"Shift Happens"

Here's a great find, cited by TED Books, and part of a series: "In the last twelve months, I’ve never bought fewer printed books — and I’ve never read so many books."

We are in the middle of the biggest boomlet in publishing since the mid '30's innovation of the paperback novel, which gave rise to the term 'pulp fiction' for cheap books that were quickly-wrought (but poorly done) so as to take advantage of the explosion. Bookstores closed in droves, and the dimestore novel (so-called because it was sold in 5-and-dime stores) reigned supreme. This period of great literary expansion gave rise to a few writing careers, particularly Kurt Vonnegut's. He was the dimestore paperback king in his early days, and from there fought his way to widespread recognition.