- The book most often stolen is the Bible. (At least, most often stolen from BookPeople bookstore in Austin, Texas.) The Bible even is stolen from a Christian bookstore that will give 'em away free is people ask for one. (Maybe when they know you'll give it away, they figure they don't need to ask....)
- St. Mark's Bookshop in Manhattan locks up the work of certain authors in a display case because they're so often stolen. ("This library of temptation includes books by Martin Amis, Charles Bukowski, William S. Burroughs, Raymond Carver, Don DeLillo and Jack Kerouac, among others.")
- The most-stolen authors are male, apparently because book thieves are predominantly male.
- "Only 40 percent of books that are read are paid for, and only 28 percent are purchased new, said Peter Hildick-Smith of the Codex Group, a consultant to the publishing industry. The rest are shared, borrowed, given away — or stolen."
Read the full essay, "Steal These Books," here.
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4 comments:
Wow, didn't know stealing books was such a big business. I know from working in libraries that a lot of stealing from them does take place.
Oddly enough, out of all the various thoughts your post provoked, the one sticking with me is, "I wonder what the most-stolen book is in places where the culture *isn't* Christian-dominated?"
Merry Christmas, Sphinx!! :D
Speaking as a current librarian, I can back up what Charles said. It's damned depressing & so freaking unnecessary!
At any rate, happy holidays, hon! My best to you & yours for 2010!
Sidenote: oddly enough, this morning I read that the most-stolen book in the UK is the London A-Z street map!
Go figure... :)
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