It is interesting to people's perceptions of what publishers really do. Some callers here think we're a bookstore, and others have gotten the idea that we are a printing company. A few years ago there was a market exploratory woman who called me every six months and with monotonous voice asked a long series of questions about our different product needs. After so-so twelve or thirteen minutes she would come up with the heavy stuff. At its Finland-Swedish wondered she always: "Are you thinking of in the next quarter to purchase truck?" I tried to explain that we are a publishing company, no printing, even if we, in her list found ourselves in the graphics industry. We sit in an office on the second floor, we do not have a loading dock on the balcony. Our need for a truck in the corridor is, if not nonexistent, then at least very little. "Well ..." she said then. And continued with the next question: "Are you thinking of in the next quarter to purchase pressure washer?"
Others have a different picture of the publishers. For them rests an almost mythological shimmer of publishers - in a manner such as toothpaste industry has never experienced. It may have to do with this is people who decide whether the person writing dreams will turn up or not. It can of course also be a grown up myth through film, television and books. And it may be because it's one of those industries that many want to enter - especially if you are humanistic total - but there are very few jobs. For the publishers sit well only in the cozy chair and read books all day?
I think a lot of misconceptions about publishers because the industry is very poor at communicating externally about anything other than the publication of books and authors. And perhaps not so interested in doing it. The picture of what happens to publish books must therefore maintain its something GLAMORIZE surface. It is perhaps good for some parties involved. But it is ultimately not good for the publishers themselves, as it easily breeds jealousy and a distorted view of how the economy and labor actually works in the industry. Who makes money on who, and similar issues. And with the silence in the industry may also book publishers seem exactly like the record companies, as time went by.
So when we face a strong development phase, where the ebook opens up entirely new ways, so there are many who revel in the fact that the publishers will lose their position and may disappear completely. It seems that some think it is right for publishers.
I have in a previous post showed that publishers will have an excellent role in a future world of books, but perhaps in a slightly different way than today. So there is every reason for the publishing industry to not only see the future as a threat, but also like a whole bunch of possibilities.
Therefore, it will be very interesting to see what kind of discussion that occurs when some of the most knowledgeable about industry developments will meet August 27 at a meeting arranged by the Nature & Culture and the publishing house Atlas. Meeting will breathe a transparency? Are you willing to jointly discuss the future possibilities (and not just threats) or will all just be secretive?
Daniel Atkins has called for publishers in the current discussion on the future of the book. Richard Herold, Atlas has explained why publishers do not want to participate in an open discussion on the web. Jonas Mosskin - one of the initiators of the meeting on 27 August - gives his views on the matter .
And I continue to August write my thoughts on the situation and distribute them via this blog and the comments of others. I am of the opinion that nothing teaches me so much as to actually participate in the call. It is not certain that I am right in everything I say - for the future, it is after all the guesswork - but through discussion and counter-arguments, I think we can come a long way.
I think we will soon have an even wider debate on the subject. The newspapers write more and more publishers are forced simply to express themselves. Which leads to the new blog. Hopefully soon the involved parties have met in the same arena.
It is in the air.
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Mattias. Your blog article breathes just the sort of optimism that I always felt being a part of your person and that I pretty frequent embrace of what the man move on UTI life, society, life, work, business, etc.
My personal opinion herein stems partly lekmannaögon and partly in what appears to be a generally accepted idea of the book as a phenomenon; introversion. On the one hand.
On the other hand, it is nothing strange about it than that established companies do not stay open for general insight into the important work that will be beneficial to a company's survival as well as for its internal investment potential.
You write that we are facing a strong development phase, where e-book opens new paths. Certainly, even if it is not a novelty. E-book maintained of the finger has been waving for at least another half decade now. So far its development has not reached the heights that perhaps should have done. What Beor this? Well, there are of course connected with the publishers are aware that the majority of passionate bookworms to read the words and meaning FREQUENCY "table the threat" in hardcover, or at least printed, versions.
