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Casanova Was A Book Lover: And Other Naked Truths and Provocative Curiosities about the Writing, Selling, and Reading of Books
Everyone knows which books people buy; they can just look at the best-seller lists. But who knows which books people steal? Who, for that matter, knows that authors ruin the book market by writing too much? Or why book critics are not critical? Or why librarians need to throw out more books? Who, indeed, knows the answer to that all-important question in our should presidents and presidential candidates write books? (The answer is no.)
In this irreverent analysis of the book industry, John Maxwell Hamilton -- a longtime journalist and public radio commentator -- answers these questions and many more, proving that the best way to study books is not to take them too seriously. He provides a rich history of the book -- from the days when monks laboriously hand-copied texts to the tidal wave of Titanic tie-ins -- and gives a succinct overview of the state of the industry today, including writing, marketing, promoting, reviewing, ghostwriting, and collecting.
Throughout, Hamilton peppers his prose with spicy tidbits of information that will fascinate bibliophiles everywhere. For instance, did you know that Walt Whitman was fired from a government job because his boss found Leaves of Grass, and its author, immoral? Or that the most stolen book in the United States is the Bible, followed by The Joy of Sex? How about that Dan Quayle's 1989 Christmas card read, "May our nation continue to be a beakon of hope to the world"? Or that Casanova was an ardent lover of books as well as women?
Hamilton offers an inside look at the history and business of book reviewing, explaining why, more often than not, reviewers resemble "counselors at a self-esteem camp" and examining the enormous impact of the "Oprah effect" on the market. As the self-appointed Emily Post of the book world, he advises publishers, authors, and readers on proper etiquette for everything from book parties ("Feel free to build a party around a theme in a book, no matter how tacky") and jacket photos ("You should not show off your new baby unless [your] book [is] about raising kids"), to book signings ("Just because an author has given you an autograph does not mean they want to become your pen pal") and promotion by friends and relatives ("They should carry the book at all times on public transportation with the cover showing").
Both edifying and enjoyable, Casanova Was a Book Lover fills a Grand Canyon--sized void in the literature on literature. It is indispensable for book enthusiasts who want to know the naked truth about reading, writing, and publishing.
In this irreverent analysis of the book industry, John Maxwell Hamilton -- a longtime journalist and public radio commentator -- answers these questions and many more, proving that the best way to study books is not to take them too seriously. He provides a rich history of the book -- from the days when monks laboriously hand-copied texts to the tidal wave of Titanic tie-ins -- and gives a succinct overview of the state of the industry today, including writing, marketing, promoting, reviewing, ghostwriting, and collecting.
Throughout, Hamilton peppers his prose with spicy tidbits of information that will fascinate bibliophiles everywhere. For instance, did you know that Walt Whitman was fired from a government job because his boss found Leaves of Grass, and its author, immoral? Or that the most stolen book in the United States is the Bible, followed by The Joy of Sex? How about that Dan Quayle's 1989 Christmas card read, "May our nation continue to be a beakon of hope to the world"? Or that Casanova was an ardent lover of books as well as women?
Hamilton offers an inside look at the history and business of book reviewing, explaining why, more often than not, reviewers resemble "counselors at a self-esteem camp" and examining the enormous impact of the "Oprah effect" on the market. As the self-appointed Emily Post of the book world, he advises publishers, authors, and readers on proper etiquette for everything from book parties ("Feel free to build a party around a theme in a book, no matter how tacky") and jacket photos ("You should not show off your new baby unless [your] book [is] about raising kids"), to book signings ("Just because an author has given you an autograph does not mean they want to become your pen pal") and promotion by friends and relatives ("They should carry the book at all times on public transportation with the cover showing").
Both edifying and enjoyable, Casanova Was a Book Lover fills a Grand Canyon--sized void in the literature on literature. It is indispensable for book enthusiasts who want to know the naked truth about reading, writing, and publishing.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2000
5 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
John Maxwell Hamilton
29 books5 followersJohn Maxwell Hamilton is the Hopkins P. Breazeale Professor in Manship School of Mass Communication, Louisiana State University, and a senior scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. Before that he was a journalist for the Milwaukee Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, and ABC radio. His work was also published in The Washington Post Foreign Affairs, The Nation, and the New York Times.
