i bought an ipad. i've been so pleased with it because i can download so many books, carry so many books with me, and with my eyes, make the print larger. and barnes and noble from the ibook package makes it a wonderful investment that i made. i appreciate it. >> host: james, did you say that you were 86 years old? >> caller: yeah. >> host: okay. your friends in your age group, are they also using the ipad or another electronic reader? or have they stuck with hardback? >> caller: well, i think some of them do. and the others calls me a nerd. [laughter] >> host: all right. james, what are you currently

reading? >> caller: i'm currenting downloading some f. scott fitzgerald, and those kinds of books in that era. and it's just so much fun to read them. a friend of mine, troy lee davis has been teaching courses. it's so much fun to read about and hear and go through these books with my ipad. thanks very much. >> host: thank you for calling in this evening. jenn risko, i want to add a tweet that we got to his comment for you to respond to as well. are there demographics for ebook reader purchasers? are they being adopted by folks above 50? james, of course, was 86. >> guest: so james is. [laughter] >> guest: yeah, actually, you know, we've seen -- i haven't seen as much on this that i

would have liked to. it seems like there are older folks embracing the electronic book market. i think sometimes i think it has a little bit more to do with what kind of a reader they are. so one the things that we saw recently in a study was that women who read romance novels, and i don't know if you know about this, but women that read romance novels, they can read two or three in a day. they are a mass consumer of books. these people buy more electronic books than i think any other subject category is women's romance. i believe that's the number one ebook selling category on amazon is romance. i think it has more to do with not so much the age, but how they consume. >> host: a couple of books, hugh shelton came out with "without hesitation" an

autobiography. "american caesars." and "the man who invented the computer." and david and julie nixon eisenhower butt out -- put out a book about president eisenhower's last years. "going home to glory" 1961 to 1969. bill in palm strings, california, you are on the air. >> caller: thank you. i want to first express my thanks for book tv. i wish i could read all of the books that you do talk about. my question is probably more of a field question because i doubt that you have statistics. but -- what my question is there

are some buddhist books out now from a young buddhist man who was doing testing on the mind and in the university of wisconsin. joyful wisdom and joy of living. and a scientist said that -- einstein said in his opinion that buddhism was the only religion that was cope steadic with the progress of science. i wonder if you have any feeling about the books today. are the books becoming more popular than 1780, or '90?

or is there a lack of process in do you have any feeling for that? i know you don't have the statistic. >> host: thank you, bill. jenn risko. > guest: i'm trying to understand. do we have a feeling if buddhist books are more popular? >> host: kind of. i don't want to try to paraphrase his question. what would you like to answer about what we said? [laughter] >> guest: you know, i'm sorry -- i don't. >> host: then that's fine. >> guest: yeah, i don't have a feel for it. i'm sorry. >> host: that's fine. in the past year, book tv has gone to several book festivals. here are some of the ones that we have attended. we've either covered live or covered on a tape basis. that includes the "los angeles times" festival of books,

annapolis, we covered the national started by laura bush, we were in austin texas for thee -- >> host: one the big sellers or one the talked about books was mark twain's autobiography. jenn risko what do you want to tell us about this? >> guest: this was quite the run away. we've seen 350,000 of these have been sold. i believe the first print run that they considered for this book was way back in the early spring, late summer was like 7,000 books. we -- the demand for this was just a lot higher than anyone could have possibly understood.

it's been the runaway best seller. they did have stock problems over the holidays. but i'm told that they will printing them as fast as possible and the people who have them on order really do want them after the holidays. it's just an amazing story. university california press had to get larger trucks to transport enough twain. trucks usually only carry like -- usually carry like 7,000 copies and they found special trucks to compare 10,000 copies instead. cnn did a little profile on the publisher who printed the books for the university of california press who was such a sweet story about people who had been laid off about a year ago got hired back on for christmas and went into over time. this is all they are going is printing the mark twain book. quite the runaway best seller.

>> host: 100 years after his death. go ahead. >> guest: yeah, it was 100 years after his death. this is the first volume of volume three. i saw the other day on amazon, somebody was trying to sell their first edition, first printed copy for $800. that was interesting. we also had some funny moments in shelf awareness where book sellers were writing in and they are customers coming top their counter and asking for the mark twain, but they wanted a sign copy. it was a lot of fun. those days. but yeah quite. >> host: that would go for more than $800, i bet. >> guest: yeah. a few more. >> host: okay. let's look ahead, jenn risko, here are some of the books that are coming out in early 2011.

