Thank you for not reading : essays on literary trivia

Summary: "Thank You for Not Reading is a biting critique of book publishing: agents, subagents, and scouts, supermarket-like bookstores, Joan Collins, book fairs that have little to do with books, authors promoted because of sex appeal instead of merit, and editors trying to look like writers by having their photograph taken against a background of bookshelves. Nowadays, the best strategy for young authors wanting to publish is to become famous in some other capacity first - as a sports star, an actress, or an Ivana Trump. One of the most interesting and paradoxical comparisons out of Urgesic's dissection of book culture is the similiarity between the art of socialist realism (as prescribed by the Soviets) and the nature of the contemporary marketplace to produce and promote art that appeals to everyone. Thanks to cultural forces like listicles and celebrity book clubs, the publishing machine neglects literature in favor of accesible, entertaining books for the masses."--page 4 of cover.