Episode 105: The Role of Bestseller Lists

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In this episode, Josh and Dietrich discuss some recent revelations about a company which has learned how to game the NY Times bestseller list. On the heels of this revelation, the pair talk about the role of a bestseller list in today's publishing world, the methods used to generate some of the most popular and influential, and what the future holds for the Grey Lady's iconic book rankings. In addition, Josh is disappointed in Dietrich for failing to do his homework, and Dietrich finishes up the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. You can send questions or comments to questions@thelibrarypolice.com.

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E-mails and What We've Been Reading

0:00 - 37:50
  • J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
  • Jim Thompson, Pop. 1280
  • Brandon Sanderson, The Mistborn Trilogy
  • Nathan Burgoine, "Old Age, Surrounded by Loved Ones"
  • Lawrence Wright, "The Apostate"/Going Clear: Hollywood, Scientology, and the Prison of Belief

The Role of Bestseller Lists

37:50 - 1:08:42

Given that someone didn't do his homework this week (Dietrich), this week we discuss the role of the New York Times' bestseller list, especially in the wake of a fascinating article about a company that seems to have found a way to game the system. Does the gold standard of bestseller lists still matter? How do e-readers factor into the whole thing? Does Amazon's list represent a conflict of interest? Will I manage to bring the Memory of Light debacle up this week? All this and more will be revealed!

Off the Bookshelves

1:08:42 - 1:28:19