Bibliodiversity: A Manifesto for Independent Publishing

by Susan Hawthorne

In a globalised world, megacorp publishing is all about numbers, about sameness, about following a formula based on the latest megasuccess. Each book is expected to pay for itself and all the externalities of publishing such as offices and CEO salaries. It means that books which take off slowly but have long lives, the books that change social norms, are less likely to be published.

Independent publishers are seeking another way. A way of engagement with society and methods that reflect something important about the locale or the niche they inhabit. Independent and small publishers are like rare plants that pop up among the larger growth but add something different, perhaps they feed the soil, bring colour or scent into the world.

Bibliodiversity is a term invented by Chilean publishers in the 1990s as a way of envisioning a different kind of publishing. In this manifesto, Susan Hawthorne provides a scathing critique of the global publishing industry set against a visionary proposal for organic publishing. She looks at free speech and fair speech, at the environmental costs of mainstream publishing and at the promises and challenges of the move to digital.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Susan Hawthorne is the author of six collections of poetry, a novel, political theory and a quiz book. Her poetry collections include The Language in My Tongue (1993), Bird (1999), The Butterfly Effect (2005), Unsettling the Land (with Suzanne Bellamy, 2008), Earth’s Breath (2009) and Cow (2011). Her other titles include The Falling Woman (1992), Wild Politics (2002) and The Spinifex Quiz Book (1993). Susan is a poet, novelist, aerialist, political activist and publisher.

Born in Wagga Wagga, she grew up in rural New South Wales. She has a BA (Hons) from La Trobe University in Philosophy, an MA (Prelim) in Ancient Greek language and a PhD in Political Science and Women’s Studies both from the University of Melbourne, and a Post-graduate Diploma in Sanskrit from La Trobe. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Writing Program at James Cook University, Townsville. In 2009, Susan was an Asialink Literature Resident at the University of Madras, Chennai. She has lectured, spoken and performed at festivals and conferences around Australia and in New Zealand, USA, Canada, UK, India, France, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Germany, Korea, Spain, Fiji, South Africa, Uganda. She is also a publisher and Director of Spinifex Press and played a leading role among independent Australian publishers in innovative and eBook publishing.

Reviews

[Žaneta Csonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Koncept nezávislých nakladatelů je mi velmi blízký, v této sféře se pohybuji a pohybovat nadále chci, dává mi to smysl. Nezávislé vydávání knih mi v době, kdy knihkupeckým pultům vládnou korporátní firmy skupující další a další původně nezávislá nakladatelství a vydávající v první řadě knihy takzvaně ziskové, které jsou však ve většině případů pouze spotřební (tedy prodají se ve velkých nákladech krátce po vydání, ale za pár měsíců na ně všichni zapomenou a jejich přínosu bychom mohli polemizovat), připadá navýsost důležité, byť v kapitalistických podmínkách poměrně těžce udržitelné. S autorčiným názorem na důležitost a morální poslání nezavislých nakladatelů a knihkupců se ztotožňuji, souhlasím, že feminismus zde (jako ostatně ve všech sférách života) hraje důležitou roli; pouze se neztotožňuji s jejím odmítavým názorem na pornografii a prostituci, ale to už je trochu vedlejší. Rozhodně zajímavá a podnětná knížečka, nejen pro wanna-be nezávislé nakladatelky a nakladatele.

[Maggie Gordon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bibliodiversity is about a subject near and dear to my heart: the health and growth of the publishing industry. Hawthorne's manifesto is about growing the industry in a manner that requires more than just looking at how many books are sold. Instead, she advocates for diversity in content which requires diversity in publishing companies. The big corporations will not take risks on things like poetry or first time authors doing something innovative. Thus, small publishers ensure that more voices are heard. This is not an uncommon argument, and I think it is an important issue to talk about. As books are seem more and more as mere commodities, what is available, truly available, diminishes. How many people read past the top 40 list? Do you rely on Amazon recommends? How are our reading habits shaped by companies who want to sell us things? This is a super interesting and very concerning conversation.