He served in the military as a Marine Corps platoon commander in Vietnam and as a reconnaissance company commander in Okinawa. As a public servant he served as an advisor to the head of the U.S. foreign aid program in Asia during the Carter administration and was working on nuclear non-proliferation issues for the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
He served in the military as a Marine Corps platoon commander in Vietnam and as a reconnaissance company commander in Okinawa. As a public servant he served as an advisor to the head of the U.S. foreign aid program in Asia during the Carter administration and was working on nuclear non-proliferation issues for the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 7, 2009
The idiocy, triviality, and prolixity of the title telegraph the book's contents well. Awash in faux cleverness and anecdotes that have that apocryphal whiff, it is an apt example of why books about books so often end up on the remaindered table. A few chapters are vaguely interesting (the ones on book reviewing and presidential bookwriting), but in general your time would be better spent learning scrimshaw techniques.
February 24, 2021
This books was filled with facts about decorating with books, writing books, part time and full time authors, marketing books and stolen books. This book was boring and I had a hard time getting through it.
Read
August 28, 2012I tried but just couldn’t get into it. Not rating because in the end I just skimmed it. I just didn’t care about the history of dedications or how to market a book in the late 20th century – which, as we know, is a very different animal from the early 21st.
March 17, 2008
I didn't really learn anything from this book. For a writer who explains far more about the art of literature, I recommend Nicholas A. Basbanes.
March 6, 2021
3.5 stars
This is a compendium of information about books: Their writing, selling by authors, selling by publishers, their editing, reading, and reviewing. The author likes to get behind the scenes (or covers) to parts of the book world that readers do not get to see and may not think about. The approach covers both historical and contemporary aspects and has many anecdotes, along with the author’s own ironic commentary. There is a bit of novel research, as the book investigates just how many books on the best-seller list are written by full-time writers (very few) and other minor investigations. There are also a few original interviews.
I found the book fairly interesting and engaging. The writing is not as awful as the lame humor of the title and the fake blurbs on the cover would suggest. I have read in this area before, so I’m not sure how much of the material was new to me, but it was presented in an easy-to-digest way such that the book never seems to drag. Of course, everyone will be interested in some aspects more than others. If you don’t care about publishers’ marketing strategies, maybe you’ll enjoy the section on the Library of Congress (very complete) or the chapter on book theft. The early parts of the book contain more anecdotes, such as interesting thank-yous and acknowledgments in literature. I didn’t read the book straight through, but rather would use it as night-time reading for a week or so, then put it down and read something else, and then pick it up again.
This is the perfect kind of book to have in one’s guest room, as someone could dip into it to read a chapter and not miss much from not having read the earlier or later parts of the book. Of course, guests are not reading books you leave in your guest room any more, and that points out another aspect of the book—that some parts of it are dated, in spite of the fact that the book is not that old. Well, I found that material to be interesting nonetheless, as a window onto how things used to be done. If you’re interested in the digital world of books and how books are published and read in the 2020s, you’ll have to find a book published in the last few years. Or perhaps you could self-publish such a work yourself. Fortunately, Casanova has a number of sections on self-publishing too (see the helpful index).
This is a compendium of information about books: Their writing, selling by authors, selling by publishers, their editing, reading, and reviewing. The author likes to get behind the scenes (or covers) to parts of the book world that readers do not get to see and may not think about. The approach covers both historical and contemporary aspects and has many anecdotes, along with the author’s own ironic commentary. There is a bit of novel research, as the book investigates just how many books on the best-seller list are written by full-time writers (very few) and other minor investigations. There are also a few original interviews.
I found the book fairly interesting and engaging. The writing is not as awful as the lame humor of the title and the fake blurbs on the cover would suggest. I have read in this area before, so I’m not sure how much of the material was new to me, but it was presented in an easy-to-digest way such that the book never seems to drag. Of course, everyone will be interested in some aspects more than others. If you don’t care about publishers’ marketing strategies, maybe you’ll enjoy the section on the Library of Congress (very complete) or the chapter on book theft. The early parts of the book contain more anecdotes, such as interesting thank-yous and acknowledgments in literature. I didn’t read the book straight through, but rather would use it as night-time reading for a week or so, then put it down and read something else, and then pick it up again.
