In an age of TikTok, streaming video, and infinite digital entertainment, you might assume that book sales are declining. The data tells a different — and more interesting — story.
Print Book Sales Are Resilient
Despite decades of predictions about the death of physical books, print sales have remained remarkably stable. According to the Association of American Publishers, US print book sales have hovered between 650-750 million units annually in recent years — with notable growth in the 2020-2022 period driven by pandemic-era reading habits.
Nonfiction specifically — business, self-help, health, biography — continues to be one of the strongest and most growing categories in the market.
The Ebook Plateau and the Print Resurgence
The ebook revolution peaked around 2014-2015 and has since stabilized at approximately 20-25% of the consumer book market (revenue basis). Contrary to predictions, ebooks did not replace print books — they created an additive market that expanded overall reading.
For nonfiction authors, this means both formats matter: ebooks for discoverability and impulse buyers (particularly in Amazon KDP), print for gifts, professional credibility, and readers who want to annotate and reference the material.
The Self-Publishing Revolution in Numbers
Bowker (the official ISBN registration agency in the US) reports that self-published books now account for the majority of ISBNs registered annually — exceeding traditionally published titles by a significant margin. The quality gap between self-published and traditionally published nonfiction has narrowed substantially as professional publishing services become more accessible.
Audiobooks: The Fastest Growing Format
Audiobook revenue has grown at double-digit rates for a decade, driven by commuting, exercise, and the general shift toward passive consumption of long-form content. For nonfiction authors, producing an audiobook is no longer optional — it's expected by a significant portion of the audience.
What This Means for Your Publishing Decision
The data is unambiguous: the book market is not dying. It is evolving. Nonfiction — particularly in the business, professional development, and self-help categories — remains a robust and growing market. The opportunity for expert authors who publish in these categories has never been larger.
Read more about the publishing landscape in our guide on traditional vs. self-publishing in 2026. Ready to take advantage of this market? Talk to our team about publishing your book.