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While a lot of folks are understandably concerned about the loss of mass market paperbacks, there’s perhaps a more positive interpretation of this story. 🧵 1/5

Stephen Harrison

@stephenharrison.com

29 Jan

MMPs became popular as the cheap option to buy books through grocery stores and news stands. They were an intentionally low quality product with weak spines and low-grade paper. 2/5

Stephen Harrison

@stephenharrison.com

29 Jan

Nowadays when people are opting for a cheap entertainment experience, they are more likely to swipe through content on their phone. That is, we get our cheap thrills through our phones, not MMPs. 3/5

Stephen Harrison

@stephenharrison.com

But when someone wants a more focused & pleasurable experience than they can get on their phone, they are more likely drawn to the high-quality paperback or hardback version of a book. 4/5

29/1/26, 10:38 pm0 reposts0 likes

Stephen Harrison

@stephenharrison.com

29 Jan

Taken together: the disappearance of MMPs could reflect an increased consumer interest in *reading as an elevated experience* that intentionally contrasts with the cheap shallowness of scrolling. 5/5