The Other Side of Fear

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Why People Stopped Reading Books

mikecernovich.substack.com

Why People Stopped Reading Books

Chicken, egg, and both.

Cernovich
Jan 31
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Why People Stopped Reading Books

mikecernovich.substack.com

Fewer people are reading books (or any long form content) today than ever. Why? As someone who sold a lot of books and buys even more books, here are my top theories:

  • Publishing houses, which are controlled by alcoholic CNN watchers, discriminate against men. This leads to fewer great books making it to bookstores, which has a secondary effect of reducing foot traffic into bookstores.

  • Podcast are 3x easier to do and 10x-100x more lucrative.

  • Why write a book for $5 royalty per copy sold when you can Substack? (My current situation.)

We will go into detail on all of the above. But first, some numbers on Big Book.

Fewer people are buying books and most books don’t sell more than 200 copies.

Twitter avatar for @JasonColavito
Jason Colavito @JasonColavito
The publishing figures for 2022 were rather depressing. In a country of 332 million people, only 28 books out of ~300,000 titles sold more than 500,000 copies. Eight were by one author, Colleen Hoover, and no book of history or politics sold more than 295,000 copies.
8:06 PM ∙ Jan 30, 2023
680Likes151Retweets
Twitter avatar for @JasonColavito
Jason Colavito @JasonColavito
Past the top 100 books, the numbers are dire. The average book sells 200 copies. An average "bestseller" sells about 2,000 copies. Almost all significant book sales are to "communities," typically book clubs, authors' social media followers, or interest groups (like true crime).
9:18 PM ∙ Jan 30, 2023
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Twitter avatar for @Cernovich
Cernovich @Cernovich
Last time I went into B&N was months ago. There’s no joy in walking the stacks. It’s all propaganda or astroturfed memoirs from nobodies. I often wonder, who is the market for this? Apparently - the answer is, there isn’t much of one. https://t.co/b5ubzAwCgS
Twitter avatar for @DarrenJBeattie
Darren J. Beattie 🌐 @DarrenJBeattie
Partly this is because books are low quality, though it was always trash that sold at the mass level with few exceptions Larger factor is that we are quickly becoming POST-LITERATE as a society https://t.co/XA47rBvBKS
5:57 PM ∙ Jan 31, 2023
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That’s why I tell people, Don’t become a writer.

The Other Side of Fear
AMA Vol. 1, 2023
I stopped doing Twitter AMA’s as the questions tended to get stale and repetitive. This was the first one we’ve had in a while, and while some people got blocked for asking me inappropriate or gossip-based questions, there are some good ones worth typing out…
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2 months ago · 49 likes · 10 comments · Cernovich

You’ll make more money working a second job at a gas station at night, and you can read books during your shift.

If you must write, and can’t not write, then you have the genes or what Steven Pressfield calls the Muse.

Go ahead and write. You have my permission. Just don’t expect to ever make a living doing it.

What is happening to the book market?

Some smart people are near the mark. Both of these gentlemen “have books in them.” I’d read them. They are also avid readers.

Directionally they focus on lack of consumer demand. This is the, “Fewer people read books,” hypotheis. There’s much truth to it.

Twitter avatar for @DarrenJBeattie
Darren J. Beattie 🌐 @DarrenJBeattie
Partly this is because books are low quality, though it was always trash that sold at the mass level with few exceptions Larger factor is that we are quickly becoming POST-LITERATE as a society
Twitter avatar for @JasonColavito
Jason Colavito @JasonColavito
The publishing figures for 2022 were rather depressing. In a country of 332 million people, only 28 books out of ~300,000 titles sold more than 500,000 copies. Eight were by one author, Colleen Hoover, and no book of history or politics sold more than 295,000 copies.
5:54 PM ∙ Jan 31, 2023
149Likes16Retweets
Twitter avatar for @FischerKing64
FischerKing @FischerKing64
Repeat observation - there are just too many books. Many of them are vanity vehicles for $$, not even meant to be read seriously (or at all), which includes every politician's "memoir" of recent memory.
Twitter avatar for @JasonColavito
Jason Colavito @JasonColavito
The publishing figures for 2022 were rather depressing. In a country of 332 million people, only 28 books out of ~300,000 titles sold more than 500,000 copies. Eight were by one author, Colleen Hoover, and no book of history or politics sold more than 295,000 copies.
6:02 PM ∙ Jan 31, 2023
130Likes6Retweets

The question that arises is: Chicken, egg, or both?

