Essential Reading: The Future of the Book from O'Reilly's Mike Hendrickson

By Hannah Johnson

ESSENTIAL READING: The future of the book by Mike Hendrickson

In the wake of the opportunities and challenges discussed at the Tools of Change conference, O’Reilly’s VP of Content Strategy Mike Hendrickson urges the publishing industry, “Let’s change the The Book of the Future before we have to.” What a great and, in my opinion, important message. Driving innovation is better than catching up with it.

Hendrickson has created a list of the major ideas and opportunities that publishers should consider as they create the future of publishing. We, as an industry, are combating declining print sales and looking for new revenue streams, new business models, and new “best practices” that can transform the way we produce and sell content.

Hendrickson has broken down the larger issues facing publishers today into small, digestible pieces of information. Some items on the list are already being addressed by publishers, others will take more time.

Is there anything you would add to this list?

About the Author

Hannah Johnson

Hannah Johnson is the publisher of international book industry magazine Publishing Perspectives, which provides daily information and news about book markets around the world. In addition to building partnerships with international cultural and trade organizations, she works with the Frankfurt Book Fair to organize and support a number of its overseas initiatives. Hannah has also worked as the managing editor for an online media company, The Hooch Life, focused on craft distillers and cocktail experts. Prior to that, she worked as a project manager for the Frankfurt Book Fair’s New York office, managing various business and marketing activities.