E-book is obviously a thorn in publishing, as it competes with less art markets of the reader. There's been quite naturally publishers themselves already noted, in that some of the most knowledgeable representatives will meet in accordance with Nature and culture, and Atlas' initiative. One of the meeting's main topics ought to be a great e-book's potential future role.
I am but a simple layman. However, it is my belief that even if the e-book will find its platform and its buyers, this will be a limited basis. Further more, I think that the larger and more well-known publishers will join together, through the joint action they simply seem to continue Vurma paper book's exceptional existence. Tomorrow's small interactive publishers will "steal" a piece of the pie, but it will certainly involve a modest part. For as long as the many publishers are investing more in the printed book, there is no need to panic.
But it is certainly the big players are already aware of.
Briefly round: If I'm going to read a book, then I damn well gonna hear me BROWSE in the self. :)
Ake: Of course, companies should have a certain closedness. In competition with other companies can not share any strategies the bottom of the local plan.
However, it is very easy for companies to ask the question "What do you think?" To consumers. There is also something that is increasingly spreading. Thus, not only to deal with customer care, but also to treat the customer as a potential source of knowledge. Not least is the case online, where the posts and comments can be found plenty of gems that can actually be applied to your own company.
Yes, I think we are facing a strong development phase. I am fully aware that we have been doing e-books for almost ten years now, but I need not look any further than my own. I read e-books? The answer is a resounding no. It's still not entirely appealing. It is too difficult and complicated, the Swedish eboksutbudet is too small. And if not me, eboksförespråkaren, be sure to read e-books - well, then it has to happen some stuff to kick-start the market.
But for the first time actually seems the requisite factors converge and we are approaching the time when e-books will begin to be launched on a broader front.
I do not believe at all in your mind that the publishers wanted to shoot in ebook launch in order to protect paper books. There are certainly publishers who feel uneasy and do not keep up with developments. But from there proceed to deliberately impede the development. Nope, I do not think of. Rather, we had a great e-book readers. All the other stuff we can themselves affect relatively promptly (range, price, ease of access), but the development of the hardware must be done elsewhere. Now seems the hardware have been good enough that many more will find it convenient and comfortable to sit with an e-reader in the armchair. Of course, e-reader to develop in the future, but right now it is good enough.
That ebook is not a thorn in publishing. If so, would not eboksföretaget Elib be partly owned by large publishers who Piratförlaget, Nature & Culture and Bonnierförlagen. If so, would not Bonnierförlagen make a huge investment in the digital right now and speak as they do in Sydsvenskan today: http://korta.nu/sdsbok4
That publishers earn different amount of money on hardcover books and e-books is nothing strange. So, it has been with paperback sales also. Quantity and lower costs may well make it a good deal after all.
You are probably right in that eboksförsäljningen will be rather limited. At first. But not for long. And the big publishing groups will do everything to keep your grip on the future of book market. So they are unlikely to deny the future and development, and thereby leave the field entirely free for other players.
I think e-books and paper books will live side by side for a long time to come. They mean different kinds of experiences and fits well in various situations. So will it be for me anyway. And maybe for you too, who knows.
This blog entry might be of interest to you ... http://ravennasblogg.blogspot.com/2009/08/bokbranschens-utmaningar-och-framtid.html
Hello Mattias!
We exchanged views on e-book future. I have written a post on Google Books that may interest you. Welcome to read!
Dear Mattias,
my girl fried and i found a book from you in a bookshelf in Thailand, and since hadeeth: no sudoku puzzles are like yours!
(We had the Sherlock Holmes With Letters sudoku)
BUT: we just cannot get Them into Germany ... ARGHH!!
I tried to search for Sudoku: 600 opgaver - data - oppgaver on the internet but found nothing - like an online bookstore or anything ... ..
Thank Would dearly like a copy, so Could you please send me a link or a website where to order them???
thank you very much, two dear fans ;-)
ps: sorry to spam your blog, just HAD no clue how else to contact you ...