R. R. Bowker informs us in a number-packed press realease that U.S. Book Production Reaches New High of 195,000 Titles in 2004; Fiction Soars. Adult fiction, poetry & drama; religion, personal development, travel & domestic arts categories also increased. (?Domestic arts??) "Adult fiction now accounts for 14% of all titles published in the U.S., the highest proportion since 1961. New poetry and drama titles increased 40.5%." They also say that publishers in 2004 shifted away from the political. This might be so, but is not reflected in what our readers of non-fiction checked out most often in 2004. The Most Popular Nonfiction Titles, 2004 are available from our About Books & Literature page, and the list is still heavy on the politics and world-affairs topics.
Please try to remember those big-number facts the next time you hear someone wailing that people don't read anymore. OK?
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