Hawthorne spends a great deal of time talking about the concept of bibliodiversity, and while I buy the concept, her proofs were... less than convincing. She tries to connect publishing issues with major social justice issues. I believe this can be done, but she doesn't tie the different subjects together well. For instance, she claims that the modern publishing industry contributes to the objectification of women and even smaller publishers are dabbling in pornography. I most certainly think that there are gendered implications in how books are published, but Hawthorne doesn't flesh out these arguments or back them up with facts or examples. She flip flops between talking specifically about the culture of book publishing, then shifts to sex work and trafficking without acknowledging what a jump that is.

In any case, it was an interesting read with a lot of sources. The text is certainly coming from a left/progressive perspective, though the author should take care to make more of her points clear, particularly to readers who may not be so informed about her areas of expertise.

[Adriana Marjánková · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3,5

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4,5 hviezdičky

[Nadin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sehr wichtiges Thema in aller Kürze. Die Verknüpfung von publizistischer Vielfalt mit Argumenten gegen Rassismus, Sexismus, Homophobie, (Neo-)Kolonialismus und Pornografie (die mit Sklaverei gleichgesetzt wird) überzeugt aber nicht immer.
Schönes Nachwort von Doris Hermanns zum deutschen Buchbetrieb.

[eri mrtva · Rating 3 out of 5]

knížku za mě dost zhoršuje neopodstatněný opakovaný srovnávání se sexuálním průmyslem a celkově se mi někdy četla trochu krkolomně, ale české vydání je nádherné a díky paralerám knížní kultury s biodiverzitou si pořad stojí za to text přečíst

[bzdurne.tresci]

nie da się tego ocenić, bo taki temat ocenie nie powinien podlegać

[Lenka Kubelová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very refreshing.
Using an ecosystem paralel for a praise for bibliodiversity.
Juicy small book on state of publishing world. Analyzing mechanisms in the publishing and showing blind spots. Putting a lot of my feelings into words.
A bit from realm of utopia, but these things are needed. Very glad that genre of essay exists.
Design of Czech edition is very enjoyable, just maybe way too much emphasizing the feminist side of the book. Afterword reminds about power and responsibility of publishers: the choice can support selected voices, a lot.
Highly recommended for anyone working in publishing and trying to be aware.

[S.M. Jenkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A succinct and thought provoking exploration of bibliodiversity in digital and print formats. Describes the wider systemic forces at play in the literary/ cultural economy system, including the impact of megapublishing corporations, and a few strategies on how to address this.
14 chapters in 80 pages or less. Worth a read.

[Andrea Jaramillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creo que es un libro básico para cualquier persona que trabaje en el ecosistema del libro. Como lectora una conclusión: vivir en inclusión implica leer más independiente. Leamos más.

[Katarzyna Kurowska · Rating 3 out of 5]

W dużej mierze to esej w skrócie powielający znane feministyczne i genderowe fakty i teorie, a o samej biblioróżnorodności jest tu niewiele.

[Andrea Puig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pararse sobre hombros de gigantes. Lo que solemos olvidar de esta expresión es que Orión, el gigante, era ciego, y quien lo conducía era su sirviente, Cedalión. La bibliodiversidad es el reconocimiento de que de lo pequeño surge la visión hacia el futuro, que la fecundidad proviene de aquellas semillas sembradas en las narrativas locales, las sabidurías ancestrales, el conocimiento que corre en los márgenes de la cultura, y que la re-colonización ha invisibilizado sistemáticamente.

La lectura, la escucha, la escritura, la edición y la red literaria, en general, deben concebir al libro como bien común y en esa medida, hacerlo un reflejo de la dinámica de interacciones en el ecosistema social, en el que los autores sin renombre o las editoriales artesanales tengan un espacio en la construcción de los discursos, y por ende, de las cosmovisiones de las que podemos echar mano para co-significar nuestro entorno.

[Duncan Swann · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book. Not sure if I'm all in favour of manifestos. A little too heavy on social justice issues, though some of the problems were tenuously related to publishing. Probably already outdated in a few areas as well. But the core theme is solid and backed up nicely.