From decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) run on Discord to city-wide mutual aid groups, people are finding safety and optimism in numbers. For growing numbers of people, collective action is emerging as the only viable solution to compounding crises and deepening alienation.

Social media is transforming the way we read and buy books, with trending topics and viral posts guiding discovery and disrupting the traditional sales cycles. So, how can publishers harness these channels in their commissioning strategies? And how exactly are people talking about books online?

The publishing industry and book community continue to promote more intentional ways to support publishers and bookshops. Readerly, a book-discovery platform offering personalized reviews and community groups, is a reader-supported alternative to Amazon-owned Goodreads.

Public libraries in New York City are giving away half a million books over the summer of 2022 as part of a program aimed at getting kids and teens more interested in reading. With many children lacking access to books, such efforts may help bridge socioeconomic gaps in education.

As the pandemic saw people gravitate towards online shopping and subscription services, publishing house Hachette UK’s decision to launch the Feminist Book Box is no surprise. Hachette’s move indicates a market pivot into a space dominated by independent businesses and creators.