whats up with bookstores?

I have been watching a interesting trend....BN, Borders and Millions of Books... 19/20 of the promenently displayed books were written [[MB) from a conservitive perspective... BN 17/25 and Borders [[usually a bastion of balance) was [[15/25)...

In books on the Middle-east which is usually where i hang out [[no kidding) the amount of books that have a balance is shrinking and the neocon vision of the conflicts are increasing...I know the moderate books are there since i see their reviews from a book guide offered through the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs... authors or difficult to be found and all that is left is Bernard Lewis and Deshowitz types....

this trend is disturbing in both current affairs and in middle-east politics... we need to read and research form all perspectives to balance our understanding of current policies...period.

Bookstores like to make money. To do this, they cater to their clientel.

About a million years ago I managed and/or worked in bookstores in downtown Detroit, Grosse Pointe [[on the hill), Birmingham and the Avenue of Fashion at 7 Mile and Livernois. Very different clientel in each location and very different stock and displayed stock in each location.

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Originally Posted by gibran

I have been watching a interesting trend....BN, Borders and Millions of Books... 19/20 of the promenently displayed books were written [[MB) from a conservitive perspective... BN 17/25 and Borders [[usually a bastion of balance) was [[15/25)...

In books on the Middle-east which is usually where i hang out [[no kidding) the amount of books that have a balance is shrinking and the neocon vision of the conflicts are increasing...I know the moderate books are there since i see their reviews from a book guide offered through the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs... authors or difficult to be found and all that is left is Bernard Lewis and Deshowitz types....

this trend is disturbing in both current affairs and in middle-east politics... we need to read and research form all perspectives to balance our understanding of current policies...period.

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I don't find it disturbing one bit. Sure, so a bunch of self-described "conservatives" buy books that reinforce their pre-ordained notions. No big whoop.

Me and my left-leaning friends, on the other hand, are busy reading books of all differerent sorts--the cookbooks, languages, social sciences, literature, biographies, and histories in the sections well beyond the front door that the rednecks never visit.

Britney Spears has sold millions of records, but that doesn't make her one of the greatest musicians in history.

I wouldn't be too concerned.

The neo-con right has their must-read lists. B&N and Borders are BOTH headed up by right-wingers who have populated their store shelves with those books. Liberals tend to shop in less-corporate climates or online, partially because of this. Both chains, as a result, are floundering

Much like Glenn Beck, I do my book learning nowadays at the public tax-supported socialist library.

I would like to apologize for my first answer as I forgot I was on the Non Detroit portion of the board. The following is my Non Detroit answer.

The bookstores are all in a conspiracy. It's the conservatives, neo-cons, centrists, left leaning, liberals, progressives fault. If that doesn't work then it's Bush and Obama's fault.

The stores might think these books are hot sellers, what with the RNC buying up millions of copies on amazon.com.

It is getting harder to find an independent book store..and yes while finding them on line is great I still like mine impluse buying just as much as my putting headphones on and listening to indi and new music...guess i have to adapt LOL....and hope those who are stocking books athe library have a moderate ot open mind about the books they seek.

Britney Spears has sold millions of records, but that doesn't make her one of the greatest musicians in history...

thanks a lot... another icon falls...lol