We Have the Internet. Why Publish a Book?

I have to confess, I am a bit of a cynic when it comes to publishing. I know that most books don’t sell very well or make their authors much of a profit. I also know that book publishers are driven by sales, and that means they are drawn to sensational topics and titles, or authors who are famous, not necessarily those who have the most important things to say.

On the other hand, I believe in the system of publishing. Publishers offer the important roles of filtering and distributing content. If everyone can self-publish their own book, just like everyone can start their own Youtube channel, then there is no quality control whatsoever, and the majority of the content is not worth reading or viewing. If someone does show talent or promise, they will usually get noticed and offered a book deal (or a Netflix show), thus re-entering the world of agents, deals, and publishing—and I’m still better off browsing a bookstore than scrolling the throngs of Kindle Direct titles.

I know plenty of leaders who have incredible experience and insights who are not well-known. These people usually don’t have a podcast, blog or website to speak of; they simply pour themselves into their work on the ground, and no one will ever know their name.

So I don’t believe in publishing books for the sake of “becoming famous.” But I do believe in publishing for the sake of capturing new insights and perspectives that might help a few thousand other people who are struggling to understand a certain topic, or who need help because they’re also in the trenches.

Pursuing your mission and ministry without looking for fame and fortune is a great recipe for good content. If you can teach, speak, or lead in a way that’s helpful to others, contact me to find out if there are ways that your content can be captured and help many more. It may not make you rich and famous, but it may make the world a better place.