Book Quote by Jonathan Evison
“But once you publish a book, doesn’t it by definition become the realm of public discourse? Otherwise, wouldn’t we just write books and print them out ourselves, and give them to specific people we felt comfortable giving them to–like gifts? Isn’t publishing sort of a social contract?”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Publishing and the Public Sphere, 2018
Publishing inherently shares ideas publicly, making books part of collective conversation.
In simple terms: Books become public once released.
Key Takeaway
Consider the impact of sharing ideas widely.
Themes
publishing
public discourse
social contract
accessibility
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- self‑publishing
- library donations
- online platforms
- author collaborations
Key Concepts
media studies
ethics
literary economics
Questions to Reflect On
- Should authors limit distribution for privacy?
- How does public access shape cultural dialogue?
A Different Perspective
Some authors may prefer private circulation for niche audiences.
![“You can publish a poem you think is a very important poem, and you don't hear a word from anyone. [...] You can publish a book of poetry by dropping it off a cliff and waiting to hear an echo. Quite often, you'll never hear a thing. So doing that, using older work, puts it in a context, and that…” quote by Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5ad/lawrence-ferlinghetti-7689_book_you-can-publish-a-poem-you-think-is-a-ve_1235664.jpg)
