Original version

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Radio

World Service Radio

More or Less

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

More or Less: Do half of new books really sell fewer than twelve copies?

Magazines & Reviews

Factual

Do half of new books really sell fewer than twelve copies?

22/10/2022 GMT

BBC World Service - More or Less, Do half of new books really sell fewer than twelve copies?

We look into a claim that 50% of new books in the US sell just a handful of copies.

We look into a claim made during a high profile legal trial that half of new books published in the US sell just a handful of copies.

A US government lawyer recently caused a stir in the publishing world when he said during a high profile legal trial that half of all new trade titles – books aimed at a general audience - sell a dozen copies or less. Tim Harford investigates with the help of Kristen McLean from the NPD Books group.

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producers: Octavia Woodward, Jon Bithrey
Editor: Emma Rippon
Production Coordinator: Jacqui Johnson
Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot

(Image: Stack of books on display at the bookstore: bitterfly/Getty)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

More or Less

Do half of new books really sell fewer than twelve copies?

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service

About BBC World Service