>> host: jenn risko when you see the list for january, february, early march of 2011, what stands out to you? >> guest: i think that the trend that we saw over christmas of, you know, a lot of political memoirs and more of the conservative ones, i think that it sounds like that's what's going to stand from what's coming out soon. so we've got, you know, conservative political memoirs and we've also got, you know, the rouge books like henrietta

lax and the "warmth of other sons" as well as "cleopatra" and books for fun. sounds like that pattern is going to continue. >> host: one the books coming out. i wanted to ask if you have any word on this one yet. donald rumsfeld autobiography. known and unknown, a memoir. have you heard anything about this book? >> guest: yeah, i finally got a little information on this today. i believe it's coming out february 8th. there's going to a huge amount of media going on about this. the suggested printing that we are hearing is half a million copies. it's pretty big. so -- and i think, you know, the interesting thing that donald rumsfeld did on this is that he did not accept in advance for this book as he wanted to write it at it's own pace. i thought that was interesting. i think it's also very interesting that all of the proceeds from this book will be

going to his foundation for promising young people. so, you know, rummy wanted to do it in his own way, his own time. good for him. hats off. 500,000 is a nice beginning print run. >> host: that's being published by mary madelyn "sental." >> guest: yeah. >> host: two other books. >> host: go ahead. >> caller: yes, i want to ask what impact they will have on the library system. it caused on the library content because they can download it

from one course rather than having the local library be the local provider. >> host: jenn risko? >> guest: you know, i'm not sure what impact it's going to have on it. i don't think that electronic books are going to make your local library go away. although what seems to be making your local library is go away is a lot of tax problems. a lot of revenue not coming to them. so that seems to be more about what's making, you know, some libraries close which is a terrible thing. i don't think that electronic books are going to have an impact that way. i think that, you know, libraries are now in the business of providing information so communities in whatever form that takes. >> host: another book coming out in january is another book by eric alterman. garrett grath "the age in local

terror," and karen armstrong has a self-help "12 steps to a compassionate life." >> caller: hi, thank you. i've enjoyed the book talk a great deal. i wanted to point out there's still a certain digital divide in the country. there are people who can't afford computers or books or internet access or live in places where internet access is not convenient. and i would just like you to remind people that they can get most of these books from their local library -- even if they have to put it on a waiting list. >> host: thank you. >> caller: and they can also get computer access and instructions on how to use a computer and how to use these various sources from their local librarians. that's what they are their for.

that's what people pay taxes for. >> host: thank you. jenn risko? > guest: yeah, libraries are in the business of providing information and content to their communities. by all means, if you can't afford a kindle or an ipad, or even to buy a new hard cover book, go to your library, put your name down, and wait for that book that you've been waiting for. >> host: another book is massachusetts governor "a reason to believe: lessons from an improbable life". that's looking ahead to 2011. here are a couple more from 2010. robert dallek, "the lost peace" leadership in a time of lost hope. toxic talk, this was the most recent book how the radical right auspicened america's

airwaves. book tv covered a book party over at media matters. you can watch that online if you are interested. maria of cnbc. jenn risko when it comes to books about the 2008 crisis, how did they do? we know about michael lewis and the big short, of course. > guest: yeah, "the big short" did incredibly well. and i believe there's one "all of the devils are here" that people are talking about. people want to understand what happened. and so that's why those books are doing incredibly well. i think they will continue to do very well. >> host: bill crystal is coming out with a new book. iveive -- irving crystal's colud

edited by bill crystal. denver, sally, on the air. good evening. >> caller: hi, how are you? i'm so delighted to see this. i'm a c-span junkie and book tv junkie. i'm a mature woman who's a reader reading everything from history to politics to political thrillers, et cetera. and jenn, my question is i like the specific callty of a book. i will probably not buy an ereader unless i have an opportunity to take a trip around the world where i can download a lot of books. and i use my library quite frequently. denver has a wonderful library system. so my question is, what do you think the future is of the physical book? >> host: thank you, sally.

jenn risko? >> guest: you know, look, we pay a lot of attention to what's going on with ebooks. keep in mind they are only maybe 9% of the overall trade book market. there's many people who are saying just like you did that you are interesting in reading electronic books if they have to take a trip around the world and download 20 books on the kindle or ipad or nook or whatever. look, i don't think the physical book is going anywhere any time soon. certainly there will be lots of people reading electronic books and people who will always be reading both depending on what

works for them in that moment. >> host: clarence jones has a new book coming out. he worked with martin luther king, behind the scene, that's coming out in january. author paul roberts, as well, has a new book. "the future is exxon" is the name. michael from alabama, you are on the hair. >> caller: good evening. you don't know how honored i am to -- madame, i am to speak with you. i have forgetten your name. but that's because i have it on another channel. i'm going to ask you three questions from the point of view in the aspiring writer in a childrens book market who comes at it not from a degree in english, but from a life time love of doodling and auto design and animation, i draw in the

hanna-barbara style. what impact will books and kindles have the way on graphic and layout and photographers and illustrators do for page layout and all of that stuff? how will they have to change and adjust that work for publishers who are going to say we are going to put on ebooks and kindle also. second, i'll take my questions off of the air and let you answer them. the second is let's see -- i know that you are going to have to accept rejections. i know that each publisher has probably just the childrens division alone. a children's book editor have thousands of rejects of unsolicited stuff. i know they like to see your book published first. i am get articles ready for the

