Outreach of Geography from the Publishing Industry Perspective

Abstract

This report examines the outreach of geography from the perspective of the publishing industry and bookstores. Using sales data from bookstores, I investigated the level of acceptance of geography-related books intended for the general public by bookstores and readers. The results showed that fewer geography books are published and sold compared with books related to history. The geography readership is also biased toward middle-aged men. It was clarified that few bookstores consciously set up special displays of books on geography and conditions for their optimal promotion and sales are not in place. These study results indicate the current degree of public interest in geography and the extent to which geography-related books have penetrated the publishing industry.