The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading

Why are so many of the contributors to The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians so staunchly opposed to recent efforts to ban books in the modern United States? Discuss how the theme of The Importance of Reading Books relates to the topic of censorship.

James Patterson is one of the most commercially successful authors in the world. Analyze the role of his production and marketing strategies—e.g. use of co-authors, personal branding, TV advertisement—in ensuring his continued success. How does this tie in with his philanthropic work supporting independent bookstores and literacy and his role in publishing The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians?

The majority of contributors to this book are female. Why might this be? Discuss gender disparity in book-related professions and the relationship between gender and literary engagement.