Twitter avatar for @Cernovich
Cernovich @Cernovich
@DarrenJBeattie Consider many copies would an Andrew Tate memoir sell, then ask: it be published? These choices were deliberate, and not in response to market forces. I hope Big Book fails.
6:05 PM ∙ Jan 31, 2023

Men are reading fewer books. Is this because, “Men don’t want to read,” or are there not many good books for men, based on the hateful ideology prevailing in modern publishing?

Women control publishing, and they hate books by men unless the man hates himself.

When I was considering whether to self-publish my own book in 2015, all of my friends with book deals told me something like this:

No one would publish your book because it’s geared towards helping men. Even Tucker Max had to write an insincere book about why he’s a good reformed boy and worships CNN to get a book deal this time, that’s what it takes now. Don’t even bother. Plus, publishers don’t even promote your book. They make you do all of the work and take a huge cut.

My book sold well, so the talking point that, “Men don’t read books,” is fake. My book was the first mindset book written specifically for men. That’s why it never would have seen a book shelf unless I hit “PUBLISH” myself.

Consider as well the story of someone who isn’t political and isn’t disliked for having bad opinions.

David Goggins had to self-publish Don’t Hurt Me.

I remember listening to the audiobook version of Don’t Hurt Me at the YMCA. I had to find a corner when he started talking about the child abuse he faced as a child. Legit started crying and had to get away. Don’t Hurt Me is one of the most beautiful books by anyone.

In what world would someone say, “We have a book by a Navy SEAL who is a black man. He goes deep into mindset, purpose, and motivation. But he doesn’t hide from his past and shares authentic and traumatic memories. He got beat up badly about a kid. You’re going to cry while reading this. Oh and he’s a legit bad ass.”

I would have bought that book so fast for whatever he asked for.

The kind of women who control publishing only want to hear from men who hate themselves. All that “woke” stuff about promoting black voices is fake. They’ll only promote male voices who hate themselves.

Meanwhile Hillary Clinton gets millions-of-dollars for books that don’t sell.

Twitter avatar for @Cernovich
Cernovich @Cernovich
@FischerKing64 Money laundering. Hillary Clinton’s books didn’t sell well. Her advances didn’t decline tho.
6:43 PM ∙ Jan 31, 2023
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Why men don’t go to bookstores anymore.

I buy a lot of books. Some high brow and others more focused on extreme stories of men in impossible situations. I do not go to bookstores much anymore.

Twitter avatar for @Cernovich
Cernovich @Cernovich
Last few times I walked into a bookstore, it felt completely alienating. It was all political agitprop. I’m the guy who will die with piles of books to still read, the dream customer for a business. I shook my head and said I can’t wait for bookstores to all go out of business.
11:12 PM ∙ Dec 16, 2021
863Likes68Retweets

Even the kids section is political propaganda.

Twitter avatar for @Cernovich
Cernovich @Cernovich
@Mickey_Dugan @DarrenJBeattie Even the kids section is this way. Feminist Icons for Kids and etc.
6:45 PM ∙ Jan 31, 2023

Who go into a bookstore when you’re bombarded by agitprop?

Books like these should be displayed prominently.

Twitter avatar for @Cernovich
Cernovich @Cernovich
“The Story Orchestra” books are great for kids. It’s a story summary of symphony/ operas. They play excerpts that you listen to after reading the pages. Then the kids want to watch the real operas videos on YouTube. https://t.co/qSwNDHq5x3
Image
6:24 PM ∙ Jan 13, 2023
280Likes33Retweets

Podcasting is easier and more lucrative.

