Melville House Books

It was no mystery, but now it’s official: “Oprah’s recommendations had a bigger impact on the sales of books than anything we have previously seen in literature, or seen since,” according to a survey by a Brigham Young University economics professor, Richard Butler. As an Associated Press wire story reports, “Butler and his team of students” found that “Winfrey’s recommendation was enough to lift books from obscurity and to keep them on the best-seller lists longer than other titles.” Few of the books she chose were bestsellers when chosen, Butler noted, but the first 11 she chose went to at least number 4 within he first week. “Among those most affected were Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, which was on the best-seller list for 137 weeks, and Billie Letts‘ Where the Heart Is, which lasted 98 weeks.”

Dennis Johnson is the founder of MobyLives, and the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.