Amazing Facts about the Book Publishing Industry

The publishing industry has been around for ages, long before the advent of technology; and in that time, a lot of transformation and growth have happened. So, if you are looking to have a career in the publishing industry, knowing some of the facts and figures would go a long way in helping you make guided and meaningful decisions. Some of the facts which we find amazing in the publishing industry include:

• TheBay Psalm Book was the first book to be published in British North America. This was in 1640, just a mere 136 years before the United States became a country and 267 years before Canada was formed.

• As of April 2014, self-published books account for 30% of the top 100 bestsellers on Amazon.

• Thelargest known book to have been published is titled The Little Prince and measured an incredible 6’7” high and 10’1” wide when open!
• The Cambridge University Pressis the oldest publishing house in the world. It was founded in 1534

• Some of the most popular and timeless classic novels were self-published. Authors like Charles Dickens and Mark Twain have established a longstanding reputation, but not without initial struggles.
• Self-publishing has existed long before the advent of the internet and digital technology.
• Books that are self-published stay in print way longer than traditionally published novels. Traditional publishers limit the lifespan of their books to a maximum of one year before stopping the printing process.
• In the 19th century, the UK introduced the steam-powered presses which transformed the publishing industry, bringing printed material to a rapidly expanding market.
• Paper was thought to have been first manufactured in China-way back during 206 BC- 220 AD.
• Nearly 60% of English-language books are published and distributed by five of the biggest traditional publishing houses.
• Bargain books/discounted books go through a recycling process and have recently formed a trend of their own among avid readers.
• The Guinness Book of Records states that The Bible is the most sold book ever; over 5 billion copies were distributed between 1815 and 1975.
• The book publishing industry is worth $103 billion globally.
• 814,000 people are employed in the global book publishing industry, of which 69,709 are independent publishers.
• Mark Dawson is one of the successful self-publisher on Kindle. He earns $450,000 annually.
• 10,000 publishing companies get incorporated year-round.
• Over 19,000 publishers have received ISBNs from the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency.
• Penguin Books India introduced trade publishing in the country in 1985.
• Publishing is estimated to have accounted for 193,000 jobs in the UK creative economy in 2016, almost 10 per cent of UK creative industries employment.