have no idea about history, the Constitution, classic fiction etc. etc.
I know that Kindle is very popular now, which is great for some people, but Google's attempt to get publishing rights for practically every book really bothers me.
I, too, read the NYT every day, and I read Sunday's Book Review, but it will be nice to have this - and the NY Review.

[themodernleader]

Amy, when I put my manuscript together and you read it, you will be forever changed. In the followup rejection letter you will write that there is no need or interest in land-mark studies of leadership because of the lack of interest of your readers. Furthermore, leadership is highly developed in our great country. We don't need no new ideas.
And like the little white hen, I shall publish the book myself and make millions, or thousands or hundreds or little or nothing. And highly achieving and productive countries will greet me as a prophet for giving them a bluepriint for great administration.

[Heavhauler]

Speaking of books. When I saw they had a huge pile of Glen Becks newest book at COSCO my wife and I went straight to customer service and dropped our membership.
Books can be great motivators.

[Amy Hertz - Huffpost Blogger]

On behalf of all booklovers, you rock for that one.

[Lowell Thompson - Huffpost Blogger]

Amy,
As as mentioned in my comments to Arianna, I'm a Huffington Post blogger who thought it was a great idea when it first started. I think the book section is a great addition.

Like you and Arianna, I love books, but I also love book covers. So I created a blog that, at least as far as I know, the world's first blog devoted to rating book covers. It's called Buy The Cover and it's at http://www.buythecover.com. Please check it out. I've already rated Sarah Palin's book cover for "Going Rogue". See if you agree.

[alumcreek]

As a books and antiques dealer I am always saddened when I visit a house that has no reading matter in it. No magazines, books or newspapers are visible anywhere. It breaks my heart. I would find such a life lacking in value. I know the occupants of the house are most probably uneducated and oblivious to the rest of the world.

TV in no way supplies what the printed word has managed to offer readers.

[blindjester]

One of the cool things we still do in schools is hand out Reading is Fundamental books (with federal money). It isn't a perfect system (never enough money, of course), but the low-income students I teach get 3 new books a year, and for most of them those are the only books their house has ever had.

[Alex Miller]

Great idea. One of the coolest things a site like HuffPost can do is help bring exposure to the many good e-books that are out there. Many authors like myself, frustrated with the traditional publishing process, are simply going online. Some charge, most don't. Some of it's crap, some of it's pretty good. Bringing attention to some of the latest popular posts on sites like scribd.com, feedbooks, smashbooks and others would be a great service to e-authors. The reality is that once we post, we've little idea how to market and bring eyes to our work. You can publish on Kindle, but how do you alert Kindle readers to the existence of your novel? Help us out, HuffPost!

[Paula Krapf]

If you want to notify Kindle readers, visit the Kindle groups online. Yahoo has at least one (groups.yahoo.com) and there is another at kindleboards.com. There is also a Kindle discussion group on Amazon. If you Google 'Kindle groups' and 'Kindle blogs' you'll find other sites. Some authors even offer a Kindle freebie for a short period of time, and the Kindle groups always publicize those. Good luck!

[kuhler]

I love the prospect of a Books section; please bring it on ASAP! While we're at it, how about Movie Review section as well?

[malodorousgit]

I think it's a terrific idea. I'm always looking for new fiction writers from a reliable source.

[ProfRob]

Great idea. Congrats! I would suggest getting some reader help in evaluating the many free ebooks available on line. One person can't check them all. Some are pure trash. This can be seen in the first paragraph or page. Others are inspired, like the series on overpopulation and related social and ethical problems in the sci fi/non-fiction work "And Gulliver Returns"--In Search of Utopia--(http://andgulliverreturns.info)
I think, too, that some older books need to be re-introduced. My personal favorite is Will and Ariel Durant's series "Age of Civilization". Most of my friends have never heard of it.

[Dukedraven]

To paraphrase a line from the movie "The Player": Books, now more than ever.

[Mark Goulston, M.D. - Huffpost Blogger]

Congratulations and welcome to your new post Amy.

Years ago an African native came to Manhattan and when asked what he thought about it, his response was: "They don't see the sky."

Too often in this world, we are so busy locked in "mano-a-mano," "zero sum" debates that we don't stop to share a vision of a future we will all want to be a part of making a reality nor share in the humanity that can connect us in the present.

I hope you will include books that ennoble and embolden the spirit.

Good luck. I can hardly wait to see what you bring our way.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Congrats Amy,

May you enjoy, have fun and enlighten!

Ed & Deb

[Einstein44]

As my professor stated many years ago,a home without books is like a body without a soul.

[dahpunkster]

Just got done reading moral disorder,by margaret atwood,its a bunch of short stories of a mother ,a sister and a daughter from several differant eras .There is a great story from the 1980's about her septugenarian real estate agent,Lillie a holocaust survivor with a great outlook on life,who can find anyone ,no matter how tight the budget a charming house. (she makes all of her clients these horrible cookies that you could use as doorstops.
There is also a awesome from the seventies of this posh yuppie couple who are trying to start their own organic farm(their aren't very good at any of it, which makes it funny) you get a feel for how she comes up with her characters and what is going on her head,when she is writing this stuff.
If any one has read anything exciting lately,let me know, I am trying to find something fun to read.

[tucsoncindy]

punkster...this sounds like something I can relate to. I was raised by holocaust survivor who had much the same outlook on things. I will let you know my thought when I finish the book. You've be fanned.

[dahpunkster]

thank you tuscon cindy. The name of the story is called entities. Thanks for friending me and showing interest. I truly appreciate it.

[tucsoncindy]

This is a great way to open minds without yelling at one another. I 'm happy to see your post, and look forward to reading again. Thank you Arianna.