| Good books show their standing through high sales | | | | - Suspense/Thriller fiction which commonly features a |
| figures and high search figures on the internet. The 5 | | | | character exposed to constant threat whilst up |
| most popular categories based on these criteria (in | | | | against a villain. The best known authors in this |
| descending order of importance) are Children's books, | | | | category are Clive Cussler, Lawrence Sanders, |
| Management books, Fiction books, Books on Business | | | | Frederick Forsythe, Richard North Patterson and Tom |
| and, Sales books. | | | | Clancy. |
| Children's books are a popular choice as gifts. They | | | | - Western fiction about life on the American frontier. |
| are valuable as they help develop the child's reasoning | | | | Louis Lamour is the best known author of western |
| and imaginative abilities and expand his/her | | | | fiction. |
| vocabulary. They also aid in instilling sound moral | | | | - Woman's fiction which tends to focus on |
| values. | | | | relationships. They usually feature a strong woman |
| But choosing the right book for a specific child can be | | | | character that triumphs in extremely difficult |
| a challenge and the following guidelines should help. | | | | circumstances. Authors in this category are Judith |
| Children can be grouped into categories according to | | | | Krantz, Rebecca Wells and Barbara Taylor Bradford. |
| their approximate age and a useful grouping is that of | | | | Books on Business are distinguished from |
| preschool, junior school, high school and young adults. | | | | Management books in that they are slightly more of |
| This broad grouping should allow the preliminary | | | | an academic nature and cover subjects which are |
| elimination of certain books. | | | | universal Common recent examples of these are |
| Next, any book with sensitive content can be | | | | ethics, organisational structuring, the state of the |
| eliminated. This would include all books which would | | | | world markets and international financing. |
| not be in line with the family's values e.g. those which | | | | A predicted future factor whose implications will have |
| promote a specific religious point of view and those | | | | to be catered for by all organisations is the growing |
| which require maturity to handle such as gratuitous | | | | counter-reaction to "Human rights" in the form of |
| violence and sexuality. | | | | "Human responsibilities" for which a Universal |
| The gender of the child will further eliminate additional | | | | Declaration has already been formulated by the |
| types of books. | | | | InterAction Council of Political and Religious Leaders. |
| Management books relate to the effective and | | | | On a local level they also include all the books related |
| efficient activities involved in the operation of a | | | | to the legalities of running a business which are |
| business. They cover the common activities of | | | | published by all relevant authorities. |
| Business Intelligence Management, Financial | | | | Sales books cover the spectrum from organizing and |
| Management, Human Resource Management, | | | | managing a sales team to sales skills and are |
| Information Technology Management, Marketing | | | | especially popular during economic downturns. |
| Management, Production Management, Service | | | | An important distinction must be made between the |
| Management and, Strategic Management, | | | | sales activities required when selling an object and |
| It should be noted that most of the books are either | | | | when selling a service as it is apparent that there are |
| heavily skewed towards theory, which makes it | | | | two totally distinctive skill sets and procedures |
| difficult to put their content directly into practice, or | | | | involved. Would you trust your friendly local car |
| are based on case studies of organisations which | | | | salesperson to obtain and administer your personal |
| were successful in the past. | | | | financial investments? |
| Case-study based books are also normally those | | | | Despite this obvious difference many authors tend to |
| which make the bestseller lists but suffer from two | | | | adopt a "one size fits all" approach to sales and then |
| basic defects. Firstly, their content reflects the | | | | e.g. advocate the use of their developed "closing |
| author's definition of success and success factors. | | | | techniques" for all sales types. |
| Secondly, they use the past to suggest future | | | | Interesting enough when you go back in history you |
| "success" managerial actions. These two defects are | | | | will find that the common sales approach underlying |
| reflected in the fact that the majority of these | | | | most of the sales models today was developed for |
| so-called successful companies used as examples are | | | | pharmaceutical representatives in the past whose job |
| usually no longer so successful when looked at today. | | | | it was to deduct stock level quantities on a |
| Further, that the application of these identified | | | | pharmacy shelf from their recommended levels and |
| "success" factors in similar organisations rarely result | | | | then to replace the sold numbers of items. |
| in the required improvement. | | | | A single approach to both types of sales is doomed |
| Management books are nevertheless important and | | | | to failure and this must be kept in mind when buying |
| serve a valuable function as long as the reader | | | | sales books. |
| realises that their content has to be adapted to his | | | | Used books or second-hand books vs new books: In |
| her unique situation and uses their content as broad | | | | the past buying used or second-hand books tended |
| guidelines. | | | | to have a stigma attached to it and it was not the |
| Fiction books are those which feature invented | | | | "done thing". However, if you consider that the only |
| stories and consist of the following sub-categories: | | | | difference between a good quality used book and a |
| - Horror fiction whose aim is to frighten the reader | | | | new book is the price then it is obvious why these |
| by exploiting his/her conscious and/or unconscious | | | | types of stores have mushroomed. |
| fears. The best known authors are Stephen King, | | | | Besides the cost savings, which allow you to buy |
| Dean Koontz and Clive Barker. | | | | even more books, an avid reader could use the |
| - Mystery fiction which are usually based on a main | | | | opportunity to browse the store, whether it is a |
| character trying to solve a crime. It has three | | | | physical or virtual store, and thereby identify other |
| sub-categories which are crime, detective and spy. | | | | books by his/her favourite authors. It is also a |
| Successful authors in this category are John | | | | chance to become acquainted with new authors or |
| Sandford, Michael Connolly, Robert B Parker, Sue | | | | new characters by current favourite authors. |
| Grafton, Kathy Reichs and James Lee Burke. | | | | It also allows you to buy those books which have |
| - Romance fiction which usually feature a lover having | | | | been out of print. |
| to overcome great hurdles to be with the love of his | | | | Books on sale. If you still choose to buy new books |
| life. Authors in this category are Danielle Steele, | | | | then it is wise to continuously keep an eye out for |
| Barbara Cartland and Daphne Du Maurier. | | | | sales held by the larger bookstores during which they |
| - Science fiction/Fantasy books which have stories | | | | sell new stock at a lower price. This is usually when |
| set in imaginary worlds using advanced technologies. | | | | their sales projections have not been realised and |
| This category has increased in popularity due to films | | | | they are left with excess stock. You can either |
| such as Star Wars, Star Trek and, more recently, | | | | physically visit their stores, or visit their websites, on |
| The Matrix and successful authors include J.K. | | | | a regular basis to find out when they are having |
| Rowling, Arthur C. Clark, Ray Bradbury and J.R.R. | | | | sales. |
| Tolkien. | | | | |