Carr identifies this as the cultural and financial power struggle underlying the technological disruption affecting the industry. "Whatever Bezos and [Google's] Larry Page dream of, they are not the dreams of book publishers."
Perhaps Carr was just trying to rile a sleepy conference hall, but I think his argument is a good backdrop for considering the future of the book and the book business. The path of the industry will run a course along how modern people balance concentration and distraction.
- People:
- Nicholas Carr
- Places:
- Silicon Valley
Denis Wilson was previously content director for Target Marketing, Publishing Executive, and Book Business, as well as the FUSE Media and BRAND United summits. In this role, he analyzed and reported on the fundamental changes affecting the media and marketing industries and aimed to serve content-driven businesses with practical and strategic insight. As a writer, Denis’ work has been published by Fast Company, Rolling Stone, Fortune, and The New York Times.