Staying Awake (2008)

Staying Awake (2008)(harpers.org)

15 points by NaOH 3 days ago | 5 comments

vintagedave 50 minutes ago |

> Over the years, books kept in print may earn hundreds of thousands of dollars for their publisher and author. A few steady earners, even though the annual earnings are in what is now dismissively called “the midlist,” can keep publishers in business for years, and even allow them to take a risk or two on new authors. … To get big quick money, the publisher must risk a multimillion-dollar advance on a hot author who’s supposed to provide this week’s bestseller. These millions—often a dead loss—come out of funds that used to go to pay normal advances to reliable midlist authors and the royalties on older books that kept selling. Many midlist authors have been dropped, many reliably selling books remaindered… Is that any way to run a business?

Does this still occur? It seems shortsighted in that wonderful ‘management’ ‘business’ way that we’ve all seen. Yet we hear of self-published books getting deals and Amazon and other catalogues make the most rare of books accessible for purchase. Wouldn’t today be ideal for midlist authors?*

sdwr 2 hours ago |

Does reading books have intrinsic value, or is it just a specific (archaic?) way of transmitting information? Socrates would be a podcaster today

none2585 35 minutes ago | |

I think specific, but not archaic. The written word can be beautiful like any other form of art - it's not only about transmitting information but transmitting emotion. Sorta like a photograph, painting, or song.

apsurd 1 hour ago | |

writing well is really hard. other mediums are other mediums.

sure the new mediums have reach going for them, but im not sure socrates would’ve enjoyed or optimized for popularity.

wartywhoa23 1 hour ago | |

Ever heard about imagination?