When this book was first printed in May 2002 there's no doubt it amounted to what could then be considered groundbreaking work. Well, that was then. This is now. While I still considered the book a fair read, even for a novice such as myself, it was obvious that it was a bit dated.

For example, the author's suggestions for book finding require super human feats of memory prowess to find and buy valuable books. Why would I do that when I can use one of a half dozen wireless price look-up tools to guarantee myself that the books I find in the field are valuable and almost guaranteed to sell?

In addition to a few of the more traditionally accepted book sources, the author offered a couple of other book finding secrets that had me squinting and rubbing my eyes in disbelief. I had to read the section over several times to make sure I didn't misunderstand. For example, the author wants you to go prowling through neighborhood trash cans looking for books! Just how glamorous is that? And another little known secret is combing through your local landfill/garbage dump and apply what he calls the "sniff test" to ferret out discarded gems! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Is the reader supposed to take this kind of stuff seriously? I smell something fishy.

If you're an absolute beginner bookseller, you can glean a few basics from this book. But what I found most useful was a pretty good group of appendices with a decent glossary, standard bookseller abbreviations, and his own personal bibliography of books and periodicals on bookselling he finds helpful. He also provides a list of the major book distributors (that was nice), and he includes a chapter on basic book repair. I haven't seen that in other books of this subject that I've read.

In addition, I really liked the amount of emphasis he placed on establishing a consistent daily routine for things such as confirming and fulfilling customer orders and inventory management. These are both important subjects that have only gotten cursory mention in other books I've read.

To be fair, there are a few gems in this book. But given the dynamic nature of the bookselling business, he should have revised this title years ago and provided more current information. Should the author decide to publish a revised edition, I'll be one of the first to buy one.

But until then, I'll put this book on my "B" list and continue studying more up-to-date work while pulling what little I can from this one.

I am an online seller and I was able to borrow a copy. I did have some educational gaps filled in.

Good for a beginner, and someone who wants to grow beyond the first successful steps.

Though:

The web is a dynamic enviornment. It's living and alive though composed of bits and bytes.

Did you ever have someone ask "What's a good business to start or get into." If you were able to answer or overhear an answer volunteered by another then that most definitely isn't the business to get into.

If someone is in a good business and really savvy. He/She is living eating, breathing and dreaming their business; THEY WILL NOT TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND HOW THEY ARE DOING IT!

There are 40,000 Marketplace Sellers.

My advice is:

1.) Look at your resumee
2.) Look at your hobbies
3.) Look at your "I wish someone would...." List [i.e. Sell, Make, Import, Grow etc.}

Regarding number 3 if you can't find it - That's an open niche providing there are enough others who have the same wish/need.

This isn't negativity, it's called "The Law of Diminshing Returns". Less return on effort. You must have inner creativity and market freedom.

Regarding one review - You can't get decent dollars on Danielle Steele not of 2,000 other sellers are selling the same book - many for a penny. You have to be creative, a learner and have thick skin to survive.

good general business review. i liked the emphasis on the nessessary time and travel required to become succesful.