When we evaluate new technology I believe that the key equation is “push or pull.” It is the rare new technology product released to the public where the reaction is an immediate: “I want that.” I suppose Facebook and Twitter are recent examples of “I want that” being a very common refrain. It certainly didn’t [...]
“The McGraw-Hill Companies reported a 43.2% increase in fourth quarter EPS,” says today’s press release.(Log-in may be required).
The big gains were in McGraw-Hill Education at 2.6% and in Financial Services at 10.6%.
“Information & Media” declined by 11.4%; you’ll have to dig deeper than I have to figure that one out.
The major message I’m receiving is [...]
A fine blog post from Joe Esposito that I wish I’d written…a small excerpt:
Empires, by definition, begin their decline at their peak. Today Amazon bestrides the publishing world like Caesar, and it may seem far-fetched to think of this company slipping from its dominant position. There is some doubt, however, that Amazon can continue to [...]
OK, I’m obsessed. I just checked and I’ve written over 30 blog entries in the last few years about Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, for what I consider empty, meaningless hype around the Kindle and eBooks generally. Where is Peter Finch’s Howard Beale when we need him: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take [...]
From Dublin, Ireland comes Eoin Purcell’s Blog, one of the best blogs on where publishing is heading, albeit with a primary focus on book publishing.
Today’s delightful entry, “My 2009 Publishing Heroes” is to me a fine example of the web at its best. Through this blog entry I was introduced to five new thinkers whom [...]
Gosh I do write an awful lot about eBooks, but it is the flavor-of-the-year, not just for book publishers of course, but for readers (and publishers) everywhere. Always controversial, it never fails to “make good copy,” as they used to say in the newspaper business.
O’Reilly, the company; Tim O’Reilly, the founder; Andrew Savikas, a leading [...]
The IDPF (International Digital Publishing Forum) has released its October sales figures and the records continue to be broken. As noted in an email to IDPF members:
eBook sales statistics for October 2009 have been released from the Association of American Publishers (AAP) who collects these statistics in conjunction with the IDPF. Trade eBook sales were [...]
I’m not certain if I can justify this posting as in any way representing the future of publishing, but I know that I can’t resist reporting on it.
As noted on the publication’s web site, “The Literary Review Bad Sex in Fiction Award was inaugurated by [Evelyn Waugh's son] Auberon Waugh in 1993 to ‘draw attention [...]
Mike Shatzkin once again nails a tough topic with his blog posting, “Some thoughts about piracy.” DRM remains a tough subject for all, be they music, film, periodical or book publishers. Of course each face the challenge in somewhat different ways, both by dint of economics and because of practical realities.
As Mike points out, “the [...]
For the last two days I’ve been reading a good old-fashioned paperback novel. Written by Steve Hely, published by Grove/Atlantic, Inc., it’s called “How I Became a Famous Novelist.” I don’t remember how I first heard about it, but I ordered in from the West Vancouver Public Library and picked it up yesterday. As was promised [...]
