In the 20th century, cumulative millions of readers received books by mail from clubs like the Book-of-the-Month Club, the Book Society or Bertelsmann Club. This Element offers an introduction to book clubs as a distribution channel and cultural phenomenon, and shows that book clubs and book commerce are linked inextricably. It argues that a global perspective is necessary to understand the cultural and economic impact of book clubs in the 20th and into the 21st century. It also explores central reasons for book club membership, condensing them into four succinct categories: convenience, community, concession and, most importantly, curation. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

The first complete introduction to the technology and business issues surrounding m-commerce With the number of mobile phone users fast approaching the one billion mark, it is clear that mobile e-commerce (a.k.a. "m-commerce") is the next business frontier. Authored by a recognized international authority in the field, this book describes the brave new world of m-commerce for technical and business managers alike. Readers learn about the driving forces behind m-commerce, the impact of WAP, 3G, mobile payment, and emerging location-sensitive and context-aware technologies. A comprehensive look at emerging m-commerce services and business models, as well as the changing role of mobile network operators, content providers, and other key players. The author concludes with informed predictions about the future of m-commerce.

The Complete E-Commerce Book offers a wealth of information on how to design, build and maintain a successful web-based business.... Many of the chapters are filled with advice and information on how to incorporate current e-business principles o

A Foreign Affairs Best Book of the Year: “Tells the history of American trade policy . . . [A] grand narrative [that] also debunks trade-policy myths.” —Economist Should the United States be open to commerce with other countries, or should it protect domestic industries from foreign competition? This question has been the source of bitter political conflict throughout American history. Such conflict was inevitable, James Madison argued in the Federalist Papers, because trade policy involves clashing economic interests. The struggle between the winners and losers from trade has always been fierce because dollars and jobs are at stake: depending on what policy is chosen, some industries, farmers, and workers will prosper, while others will suffer. Douglas A. Irwin’s Clashing over Commerce is the most authoritative and comprehensive history of US trade policy to date, offering a clear picture of the various economic and political forces that have shaped it. From the start, trade policy divided the nation—first when Thomas Jefferson declared an embargo on all foreign trade and then when South Carolina threatened to secede from the Union over excessive taxes on imports. The Civil War saw a shift toward protectionism, which then came under constant political attack. Then, controversy over the Smoot-Hawley tariff during the Great Depression led to a policy shift toward freer trade, involving trade agreements that eventually produced the World Trade Organization. Irwin makes sense of this turbulent history by showing how different economic interests tend to be grouped geographically, meaning that every proposed policy change found ready champions and opponents in Congress. Deeply researched and rich with insight and detail, Clashing over Commerce provides valuable and enduring insights into US trade policy past and present. “Combines scholarly analysis with a historian’s eye for trends and colorful details . . . readable and illuminating, for the trade expert and for all Americans wanting a deeper understanding of America’s evolving role in the global economy.” —National Review “Magisterial.” —Foreign Affairs

This is the first comprehensive economic history of the Basotho people of Southern Africa (in colonial Basutoland, then Lesotho) and spans from the 1820s to the present day. The book documents what the Basotho have done on their own account, focusing on their systematic exclusion from trade and their political efforts to insert themselves into their country’s commerce. Although the colonial and post-colonial periods were unfavourable to the Basotho, they have, before and after colonial rule, launched impressive commercial initiatives of their own, which bring hope for greater development and freedom in their struggle for economic independence.

This book is designed for people who want to understand e-commerce - and by "understanding", we mean first and foremost Why and What, not How. Why is Amazon dominating the market? What happened between 1995 and 2015? Why were the incumbents like Walmart not able to fight back? What will become of the herd of new unicorn e-commerce companies? And what will happen to the traditional value chain on which retail companies operate? This is not a book about How, though, so don't read this hoping to learn "how to master online marketing". From our point of view, the Why and What is much more challenging and important, whether you are running a company in this market or are a student wanting to break into it. In this book, we'll share what we've learned.Look forward to more than 450 pages of valuable material about changes in the value chain, a lively review of how e-commerce has developed over the last 20 years, 50 case studies of digital business models large and small, three extensive interviews with leading e-commerce entrepreneurs, and strategic mind-games galore for a range of industries. The Story so far: Join us in revisiting the last 20 years of e-commerce. Look into the ups but also the downs of various business archetypes. Also, find a detailed analysis of recent market developments and major players in China. Basic Concepts: Learn about the interaction of all building blocks along the e-commerce value chain. You will understand how to make your customer happy in terms of demand based procurement, distribution, customer service, and much more... Case Studies: Get insights into 50 renowned online players around the globe. Each profile covers a detailed business model assessment and market positioning. The authors give a brief outlook on challenges and opportunities for each of the companies portrayed. Strategic Aspects: Find answers to major strategic questions: How to prosper in a "GAFA" dominated economy? Should I resist the temptation to sell via Amazon? Are banking and insurance the next industries to be radically transformed? ...and what is taking so long in the home furnishings sector? Interviews: Tap into the knowledge of successful serial entrepreneurs and get inspired by the latest insights of Stephan Schambach, René Köhler, and Florian Heinemann. Benchmarking: Learn how to benchmark your own e-commerce activities and take a closer look on aspects such as platform, business intelligence, online marketing, and CRM. Sold over 3.000 times in Germany. Voted the best book about E-Commerce!

A distinctive history of the traditions of reading and life in the Renaissance library, as seen in the texts of Renaissance intellectuals

Sibao today is a cluster of impoverished villages in western Fujian. But from the late 17th-early 20th centuries, it was home to a flourishing publishing industry supplying south China through itinerant booksellers. Brokaw describes this rural, low-level operation, tracing how Sibao's socio-geographical character shaped its progress.