After writing 12 books, he doesn't think the traditional publishing process is "worth the effort," he revealed in an interview with Mediabistro. Godin, the author of bestsellers such as Purple Cow and The Dip, has quite a bleak view on the paper book and the way we consume it.
One bit from the interview is particularly revealing. "I like the people, but I can't abide the long wait, the filters, the big push at launch, the nudging to get people to go to a store they don't usually visit to buy something they don't usually buy, to get them to pay for an idea in a form that's hard to spread," says Godin.
I still like to visit a bookstore. But in general, I can't shake the feeling that Godin is right: Paper books aren't a particularly elegant way to spread an idea in the age of blogs, e-readers and social media.
"I really don't think the process is worth the effort that it now takes to make it work. I can reach 10 or 50 times as many people electronically," says Godin.
Do you agree? Is traditional book publishing really a thing of the past? Please share your opinion in the comments.