After 46 years in the business of book buying, selling, and publishing, Rick shares his thoughts on how the publishing world influences us.

In an age of constant screens, notifications, and digital overload, the printed book remains one of the most powerful forces in our culture. This course explores why physical books endure — not just as objects, but as engines of ideas, identity, and imagination.

Drawing on nearly half a century in publishing, bookselling, and discovering rare books, Richard takes us behind the scenes of how the books we read actually come to life. Who decides what gets published? How do books move from manuscript to marketplace? What determines a bestseller — and what happens to the thousands of titles that never make the list? We’ll look at book awards, modern “classics,” and the surprising economics of unsold books.

What to expect: 

You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the companies and decision‑makers behind the books we read and how those titles move from an idea on someone’s desk to a finished book in your hands. Richard will walk you through the publishing, distribution, and marketing process as only an insider can. Along the way, you’ll get a fresh appreciation for why printed books still matter — how they shape culture, preserve ideas, and offer a kind of focus and connection that’s hard to find in our digital world.

Thursday | Oct 8 | 1–3pm *2 hrs | HYBRID (attend in person at our classroom at the Easton Family YMCA, join through Zoom, or wait for the recording) | $30