Good news in the book industry: -Sales of print books have increased nearly 25% from a decade ago -Number of independent bookstores in the US has increased 75% since 2020 -Global book market is expected to grow 5% annually for the next several years newyorker.com/magazine/2026/…

I cohosted an author lunch in NYC last week. Here's what we discussed and who joined: 1) Create multiple tiers of preorder rewards Most authors only have a 1-book preorder bonus. But some people in your audience want to go above and beyond to support you. Brainstorm multiple bonuses such as a 30-minute coaching session for preordering 25 copies or a 1-hour virtual keynote for preordering 100 copies. Look at what services people are already paying you for and turn those into bonuses they can buy by preordering your book. 2) Think of ways to AI-proof your book A standard "How-To book" can be easily written or summarized by AI. Instead, write a book that includes more of your personal story and experiences. Things AI can't find online. Focus more on the emotions of the story than the pure facts. Aim to transform the reader, not just inform them. 3) The AI-genie is out of the bottle There's a saying that you won't get replaced by AI, but by a human using AI. The same is true for authors. DON'T use AI for writing, but use it for everything else. Use it to help with research, fact-checking quotes, drafting emails to podcasters, and other tasks. Authors who use AI will be able to 10x their marketing efforts. Everyone is using AI, even publishers. Just make sure you're using it for the right things. Here are the authors who joined: - Jonathan Goodman ("Unhinged Habits") - Ariella KristalKirstal (work in progress) - David Perell (How I Write podcast) - Nathan Barry ("The Ladders of Wealth") - Tahl Raz ("Never Eat Alone")

If you're a guy in your 20s, here are 10 books I highly recommend reading:

The cure for a bad day is a good book.

Buy books that will be useful for you in the future. Read books that will be useful for you in the present. Recommend books that were useful to you in the past.

If you didn't come from a family of readers, make sure a family of readers comes from you.

Here's the video of Ethan Hawke talking about his reading life:

Before reading: I don’t feel like reading a book today. After reading: I'm glad I read today.

90% of reading books is putting your phone on silent and leaving it in another room before sitting down to read.

When the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the reader is ready the book will appear.

Reading a book without taking any notes is like traveling to a new city without taking any photos.

PSA: If a book sucks you can stop reading it, you don't have to force yourself to finish it.

The 10-10-10 advantage of books: Reading allows you to download 10 years of knowledge in 10 hours for just 10 dollars.

Be an omnivorous reader: Read fiction and non-fiction books.

The 7 biggest paradoxes of reading: 1) A book can change your life, yet you'll forget 99% of it a year later. 2) Reading fiction can be more educational than non-fiction. 3) The most valuable books aren't new books, they're books you've already read. 4) The more books you read, the dumber you'll feel because you'll realize how little you actually know. 5) The best readers are quitters, they quit bad books to make room for better ones. 6) School rewards the memorization of books, but life rewards the application of books. 7) Books don't change, but if you reread a book years later, you will discover completely new lessons from it.

Books were supposed to be killed by: • Newspapers • Radios • Television • Internet • Smartphones • Social media • Streaming • Artificial Intelligence But they have survived and will continue to endure.