E-Reader Data: Reading Habit Analysis May Lead to Formulaic Publishing

By David Tobia
August 10, 2012

Barnes & Noble has begun data collection on its Nook tablets, analyzing how long people spend reading different types of books to determine the best ways to publish popular works.
The company noted that people read non-fiction in bursts, but tend to read genre novels and series all in one go. This suggests that non-fiction authors have a more difficult time of developing loyal fan bases.
Data collection and the subsequent algorithms to determine how to write popular books “may be a boon to the publishing industry, but it’s not necessarily a good thing for writers or literature in general,” comments Mobiledia.
Gathering empirical evidence for the development of “popular” books may lead companies like Barnes & Noble and Amazon to encourage authors to drop their literary ambitions and instead focus on the formula of popular book development.
Mobiledia argues that more popular books on the market could mean higher literacy rates.
Those with privacy concerns may want to take caution by avoiding e-readers, as companies do analyze every book read. “As much as privacy implications may bother people, they are unlikely to put a dent on the e-publishing industry, since it continues to expand at a rapid clip,” the post concludes. “The practice of examining readers’ habits will likely continue and affect the publishing industry, encouraging authors to use the information to craft more popular books.”

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