Is Book Publishing and Reading Reading in America Dead?

A conversation with David Borgenicht, founder of Quirk Books. From a small independent idea to a publisher known for creativity and bold concepts, his story is a reminder that even in a changing world, there’s still space for imagination—and for books that surprise us.Borgenicht is an American publisher, entrepreneur, and co-founder of, he co-created the massively successful Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series, which became a publishing phenomenon, selling millions of copies worldwide and helping define a category of smart, giftable nonfiction.Founded in 2002, Quirk Books carved out a niche by blending humor, design, and unconventional concepts—publishing breakout hits like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which helped pioneer the literary mashup trend and became a cultural touchstone. In October of 2025 the company was acquired by Andrews McMeel Publishing, Davidremains as the Publisher.At a time when so much of our attention lives online,conversations like this bring us back to something simple butpowerful: the experience of reading, discovering, and sharing ideas.