It’s 3x easier to talk than to write. You make 10x to 100x podcasting. Steven Crowder was offered $50,000,000 to do video commentary. Joe Rogan is making $500,000,000 or so, depending on who you believe. That’s JK Rowling money.

Even mid-level podcasters are earning more than all but the successful authors.

Twitter avatar for @Cernovich
Cernovich @Cernovich
@DarrenJBeattie It’s 3x easier to do a podcast than write. 10x more lucrative, too. People are more informed about current events but lack mental framework / timeless understanding. Colleges aren’t giving that either.
6:00 PM ∙ Jan 31, 2023
75Likes4Retweets

People want “content.”

Would you rather read a great book once or read and listen to “pretty good” stuff more frequently.

The market has spoken. Quantity over quality, as long as it’s better-than-average quality.

Why publish a book when you can Substack?

Book royalties vary, but $5-10 per copy is in range. You get that once per book format (kindle, print, audio). Write a book, hoping it sells, and then getting royalty checks every 90 days (if you’re lucky)… Or you can write on Substack and make a sustainable income with steady cash flow that you can create a budget around.

Twitter avatar for @Cernovich
Cernovich @Cernovich
I buy a lot of books and would have bought his. Would have been listed for $15-25 and his royalty would be $5-10. I subscribed to his substack as that’s how he’s doing his book, and he’ll outearn any royalties he’d have gotten from publishing house.
Image
7:04 PM ∙ Jan 13, 2023
120Likes8Retweets

There are a lot of people with medium-sized Substacks who are making significantly more than they would by writing a “real book.”

Why write a book when it’s easier to podcast, and you get instant feedback (and dopamine) from pushing regular Substacks.

The economics favor different mediums.

And why degrade yourself by kissing the feet of alcoholics in publishing houses who watch CNN and believe it?

I may do another book soon.

Until then, sign up for my Substack.

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Why People Stopped Reading Books

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David Rolfe
Writes David’s Substack
Jan 31

When I was young, before the internet or even cable TV, bookstores and libraries were prime places of refuge. Infinite variety, and we were only physically able to dive into one at a time, so you had to first quest physically and then focus mentally. There was broad demand: At one point, Westwood Village (near UCLA) had (if I recall correctly) seven independent bookstores, and one was even open 24 hours. I still love books, but I find reading requires being physically distant from a screen. A zillion distractions zipping through the universe; gotta click and check my email, see what Cerno posted, find if anyone has approved of (or mocked) my clever little post. Check the news, see the latest advance or setback for my political team, find out whether the world has ended (Be afraid!), get an hourly dose of "outrage porn". It's all too tempting! God help anyone born into this tangled morass! But I will offer one positive (I hope) observation: Although the bookstores are gone, I do appreciate the infinite variety of books on eBay and small online sellers. I mostly chase old used books, so I'm not much use to current authors, and I apologize for that. Am I living in the past and hiding from the present, or am I offering vital testimony to a better era and a timeless truth? I don't know!

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Adrian Gaty
Writes Unofficial Pediatrics
Jan 31·edited Jan 31

1. My kids love the story orchestra books, enthusiastically second this!

2. My book journey: not writing it to make a living, but to try my part to save childhood from big pharma and modern schooling. Went through my travails getting an agent, with many agencies explicitly stating they don’t accept books from nonqueer/bipoc voices, but it’s a darn good book so finally got a big shot agent who was blown away, he got it before big shot publishers, and they rejected it, during the height of the mRNA vax push, because “it sounds anti-vax.” Keep in mind it was written before Covid, has no mention of any vaccines at all, but does attack adderall, the medical establishment, and the school system. Seemed like a corrupt decision to me, but could just be my sour grapes. Anyway, still shopping it around, but started a (free) substack in the meantime:

https://gaty.substack.com/

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