If a bestseller list shuns authors it dislikes, it should say so
Bestseller lists are supposed to reflect sales, not political ideology
People love lists. The 1,000 richest people, the 100 places to see before you die, the ten most-wanted fugitives; lists promise to make the chaos of life more manageable. Benjamin Franklin was a superfan, using lists to explain everything from the 13 virtues necessary to be successful to eight reasons to choose an older woman as a lover.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Sorting the good from the popular ”
Leaders June 15th 2024
From the June 15th 2024 edition
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