André Schiffrin's 'L'argent et les mots' Diagnoses Publishing's Corporate Takeover

In his latest book, 'L'argent et les mots', André Schiffrin examines the ongoing crisis in publishing, where media conglomerates prioritize profitability over literary merit. He argues that fortunes are now made not by publishing worthwhile books but by buying and selling publishing houses themselves. Schiffrin surveys the troubling state of publishing, cinema, bookstores, and the press, but also highlights alternative models. He points to successful French and international initiatives, such as Norway's government purchase of books for libraries, support for independent bookstores in Poitou-Charentes, and the loan of premises to Éditions Cheyne by the village of Chambon-sur-Lignon. Schiffrin advocates for public funding and nonprofit structures, urging political bodies—especially regional and municipal governments—to adopt concrete, low-cost solutions. The essay calls for a necessary reflection on capitalist society and encourages readers to pursue other possible paths. Published by Éditions La Fabrique, the book continues Schiffrin's earlier critiques of Anglo-Saxon and French publishing transformations.