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Clear Mind Press
Fiercely independent publishing, neither asleep nor woke
The High Price of Cheap Books
Rethinking the Amazon Click
Purchasing books through Amazon and other large book-selling platforms is, undeniably, an exercise in convenience. With just a few clicks, a new title is either instantly downloaded to a Kindle or swiftly shipped to one's doorstep. The process is seamless, efficient, and appealing to the modern consumer. Yet beneath this streamlined transaction lies a darker economic and ethical reality—one that disproportionately disadvantages authors and small publishers.
Amazon's dominance in the book market has given it extraordinary leverage over pricing, distribution, and visibility. While this has led to lower prices and faster delivery for consumers, it has also come at a cost to those who create the books. Authors, particularly those not backed by major publishing houses, often receive drastically reduced royalties when their work is sold through Amazon. In many cases, Amazon sets steep discounts that shrink profits for publishers and, by extension, their writers. For self-published authors using Kindle Direct Publishing, the terms may seem favourable at first glance, but Amazon retains a significant share of each sale and can alter conditions unilaterally.
Small and independent publishers fare no better. Many are coerced into accepting minimal margins and strict terms to have their books listed and promoted on the platform. The result is a precarious business model where sustainability is compromised, and cultural diversity in publishing is threatened. These economic pressures discourage innovation, limit risk-taking in the types of books that get published, and further entrench Amazon’s gatekeeping power.
Buying directly from authors’ websites, independent bookstores, or publisher-run platforms may take a few more steps and a little more time. But these alternatives offer fairer compensation to creators and support a more diverse and sustainable publishing ecosystem. In an age where convenience often trumps conscience, it is worth remembering that each click is not merely a purchase but also a vote—one that can shape the future of literature.