With subtle interactive features and simple, bold design, Penguin’s resurrected non-fiction imprint places the focus on the reading experienceAfter reading Economics: The User’s Guide by Ha-Joon Chang, published by Pelican Books, I feel confident enough to explain the word “disintermediation”. This catchy term means cutting out the middlemen from a supply chain, and it’s crucial to an understanding of modern publishing. Amazon has been trying to cut out publishers for two decades, in the hope of achieving a more efficient ecosystem. Publishers, once they got wind of this, started thinking of clever ways they could turn the tables: that is, cutting out Amazon and going direct to consumers.A new front in this literary conflict has opened at pelicanbooks.com, although it looks less like a battlefield than a boutique in an online Marylebone High Street. Penguin’s original non-fiction imprint relaunched earlier this year, its predictably covetable paperbacks glowing with turquoise nostalgia for the days when people bettered themselves rather than slumping in front of Gogglebox. Pelican’s digital incarnation is stunning, its flat design bold yet understated, with a studied simplicity reflected in the intuitive user experience. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon already gives Prime customers access to a Kindle lending library, allowing the user to "borrow" books each month. But for some of the more voracious types, this may not provide enough material for a month's worth of entertainment. For those customers, the retail giant has unveiled Kindle... Continue reading at Betanews
[ Betanews | 2014-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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These may be grim times at Microsoft, but co-founder Bill Gates seems to be having a good time in his semi-retirement (he resigned as chairman in February, though he retains a technical-advisor role). Lately, he's been posting entertaining videos to his personal YouTube channel, thegatesnotes,... Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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James Patterson’s YA book franchise, which has sold over 30 million copies, is about to go digital. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The stand-off between the internet retail giant and the publishing corporation has drawn both sides into open contention over commercial termsThe extraordinary stand-off between Amazon and Hachette saw battle lines further entrenched on Tuesday as both parties took to the public arena to insult... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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You've built and furnished a home. You regularly tweak and maintain the property so your equity grows. But when you're away, strangers gain access. They sell your appliances, plumbing fixtures and furniture and when you return, it's clear the value you've worked so hard to attain has... Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The CEO of Germany's largest newspaper group is one of the few powerful figures speaking out about the web giantMatthias Döpfner is a man on a mission. The motives behind the mission need to be scrutinised, but when so many of old media's authority figures seem at sea in a changing environment,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Colombia's High-Tech... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2014-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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One one side are established authors including Stephen King, John Grisham and James Patterson. On the other side are self-published authors. They're taking sides in the weeks-old dispute between Amazon.com Inc. and Hachette Book Group. King, Grisham and Patterson have signed their names to a... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal
[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2014-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Childrens Laureate enthusiastic about children reading digitally but thinks publishers should proceed with cautionAuthor and Childrens Laureate Malorie Blackman is enthusiastic about the potential for children to read books digitally, but thinks the publishing industry should proceed with... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It may surprise many Americans, but German authors are paid to read in bookstores, have access to numerous fellowships and discounted health insurance. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tartt and Goodwin were on hand to accept their medals, and both gave enthusiastic speeches celebrating libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US-based author Charlie Lovett’s The Bookman’s Tale (Alma Books) has been crowned the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Video is on the tip of every publisher's tongue these days. And for good reason: Advertisers want it. Still, video is complex and not necessarily for everyone-at least not right away. That is, there's no disputing that the medium has arrived but what's still debatable is the value proposition... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2014-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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An Amish weekend; Catholic Press Association selects best books; awards and honors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Internet is jammed with travel websites to book airline flights. But the operators of CheapAir.com say they are the only air search site that gives travelers the option of booking a trip by rail. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books do furnish a room, but according to many in the publishing industry, the fear is that emails, online video texts and tweets will prevent them being read. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As negotiations wend on between Hachette and Amazon, David Sedaris’s month-long U.S. tour for the paperback of "Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls" (Back Bay) might be seen as a comment on the value of bricks-and-mortar retail. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Six publishers have volunteered for a night in the cells, fundraising for campaign against limits on prisoners' entitlement to booksThere's more than one sort of porridge, as any lag would tell you. Profile Books publisher Andrew Franklin opted for the lumpier kind when he volunteered to spend... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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To mark Hello Kitty’s 40th anniversary, licensor Sanrio and its publishing licensees are planning the first Hello Kitty Reading Day this fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tina Yang tutors children of non-English speaking immigrants and explains how YA novels, rather than classics, have engendered a deeper appreciation for reading. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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