[Marxism] Paperback writer

["Jurriaan Bendien" <andromeda246@xxxxxxxxx>]

Marxists will talk about class consciousness and so on, but if you really
want to find out more about the mentality of a people then one objective
indicator is what personal reading material they are actually buying.
Incredibly, the Knopf Publishing Group says that Bill Clinton's 957-page
memoir "My Life" has sold more than a million copies in the first eight days
after its publication on June 22. That is approximately one copy for every
220 American adults. Knopf said it had ordered a third printing, raising the
total print-run to 2.6 million. If those are all sold, then that would mean
one copy sold for every 85 adults.
In which case, you cannot say Americans don't take an interest in politics.

Clinton's book is ranked first on several best-seller lists. Clinton has
reportedly personally signed some 18,000 copies, at a rate of 600 an hour,
according to aides. In the Netherlands, some 40,000 copies have been sold.
(for bestseller lists, see e.g.
http://www.bookweb.org/booksense/bestsellers/ and for print media statistics
see e.g.
http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/research/projects/how-much-info/print.html#copi
es). On average, it seems that 4 books are sold per US resident (all ages)
every year. Revenue from book sales in the USA was about $14.1 billion in
2003 (Census data).

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?
It's based on a novel by a man named Lear
And I need a job, so I want to be a paperback writer
It's the dirty story of a dirty man
And his clinging wife doesn't understand.
His son is working for the Daily Mail,
It's a steady job but he wants to be a paperback writer
It's a thousand pages, give or take a few,
I'll be writing more in a week or two.
I can make it longer if you like the style,
I can change it round and I want to be a paperback writer
If you really like it you can have the rights,
It could make a million for you overnight.
If you must return it, you can send it here
But I need a break and I want to be a paperback writer

- Beatles, "Paperback writer"

Meanwhile, The Bush campaign team has appealed to church communities to help
re-elect Bush in November, and make their member lists available to
electioneers. However, the tax department has warned political parties that
churches violate their tax-exempt status if they (financially ?) support
candidates.

J.




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