Introduction Many booksellers of long-standing have been heard to remark, "I wouldn't want to sell anything else." Indeed, books are a unique product and the book business is a unique melding of art, culture, and commerce. As a bookseller, it is important for you to understand about that product and the business in which you daily play an active role. In this volume of the Open Learning Study Series, you will learn about the business of publishing and selling books. We will explore and explain the publishing and bookselling processes, and look at some of the history that precedes us as booksellers today. As in all books in the Open Learning Study Series, you are encouraged to participate in your own educational process through a series of exercises and activities. Whether you work alone, in a group, or with your manager, you will come to understand the broader business of the book and come away with a new appreciation for your own role in moving books from writer to reader. TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT PAGE