by Robin Fiedler
Reading is hot! As much as we all feared that the Internet would be the demise of books, technology has actually influenced a resurgence in book sales. Hard covers and paperbacks still sell in great numbers, but audio and e-books sales are booming. Thanks to the new e-Readers, Kindle and the Nook, e-book sales are hot in addition to traditional book sales. 
In the latest numbers for 2009, "Book sales tracked by the Association of American Publishers (AAP) for the month of September increased by 12.3 percent at $1.26 billion and were up by 3.6 percent for the year." It's a good sign for book retailers, but it's even brighter for e-book sales. According to the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) in the 3rd quarter 2009, e-book sales in the United States are estimated at $46.5 million, tripling the 2008 3rd quarter's $13.9 million.
For the month of September 2009 alone, AAP notes, "E-books sales reached $15.9 million, reflecting a 170.7 percent increase for September and a 176.1 percent increase year to-date." Granted, $15.9 million seems miniscule to the overall $1.26 billion in monthly sales, but e-books sales are increasing by leaps and bounds.
The hottest titles for the holidays are a mixed bag. Stephen King's new Under the Dome for the Sci-Fi lover, Sarah Palin's Going Rogue for women, Splendiferous Christmas from the Fancy Nancy series by Jane O'Connor for the kids, and the Guiness World Records 2010 are all on the New York Times Best Seller list.
Teen girls are going crazy for the Twilight Saga. The four-book set in the series, which includes Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn, is selling for just under $50. For boys and girls, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is popular; the most-current is Dog Days. For adults, The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown and The Help by Kathryn Sockett, set during the Civil Rights Movement, are best sellers at Amazon. Besides The Twilight Saga, Going Rogue, and The Lost Symbol, Barnes & Noble lists The Elf on the Shelf, a popular $27 holiday gift, and Ounce, Dice, Trice for under $10 as current best sellers.
For the week of Dec. 6, 2009, USAToday's top 10 from the top 150 books include all four of Stephenie Meyer's The Twilight Series books, the most recent books by authors Sarah Palin, Stephen King, and Dan Brown as well as two murder mysteries: Sue Grafton's U is for Undertow and James Patterson's I, Alex Cross.
When it comes to books adapted into movies, The Twilight Saga is the hottest, but there's also Sapphire's Push (adapted into the independent film Precious) and The Blind Side by Michael Lewis, based on real life college football player, Michael Oher. All three are top sellers on the NY Times Best Seller list under different categories.
Whether a hardcover, paperback, or an e-book, books are making the top of gifts' lists. A book may be just the best mind-expanding gift idea yet, and sales indicate we are buying that gift for ourselves as well as others.
Sources
"Best Sellers." NY Times 13 Dec. 2009.
"Best Sellers in Books." Amzon.com 13 Dec. 2009.
"Best-Selling Books Database." USAToday. 6 Dec. 2009.
"Book Publishing Sales Post Gains in September." Association of American Publishers. 17 Nov. 2009.
"Industry Statistics." Internal Digital Publishing Forum.
"This Hour's Best Sellers." Barnes & Noble. 13 Dec. 2009.
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