evolution

It used to be, when I'd get asked why I bought or rejected this or that book I'd make a genuine effort to explain my thinking. But hardly anyone is actually interested in what makes a book 'good' in a retail context, or rather they're not interested in the intricacies that genuinely determine saleability. They just want to know what you'll buy from the. I've actually had folks ask me for a list of what we'll buy. Unfortunately the business doesn't run along such a simple pathway.

After who knows how many years of buying books I just noticed I've developed a stock answer to this line of questioning-

"I think we can sell it," or "I don't think we can sell it."

Which has the advantage of being a closed loop.

Why is it good? Because I think it's salable.
Why don't I want it? Because I don't think it's salable.