Prompt Cast
The Mystery and Controversy Surrounding the New York Times Bestseller List
TLDR The New York Times bestseller list is a highly influential and widely recognized ranking of book sales, but there is skepticism about its accuracy and integrity. Some authors use tactics like pre-orders and bulk purchases to increase their chances of making the list, but this practice is seen as unethical by many in the publishing industry.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The hosts discuss the significance and mystery surrounding the New York Times bestseller list.
02:28
The New York Times bestseller list is insulated from pressure and is not curated or editorialized, with multiple categories and subcategories measuring different sales types.
04:39
The New York Times bestseller list claims to get their data directly from book retailers, but some people in the publishing industry are skeptical and believe they must use aggregators.
07:15
Authors can increase their chances of landing on the New York Times bestseller list by encouraging pre-orders, which are counted as week one sales.
09:58
Authors can increase their chances of landing on the New York Times bestseller list by encouraging pre-orders, doing speaking engagements, or using companies like Book Highlight to buy books in small chunks and make it look like organic sales.
12:26
The New York Times Bestseller List includes authors who engage in bulk purchases to boost their sales, but they are marked with a dagger symbol, which is seen as a negative mark in the publishing industry.
14:45
The New York Times Bestseller List should not include authors who engage in bulk purchasing because it rewards those who are gaming the system and leaves off actual authors.
Categories:
Society & Culture
