“If any industry deserves to go under, it’s the publishing industry.”

March 26th, 2009

“If any industry deserves to go under, it’s the publishing industry.” So writeth Andrew Sullivan in his popular blog, “The Daily Dish.”

I found the quote on another blog, a blog far more well-rounded than Mr. Sullivan’s, that of Nathan Bransford, a literary agent with the venerable Curtis Brown (my father’s literary agency many years ago).

While Mr. Bransford is generous in his praise of Mr. Sullivan’s talents (“I am constantly amazed by his ability to write so eloquently and instantaneously about the issues of the day. He’s a pioneer of the form, one of our brightest intellectuals, and someone I admire a great deal”), he does take him ever-so-gently to task on this outrageous statement.

And Bransford’s entry has drawn 61 responses!

You can let Andrew Sullivan know what you think of his observation by emailing andrew@theatlantic.com.