Extremely Disturbing Article About the New Book Industry

An article by North Country historian Lawrence Gooley shared from the Adirondack Almanack:

"Under Bibliolabs’ arm called Webster’s Digital Services, there are more than 34,000 books credited to those authors. And yes, in physical form―a paper block with sheets of printed paper, surrounded by printed covers―these are books. But in Bibliolabs new definition of “book,” there is no expectation of accuracy, research, or … well, it’s better said that there should be no expectations at all. What fills all of those books is stuff from Wikipedia and other free sources found through Internet searches. What a great idea! No vetting, no fact-checking … just bundle it all for sale and call it a book. And when I said, “We report, you decide,” that’s exactly the concept."

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Adirondack 46er Book in Plattsburgh Press Republican

Jerry McGovern reviews Heaven Up-h’isted-ness (2012) cowritten and edited by Writers Institute Assistant Director Suzanne Lance:

"This is an important book because the history of the 46ers is important to the Adirondacks and New York state. By gathering that history in one place, and including archival and modern photos, Lance and the Adirondack 46ers have provided a service to us all."

More in the Plattsburgh Press Republican, July 27, 2012.

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Suzanne Lance Wins Adirondack Literary Award

NYS Writers Institute Assistant Director Suzanne Lance received the Adirondack Literary Award for Best Edited Collection for Heaven Up-h'isted-ness! The History of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers and the High Peaks of the Adirondacks.

Other awardees included Pulitzer Prize winner Steven Millhauser for the short story collection We Others, and Bloated Toe Press for its singular service to regional authors.

For the official press release about the awards click here and scroll down. For Paul Grondahl's article on the book in the Times Union click here.

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That Stone in the Shoe of Our History

"Brown really touches many of the hot buttons in our history and culture: violence, race, religious fundamentalism, the right of the individual to defy their government," Horwitz says. "He's that stone in the shoe of our history."

Pulitzer-winning journalist Tony Horwitz, who visits Thursday, November 17, talks with NPR about his new book, Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War. More.

And click here to visit the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in the Adirondacks.

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