Expediency Versus an Open Marketplace of Ideas

August 21, 2008

An open letter from ABA President Gayle Shanks on Chelsea Green's decision to limit the distribution of Obama's Challenge

Dear Book Industry Colleagues:

For booksellers, this week there's a new headline issue in the presidential race. The news is not about health care, inflation, or foreign policy, but it raises important issues none the less -- issues about fair play, the free flow of information, and a vibrant marketplace of ideas.

The story in question is publishing house Chelsea Green's decision to restrict the sale of its upcoming title Obama's Challenge: America's Economic Crisis and the Power of a Transformative Presidency for its initial weeks of availability to Amazon.com. Since the news was first reported in Publishers Weekly last week, a number of booksellers -- both indie and corporate -- have noted their plans regarding the book. As far as indie booksellers go, each will make a decision regarding Obama's Challenge on their own, based on their particular business realities. In such matters, I would never presume to speak for them, or to suggest a course of action.

But there are issues of real importance here that I do want to discuss, issues that transcend the headlines of a single day. What I find most troubling about Chelsea Green's decision to exclude all channels of distribution save one -- for what might be the prime sales period of a very topical book -- is that they have chosen expediency at the expense of supporting those values that underpin a free society that depends on open market access.

One of my core beliefs as a bookseller is that a free society depends on a diverse marketplace of ideas, and that closed markets, exclusive agreements, and tactics designed to achieve a short-term victory at the expense of core values are both short-sighted and counter productive. The issue of exclusivity works to the detriment of independent businesses; open markets encourage the free flow of ideas. Ironically, Chelsea Green's actions come in a campaign season where the clarion call by the candidate who is the subject of their book has been for meaningful change -- especially to change politics from an enterprise monopolized by a privileged few making decisions behind closed doors to one in which a diverse society participates in an open process.

Using existing technology and an extensive network of booksellers -- again both indie and corporate -- I am convinced that Chelsea Green could have achieved its sales goals, reaching readers and selling many copies of their timely book. In 2008, there are many print-on-demand options, there are many indie and corporate online booksellers, and there is every reason to believe that the excitement and enthusiasm of thousands of booksellers nationwide handselling Obama's Challenge from the opening of the Democratic Convention would have resulted in the most impressive book launch possible.

Obviously, that's not what Chelsea Green decided to do this time. As they continue to receive feedback about this decision and proceed toward the launch of Obama's Challenge, I hope they recognize their own challenge: To trust in the most unique treasure our country offers -- the value of a free and open society.

Sincerely,

Gayle Shanks
ABA President
Changing Hands Bookstore
Tempe, Arizona

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