Amazon Is The Reader's Friend

Topics: Culture, Tech

Public Release Date: January 15, 2015

In late 2014, Amazon and the publishing house Hachette settled a months-long dispute over who should set the price for e-books. In Amazon’s view, lower prices mean more sales and more readers, and that benefits everyone. But for publishers, the price of an e-book must reflect the investment made, from the author’s advance to a book’s production. The conflict, resolved for now, has only raised more questions about the value of books, Amazon’s business practices, and the role of publishers. Is book publishing an oligopoly, a dinosaur in need of disruption? Is Amazon, which accounts for 41% of all new books and 67% of all e-book sales, a monopoly? Who is doing right by readers and the future of books?

ARGUING YES:

• Joe Konrath: Author & Self-Publishing Pioneer

• Matthew Yglesias: Executive Editor for Vox

ARGUING NO:

• Franklin Foer: Staff Writer for The Atlantic

• Scott Turow: Attorney & Author

MODERATOR-IN-CHIEF:

• John Donvan: Emmy award-winning journalist