Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci Barnes and Noble CEO "Books Will Outlive Social Media" - James Daunt
James Daunt, CEO known for reviving Waterstones and founding Daunt Books, discusses why physical bookstores endure. He explains restoring store charm, empowering local booksellers to curate, and ending paid placement. Short takes touch on reading habits, favorite classics, and the book as a lasting technology.
31:38
Library Stacks Sparked A Bookselling Career
- James Daunt grew up using public libraries and collected a weekly stack of books.
- That childhood habit shaped his lifelong commitment to accessible bookstores.
Experience Beats Centralized Cost-Cutting
- Cost-cutting and centralized conformity erode bookstores' appeal and expertise.
- Reversing that with investment in stores and curation restores customer trust and sales.
Invest In Store Look And Staff Happiness
- Make stores physically attractive with clean spaces, good lighting, and appealing presentation.
- Combine aesthetics with knowledgeable, happy staff to drive store performance.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
James Daunt's bookselling background
01:52 • 43sec
Why physical bookstores matter
02:35 • 51sec
Saving Waterstones and his turnaround approach
03:26 • 35sec
Practical store changes that revived sales
04:01 • 3min
Trusting local booksellers' judgment
06:37 • 4min
Reading trends and generational habits
10:36 • 2min
Expanding Barnes & Noble stores and careers
12:44 • 1min
Publisher relationships and curated placement
13:47 • 2min
Too many books and curation limits
15:37 • 2min
Comparing UK and US bookselling
17:28 • 2min
Corporate mandate: be kind and use common sense
19:32 • 1min
James Daunt's personal reading tastes
20:47 • 2min
Favorite classics and recent standout reads
23:10 • 2min
Rapid-fire impressions on brands and reading
25:02 • 3min
The book as enduring technology
27:50 • 3min
Outro
31:13 • 25sec
#33496
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Golden Boy
Robert Hatch
#706
• Mentioned in 47 episodes
Huckleberry Finn
Joanne Suter
This adaptation of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Joanne Suter retains the core elements of Mark Twain's original story while making it more approachable for students.
The book follows Huck Finn and the runaway slave Jim as they embark on a journey down the Mississippi River, confronting various challenges and social issues of pre-Civil War America.
The adaptation includes eight pages of end-of-book activities to enhance the reading experience and facilitate learning.
#15799
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
A Savage War of Peace
Algeria 1954-1962
Alistair Horne
A Savage War of Peace is a comprehensive history of the Algerian War, written by Alistair Horne.
The book covers the background, events, and aftermath of the conflict, highlighting the brutalities and complexities of the war.
It explores the French military's use of torture, the political and military strategies of both the French and the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN), and the broader implications of the war on global politics.
The book is divided into two main parts, with detailed chapters and appendices, including an afterword, bibliography, and chronology of events.
Horne's work is praised for its objectivity and thoroughness, making it essential reading for understanding modern insurgencies and the conduct of politics and diplomacy during large-scale military efforts.
#428
• Mentioned in 68 episodes
1929
A Novel of the Jazz Age
Frederick Turner
This novel by Frederick Turner vividly captures the Jazz Age, weaving a story around Leon 'Bix' Beiderbecke, a jazz legend known for his brilliant yet troubled life.
The narrative is framed by the memories of Henry Wise, who reflects on the era's excesses and the tragic figures that defined it.
The book features cameos by notable figures like Louis Armstrong and Clara Bow, offering a rich tapestry of the period's music, culture, and societal upheaval.
#2235
• Mentioned in 20 episodes
Lessons in Chemistry
Bonnie Garmus
Lessons in Chemistry follows Elizabeth Zott, a self-taught chemist working in the 1950s and 1960s, a time when women were undervalued in the scientific community.
After being forced out of her doctoral program and facing numerous challenges, Elizabeth finds herself as the reluctant star of a popular TV cooking show called 'Supper at Six.' Her unique approach to cooking, combining chemistry with everyday life, proves revolutionary and inspires women to challenge societal norms.
The book is a humorous, observant, and vibrant tale of a woman who refuses to accept the status quo and instead dares to change it.
#612
• Mentioned in 53 episodes
Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert
Published in 1857, 'Madame Bovary' is a seminal work of literary realism that tells the story of Emma Bovary, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who marries Charles Bovary, a dull and unambitious doctor.
Emma's life is marked by boredom, romantic fantasies, and a series of ill-fated love affairs with men like Rodolphe and Léon.
Her inability to distinguish between her romantic ideals and the harsh realities of her life leads to financial ruin, public scandal, and ultimately, her tragic demise.
The novel is renowned for its masterful writing, detailed psychological insights, and its critique of bourgeois provincial life.
#118
• Mentioned in 159 episodes
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy
Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century.
The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg.
The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate.
Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life.
The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.
#357
• Mentioned in 78 episodes
Middlemarch
George Eliot
Middlemarch, written by George Eliot, is a novel that delves into the complexities of provincial life in 19th-century England.
The story revolves around the intersecting lives of its characters, particularly Dorothea Brooke and Dr. Tertius Lydgate, as they navigate marriage, vocation, and social class.
Eliot critiques the conventional romance narratives of her time by portraying marriage as a complex and often problematic institution.
The novel also explores themes of idealism, self-interest, hypocrisy, and the constraints on women's lives.
Set in the fictional town of Middlemarch between 1829 and 1832, the novel incorporates historical events such as the Great Reform Act of 1832 and early developments in medicine.
Eliot's realistic portrayal of ordinary human life, with its quiet tragedies and small triumphs, has made 'Middlemarch' a masterpiece of English literature.
This 200th episode of Open Book marks an incredible milestone in our journey, and it feels especially fitting to celebrate it with a conversation about books, leadership, and the enduring power of ideas with James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble. Thank you to every listener, reader, and supporter who has made this community what it is — your curiosity and commitment to learning are the reason we’re here. James Daunt is Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest retail bookseller, of stationery and gift retailer Paper Source, and of Waterstones, the largest retail bookseller in the United Kingdom.
📖 Books mentioned in this episode:
Savage War of Peace by Alistair Horne
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Middlemarch by George Eliot
The Golden Boy by Patricia Finn
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, a global alternative investment firm, and founder and chairman of SALT, a global thought leadership forum and venture studio. He is the host of the podcast Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci. A graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School, he lives in Manhasset, Long Island.
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