One of the most anticipated books from LIT HUB for 2023, selected by the ESQUIRE book club in August 2023.

“If books are important to you because you are a reader or a writer, then how books are sold should also be important to you. If you care that your vegetables are organic, your clothes made without child labor, your beer brewed without a culture of misogyny, then you should care how books are made and sold.”

With the increasing power of Amazon in both book sales and the publishing space, thinking about where and how we acquire our books is more important than ever. The simple act of placing a book in a reader's hands - what booksellers call handselling - becomes a catalyst for an exploration of the ethical, economic, and political pressures faced by all independent bookstores.

From the relationship between book sales and white supremacy, to censorship and the spread of misinformation, to the consolidation of the publishing industry, the experienced bookseller and author Josh Cook takes a generous but critical look at an industry at the heart of American culture, sharing tips and techniques for becoming a better reader and, of course, recommending great books along the way.

Pages: 240, Dimensions: 13.3x13.3cm