Every book published since 1965 has an ISBN number. The acronym "ISBN" means the International Standard Book Number and was invented in Great Britain in 1965, as an international system for classifying books. Each country set up its own rules to get a number. Publishers loved the system because in a non-digital age it helped keep things straight. Every book had a unique identifying number no matter where was sold.
In the past you couldn't get a book published unless you got an ISBN number. Not any more! What has changed? The internet, of course. E-book publishing can go around traditional paper print publishers. The publishers, who are losing control are naturally upset. They have lost a lot of power over authors who can self-publish an "e-book".
Power to the authors! Keep writing!
See the Economist March 2, 2013, print edition See The Economist, Print Edition and Economist.com
