Personal Finance (Not Investing) • Academic Book Contract - Issues and Options?

Thanks, folks! Once again, Bogleheads do not disappoint!

So, overall sounds like an academic book of this sort is just simply just not a really financial proposition.

Kinda makes one wonder: what's the point?

Also, if there's so little money involved, how do the publishers stay in business? Are they subsidized by the universities, etc?

Still interested in any other perspectives anyone may have.

Thanks again.

What's the point?

First and foremost, scholars in any field write for each other. This is the smallest and least remunerative audience. Yet, it is the most important to the pursuit of knowledge. We have to know what others are doing if we are to do something new and original. This isn't unique to the humanities. There are an astonishing number of technical publications that are read by a handful of specialists.

University presses that support the humanities keep costs very low. They often operate a non-profit foundation to raise money. Subvention money is gladly accepted. Journal subscriptions are sold at a fraction of those in the sciences and engineering, and journal editors rely on the charity of scholars to review submissions and new books whenever they have the time to do it. It is a shoe-string operation.

This may seem like an alien concept on Bogleheads, but no one is in it for the money.

Statistics: Posted by Tdubs — Fri Dec 26, 2025 6:47 am — Replies 14 — Views 765

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