By Daniel Nardini
Over the decades, I had always seen books in every store that I had ever entered. These books were either pulp romance fiction, science fiction, fantasy, encyclopedic reference books, and farmer’s almanacs. Such books were and still are common in stores like Jewel, Dominicks, CVS, County Market, Kroger, Target, Kmart, Walmart, and the list goes on. And this is before I even mention bookstores. The one common thing about this incredible array of books that has struck me is the most important seven words I rarely see on just about any other product in today’s America: Printed in the United States of America. What I have seen in all of the array of books in all of the stores I have been to over the past 40 years is that no matter what else has changed in the American landscape, the publishing industry has NOT changed. I cannot say the same for toys, electronics, furniture, home goods, tools and utensils, hobby crafts, and even the candy we eat.
Important fact: the United States is the world’s largest publisher of books. In 2024, the United States had 275, 232 published. America had beaten out even China which saw 204,418 published in that country. Why is this important? Because the publishing industry remains one of the most protected sectors in the United States today. It means American jobs that are safeguarded. It means people who have still been able to hold onto their jobs when millions of Americans have lost their’s over the decades. Even in some small towns where there is only one industry, the publishing sector has kept jobs that have helped families remain stable. And if families remain stable, then those towns and other small businesses remain stable and in operation. Books are one of the remaining American success stories that still dot the American landscape.
Even in this age of computers, iphones and electronic reading instruments, printed books are still a thing. Books remain extremely important for everything we do such as textbooks, entertainment and general as well as specific sources of knowledge and expertise. Our country could not even operate without printed books. Even though the use of printed books has somewhat diminished, the book industry remains overall strong. But most of all, the love for books remains an important American tradition that dates to well before the establishment of the United States itself. In many ways, the printed book connects us with our ancestors who had also lived with and loved books just like their ancestors had before them. On a personal note, I am more than happy this American tradition has survived into the 21st Century. So, I ask my fellow Americans if they wish to give any gift for the holidays and into the new year, give the gift of books.
The Country That Publishes the Most Books
By Daniel Nardini
Important fact: the United States is the world’s largest publisher of books. In 2024, the United States had 275, 232 published. America had beaten out even China which saw 204,418 published in that country. Why is this important? Because the publishing industry remains one of the most protected sectors in the United States today. It means American jobs that are safeguarded. It means people who have still been able to hold onto their jobs when millions of Americans have lost their’s over the decades. Even in some small towns where there is only one industry, the publishing sector has kept jobs that have helped families remain stable. And if families remain stable, then those towns and other small businesses remain stable and in operation. Books are one of the remaining American success stories that still dot the American landscape.
Even in this age of computers, iphones and electronic reading instruments, printed books are still a thing. Books remain extremely important for everything we do such as textbooks, entertainment and general as well as specific sources of knowledge and expertise. Our country could not even operate without printed books. Even though the use of printed books has somewhat diminished, the book industry remains overall strong. But most of all, the love for books remains an important American tradition that dates to well before the establishment of the United States itself. In many ways, the printed book connects us with our ancestors who had also lived with and loved books just like their ancestors had before them. On a personal note, I am more than happy this American tradition has survived into the 21st Century. So, I ask my fellow Americans if they wish to give any gift for the holidays and into the new year, give the gift of books.