Description

Postwar American publishing has been ruthlessly transformed since Andre Schiffrin joined its ranks in 1956. Gone is a plethora of small but prestigious houses that often put ideas before profit in their publishing decisions, sometimes even deliberately. Now six behemoths share 80% of the market and profit margin is all. Part memoir, part history, here is an account of the collapsing standards of contemporary publishing that is irascible, acute and often passionate. The Business of Books warns of the danger to adventurous, intelligent publishing in the bullring of today's marketplace.