Publishers Killed the Paperback, Then Blamed Readers
This article explores the decline of the mass-market paperback, attributing it to corporate consolidation within the publishing industry rather than a lack of reader interest. It argues that the shift has negatively impacted literary culture.
Why it matters
It provides a critique of how corporate business models can erode cultural accessibility and historical media formats.
Twitter Icon Email Icon Print Icon Publishers Killed the Paperback, Then Blamed Readers By Ned Rust In 1939, the 25-cent paperback made America a nation of readers, delivering thrillers, classics and Pulitzer-winning books. So why did the Big Five publishers just kill the mass market paperback?
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