Common Reader Information

Founded in 1986 by The Akadine Press, A Common Reader is a monthly book catalog mailed to tens of thousands of readers across the United States and around the world. From our very first issue, our goal has been to gather, ponder, and offer for sale a selection of books that we've enjoyed and think you might enjoy as well. Some are best browsed, some are for study, many are absorbing reading - but all belong to that class of books one is eager to pass on to a friend. We hope that what's "common" in A Common Reader is the sense of shared experience a good book can bring to solitary readers. The discovery and delight, the amusements and satisfactions that books provide are a common language to the community of readers we feel part of. Our rubrics are various, and the titles gathered beneath them cover a wide range of subjects and styles; there are diaries and letters, biographies, novels both sweet and searing, books on art and architecture, chronicles of war, collections of essays, memoirs and historical studies, tales of suspense, adventure, and humor, mysteries, and a fine choice of books for young readers. There are books of the hour and books of all time, books to be savored or read at whim. What connects them is the reward they offer a willing reader. While we're pleased to sell books of all publishers, we're especially pleased to bring to your attention our Common Reader Editions, in which we return to print those books we've found ourselves unable to live without. In composing our list, we keep in mind the qualities of the legendary waters which gives our Press its name. As described by the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, who wrote during the first century BC, writings were placed in the Sicilian fountain of Akadine to test their worth: if they were true they floated, if they were spurious they sank to the bottom. Our offices and warehouse are located in Pleasantville, New York, about thirty-five miles north of Manhattan. We have a staff of forty-odd people who work very hard to maintain the quality of our enterprise and to satisfy our customers. The voices you hear in the print and web pages of A Common Reader belong to James Mustich, Jr., our Publisher and President; Thomas Meagher, our Editorial Director; and other members of our staff, with occasional contributions from the happy band of readers throughout the country with whom we are in constant correspondence. We welcome your queries and comments to service@commonreader.com or 1-800-832-7323.