This is the perfect kind of book to have in one’s guest room, as someone could dip into it to read a chapter and not miss much from not having read the earlier or later parts of the book. Of course, guests are not reading books you leave in your guest room any more, and that points out another aspect of the book—that some parts of it are dated, in spite of the fact that the book is not that old. Well, I found that material to be interesting nonetheless, as a window onto how things used to be done. If you’re interested in the digital world of books and how books are published and read in the 2020s, you’ll have to find a book published in the last few years. Or perhaps you could self-publish such a work yourself. Fortunately, Casanova has a number of sections on self-publishing too (see the helpful index).
February 1, 2021
It’s dated, published in 2000, at the cusp of the boom of technology and internet. It was cringey to see nonfiction teasing “will they, won’t they” on a subject, when, 20 years later, the outcome is obvious, but that is no fault to the author who put in a tremendous amount of effort into this clever book. An avalanche of information that is broken up with witty historical quips, a well placed example, or a blown up picture. Also, because it is so jam packed with reference after reference, you learn to enjoy the book as is, quickly and without second thoughts.
August 13, 2017
P.89
隨著越來越多的新書出版，書店裡的每種新書都只能放下極少的幾冊，而且還必須全放到架上，以致於書的封面都看不到了。這樣的結果就是，顧客只能匆匆掃一眼書架上一排排的書背，最後還是被櫥窗裡陳列的那幾本書吸引過去了。賣得不好的書必須退回給出版商，給下一輪書籍讓路。書店的一大優勢，是它們只是被委託售書，作者和出版商無法從退書中賺到錢。
「一本書的有效期限，是出版業最恐怖的現象之一……」錢尼（O.H.Cheney）對國家出版協會說，「最普遍的有效期限是四到五個月。」錢尼說這些話的時候是一九三一年，比起今日激烈競爭的市場，那可真算是個溫和的時代了。現在，就像有人開玩笑說的那樣，書籍出售的有效期限和優酪乳差不多
看完之後最有感觸的就是這一段
和「書本若是在光碟之後才發明，人們會為其感到讚嘆」
這真的是我沒有想過的看法，光碟會損毀，或是需要特定的載體才能讀取
而書籍雖然會黃斑蟲蛀但是卻大多可以保存300年之久
但我要懺悔，政客那篇我幾乎是中途就草草翻過......
雖然有趣但就，沒有引起我興趣到想要逐字看完，對不起OTZ
隨著越來越多的新書出版，書店裡的每種新書都只能放下極少的幾冊，而且還必須全放到架上，以致於書的封面都看不到了。這樣的結果就是，顧客只能匆匆掃一眼書架上一排排的書背，最後還是被櫥窗裡陳列的那幾本書吸引過去了。賣得不好的書必須退回給出版商，給下一輪書籍讓路。書店的一大優勢，是它們只是被委託售書，作者和出版商無法從退書中賺到錢。
「一本書的有效期限，是出版業最恐怖的現象之一……」錢尼（O.H.Cheney）對國家出版協會說，「最普遍的有效期限是四到五個月。」錢尼說這些話的時候是一九三一年，比起今日激烈競爭的市場，那可真算是個溫和的時代了。現在，就像有人開玩笑說的那樣，書籍出售的有效期限和優酪乳差不多
看完之後最有感觸的就是這一段
和「書本若是在光碟之後才發明，人們會為其感到讚嘆」
這真的是我沒有想過的看法，光碟會損毀，或是需要特定的載體才能讀取
而書籍雖然會黃斑蟲蛀但是卻大多可以保存300年之久
但我要懺悔，政客那篇我幾乎是中途就草草翻過......
雖然有趣但就，沒有引起我興趣到想要逐字看完，對不起OTZ
July 24, 2025
I picked up this book from a bargain rack on an absolute whim, and was not disappointed. The statistics are a must-know for all writers and readers.
