Have We Reached the Final Days of the Mass-Market Paperback?

Have We Reached the Final Days of the Mass-Market Paperback?

One of the largest paperback distributors has decided to stop supporting the format, which has been making reading accessible to the masses since the 1930s

RIP the Mass Market Paperback, Man’s Hottest Accessory

Last week, The New York Times published a piece on the death of the mass market paperback. The portable, pocket-sized books gained massive appeal in the early and mid- 20th century, due to their widespread availability in supermarkets and train stations and their low cost (you could buy one for the price of a pack of cigarettes). With the rise of e-readers and audiobooks over the last two decades, however, pocket book sales have faltered. Modern…