Loyal readers of the “print product” know Bryan Garner’s name from this profile we ran of him awhile back. As the headline states, he’s the leading lexicographer of our time. There are a couple of us in the office who, shall we say, are big fans of his work. (And, yes, I realize that might sound a bit dorky.) So when Garner sent out a personal appeal last week for help, I was concerned what was wrong. You should be concerned, too.
Here’s what he wrote:
If you’re a fan of my usage tips and Garner’s Modern American Usage…
I have a favor to ask of you as a loyal reader: In the next few hours or days, would you please go to www.amazon.com or www.bn.com and buy one or more copies of the new third edition of Garner’s Modern American Usage as holiday presents? In fact, keep this gift possibility in mind through the end of the year, won’t you?
I need your help in sending a message to the major bookstore chains: they’re not stocking the book because they’ve told Oxford University Press that they consider usage guides a “defunct category.” It’s maddeningly unbelievable. Please help me show them that they’re stupendously wrong.
Meanwhile, in the coming months you might ask about the book when you’re in a bookstore: ask the managers why they don’t stock copies, and encourage them to do so.
If you’re curious to see what effect you’re having, watch the rankings on Amazon.com or Bn.com in coming days and weeks. We’ll be alerting the major chains to those numbers, and we want to get as close to the top 50 as we can. If you’re trying to order and see that the book is labeled “out of stock,” order anyway: the effort is also to ensure that the online booksellers keep adequate stocks.
In return for this favor — it’s a grassroots effort — I’ll be happy to inscribe copies that you send to LawProse for that purpose, if you (1) include a filled-out FedEx airbill for returning them to you, and (2) suggest an appropriate inscription.
Thank you for whatever help you can provide in this endeavor to show booksellers that the concern for good English is alive and well.
I would add one more thing: if you aren’t already a subscriber to Garner’s e-mail usage tip of the day, you should be.
