Description
A lively history of one of America's oldest publishing houses, published in conjunction with Wiley's bicentennial Founded in New York City when Thomas Jefferson was president, Wiley has been a significant player in the publishing industry for two centuries. Now, on the occasion of Wiley's bicentennial, a distinguished team of authors brings Wiley's rich history to life, showing how the company has reacted to trends within the publishing industry as well as to larger economic, social, and cultural forces. Knowledge for Generations sheds light on the long-term strengths and weaknesses of Wiley's business, illuminates the continuities and changes over time, and shows how family ownership has influenced the company's strategies, values, and corporate culture. Drawing on unrestricted access to company archives and interviews with key executives, the authors capture a story of sustained business success, intriguing personalities, and dramatic changes in the industry. Illustrated throughout with illuminating photographs and graphics, Knowledge for Generations is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of publishing.
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It's a company history--but what a company, and what a history--and the vision for this commemorative volume was broader than a simple retelling of corporate successes. Holding a truly unique position, John Wiley Publishing is a 200-year old family-owned American company that over the years has maintained high standards of literary, scholarly, and business integrity, remaining independent and vigorously resisting the forces of corporate amalgamation. There were books published to celebrate the company's 150th and 175th birthdays, but the ambitious goal for the current volume was to set the company's history in the context of developments in the American publishing industry as a whole, and to tell a story that doesn't gloss over mis-steps and down times. The first six chapters begin with the company's founding in 1807, and cover the history until 1979; these chapters were written by The Winthrop Group, an association of business, economic, and technology historians who were given complete access to corporate records and personnel. The remaining three chapters bringing the story to the present day represent a collaborative effort by participants in the company's more recent history and draw on memories and interviews. Great care and expertise have gone into the preparation of this work, and the result is an invaluable reference for those in the book industry as well as historians of American business. Extensive references and a thorough index are included. The format is oversize (9.5x12"), and the pages are replete with numerous photos, sidebars, and other graphics. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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