magazine article market complete with my illustrations and photos. but i read on this internet site that they -- if you are a cartoonist or illustrator, while that does give you a leg up, they perform to ask and be willing to illustrate other writers books first before you send them any manuscripts. how do children's book writers let alone the editors and publishers of the giant -- >> host: michael we got the two questions. we're going to have to leave it. jenn risko, thank you so much. graphics on ebooks. >> guest: you know, i was talking to my partner at shelf awareness the other day. he was talking about his wife sid who is an editor at the metropolitan museum of art. how do they get the gorgeous art

books to translate on to an ipod. i don't know about a kindle, because the kindle is still black and white. i think that some of this will definitely change. i think the ipad if you are going to have to look at anything with graphics and illustrations in my opinion, the ipad is completely superior. there again, you know, we're not sure how it's going to go yet. i think there's still especially for graphics right now, there's no substitute as much as there is paper. there's that one. i'm sorry, the other question was about publishing children's books. >> host: yeah, i'm doing illustrations and being requested to do illustrations for other people's children's book. >> guest: i think when they request you do it for other people, they'd like to see your range and see how flexible you are and that, you know, they are

taking less of a risk to someone unknown if they were doing it for their work. >> host: this is the former mayor of providence, rhode island, call me buddy is the name of that book. another book that came out in november, gerald blaine with lisa "the kennedy detail." did you read this? the secret service agents? >> guest: i did not read it. i'm hearing really nice things. it just came out when, in november? >> host: yeah. >> guest: yeah, just came out in november. and it's starting to crop up and i'm starting to hear a lot of bugs about this book. i talked to somebody at simon and schuster today. looks like over 70,000 copies

out there. this is an amazing account from one of jfks secret servicemen who was there on the day of the assassination. think about that for a moment. fortunately, that day, you failed. what's that's been like for this gentleman and the bonds with the kennedy family and what happened. i'd like to read it. >> host: hot for the holidays according to jenn risko and shelf awareness. jay-z "decoded" and keith

richard's life. jenn risko, how did books sell this past holiday season? >> guest: i think books sold very well. better than last year. i was talking to garth stein. the author a few weeks ago. he said his books soared 44% in the weeks before christmas. so, you know, right there, that's an amazing number. he wrote art of racing in the rain. 44% of trade paper back novel in one week that's been on the times list, i think, for 80 weeks straight. all of the sudden out of nowhere, 44% up on the sales of book. people gave books this year as christmas gifts. so a lot of them. which is typical. you know? i mean books have always been somewhat recession proof. and it's because of the gift that they give us. >> host: odd book coming out in march of 2011, jeff greenfield, "then everything

changed" stunning alternate history of american politics. francis has a book "the origin of political order" and andrew brightbart" righteous indignation: excuse me how i save the world. " how's this tweet? -- >> guest: you know, i don't know how the book did. i'm guessing from his second question, it didn't do so great. >> host: did you hear anything about it? >> guest: actually, i didn't. no, actually, i didn't. yeah. did you hear about it, peter, because i didn't? >> host: we will leave it there. anita in atlanta. you are on with jenn risko, good evening. >> caller: yes, good evening. yes, i'm a new author. my book was published december the 30th.

i'm just trying to find out what would be the best way to promote my book the name of the book is called tell my people that i am what i am, it's a spiritual book. and i live here in atlanta, georgia. i'm trying to just get a little bit of feedback. >> host: anita -- did you have a publishers? >> guest: yes, author house is the publisher. >> host: okay. what advise would you give for that author? >> guest: i would hire a professional who, you know, knows how to get the word of the book out there who can, you know, pitch it to review venn unis -- venn venn -- venues, and enlist professionals. there's lots of professionals out there that know how to do that well. that's what i would do. >> host: via tweet.

>> guest: young author. books by -- okay, yeah. >> host: young adults. sorry. >> guest: young adults. okay. that's what i was wondering. >> host: sorry. >> guest: i was like miley cyrus? okay. young adult books continue to do well. young adult books did incredibly well this year. i haven't had enough time to look into this. but i read a couple of y.a. adult novels this year that were just amazing. what's going on, we see more and more on the y.a. cross over, young adult books that appeals to both adults and to young adults. the books are -- i think it says

something about how sophisticated our young people are getting that they are becoming less and less different between what is known as a young adult novel and what is known as an adult novel. there are so many that are great. >> host: our book producer put together the program this evening with all of the books and jenn risko. ron, you are on the air from new mexico. >> caller: hi, jane. i just want to make an observation. peter asked about the oprah effect. one the pleasures of watching jon stewart is his promotion of reading and his promotion of books. earlier, you talked about the book "all of the devils are here." >> guest: yes. >> caller: my one of concerns is that we are just going

through this great recession. and the second point, i'd like to say i just returned from seattle. i went there from the early part of december. i was on the way back to el paso, i was with somebody that had a kindle. she gets the preview of the books. her husband had put a hold that she could only buy three books, as a result of having this kindle. because she found that she was actually buying more books as a result of it. [laughter] >> caller: could you please comment? >> guest: yeah. actually we've seen some studies that seem to suggest that people who have kindles and nooks and ipads are buying more because it is so easy. mamean think about amazon's