March 11, 2014
"n-a-k-e-d-" is a strange way of spelling "boring." This book is really not interesting or provocative. Hamilton spends a bizarre amount of time praising the Marquis de Sade as some sort of exemplar of humanity-literary behavior, followed by a preponderance of vitriol against religion and American presidents. The attentive reader will also need a new hypocrisy meter after reading this, since it will overload and break somewhere around chapter 3. Hamilton lambastes authors who use assisting teams, ghostwriters, and amanueses ... all the while telling us how his graduate assistants (the goofy way college professors have of spelling "indentured servants") gathered much (if not most) of the information retold within these pages while he was busy doing not his own research. Hamilton lambastes boring and meaningless dedications in books ... apparently forgetting the fact he has one in his own book. In chapter seven, Hamilton feigns he is going to finally reveal the "most stolen books," then backpedals with an excuse to the effect of "librarians don't like to talk about it," and finally pretends to give us a list of the most stolen books - but really are just representatives of types of books that probably get stolen a lot. This book promises so much, yet despite an intriguing story-filled opening chapter, delivers mostly sub-interesting minutiae, vitriolic caterwauling, and a fecundity of dullness that even Thomas Shadwell might find lame. Hamilton spends a chapter decrying the absence of negative reviews of books: here you go, sir.
May 6, 2011
I’m a novelist and an independent publisher. I’ve been studying these things for ten years, and it’s taken a close study because “these things” have been changing. After two centuries of glacial adaptation the digital age has forced a rapid change on the world of book publishing. At the same time, the world is seeing more writers than ever before, more books than ever before, and with these things comes a surprisingly widespread interest in the process of making books—whether that’s a desire to participate in (and profit from) the process, or simply a curiosity concerning a favorite pastime. In Casanova Was a Book Lover John Maxwell Hamilton satisfies that curiosity with a fun, engaging, and remarkably in-depth description of the writing process.
July 25, 2015
- a very enjoyable collection of interesting, quirky, book-related facts. Humorous dedications, the-most-stolen-books, strange publicity campaigns, author's luck (good and bad), famous plagiarism, writer's salaries, and behind-the-scenes at the U.S. Library Of Congress (the largest collection of books on earth!)
- of e.e. cummings (a favourite poet of mine): 14 publishers turned down a book of e.e. cummings in the 1930's...he borrowed $300 from his mother to subsidize its publication.
- of e.e. cummings (a favourite poet of mine): 14 publishers turned down a book of e.e. cummings in the 1930's...he borrowed $300 from his mother to subsidize its publication.
September 23, 2008
I was surprised how interesting this book was, and I can definitely see it as a staple for my library....someday. The facts presented were interesting yet the writing style seemed almost monotonous or droning. When I have Eclipse waiting in the wings, it was difficult to stay focused. All sorts of wonderful tidbits to be had within its pages....I'll be back!
March 31, 2012
The titular character had many strings to his bow and being a writer was among them. This is a wonderful, insightful, educational and easy-to-read book about the importance of reading literature throughout the centuries and the various people (critics, authors, reporters, presidents, etc.) who have gotten involved with books.
February 20, 2010
This book was really fun to read, I recommend it to book lovers. From a graphic demonstrating that great presidents do not necessarily equal great presidential writers to a discussion of the demise of book reviews, the book covers the gamut of things book related.
November 18, 2010
"There are few things I enjoy so much as talking to people about books which I have read but they haven't, and making them wish they had-preferably a book that is hard to get or in a language they do not know." - Edmund Wilson
January 24, 2009
In the category of "books about books" this is one of the better ones.
August 5, 2009
Hilarious! Anyone aspiring to publish or curious about the machinations of the publishing industry should check this out.
March 15, 2011
I thought the information in this book was very vast and I learned a lot from only a few chapters on the history of publishing. Very interesting if your a book nerd.
April 30, 2012
well, I do not remember this book...but I did say it was good, so
July 2, 2014
3.5 stars.
July 10, 2008
Very interesting and amusing in parts, but still rather dry.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews