Steve Jobs biography is big, but John Bacon's Rich Rodriguez book is bigger for Nicola's Books
For Nicola’s Books, one of Ann Arbor's last general bookstores, Steve Jobs is big — but John Bacon is bigger.
Walter Isaacson’s highly anticipated biography of Apple's co-founder, officially released Monday, is already driving significant foot traffic to the store in Ann Arbor’s Westgate Shopping Center, owner Nicola Rooney said.
Nicola's Books owner Nicola Rooney said she's expecting a huge week because of the Steve Jobs book and John Bacon's new book Rich Rodriguez.
File photo | AnnArbor.com
But, in Ann Arbor, it’s not the most popular new release. Bacon’s book on Rich Rodriguez’s divisive tour as coach of the Michigan football team — titled "Three and Out" and released today — is generating enormous interest among local readers, Rooney said.
“That’s going to be our huge, huge, huge book this week,” she said. “That will be hundreds” of copies sold.
Rooney said she’s also had to order additional copies of the Jobs book six times in the last four days, making it a hot seller.
“So we’re going to have a busy week,” Rooney said, laughing.
Since the liquidation of Ann Arbor-based bookstore chain Borders finished in September, Nicola’s has already noticed shifts in the local book industry.
“We’ve certainly seen an increase in customer count” and loyalty program registrations, Rooney said.
Rooney said she suspects that Barnes & Noble’s store on Washtenaw Avenue on Ann Arbor’s east side is also experiencing an uptick in sales. She said she expects to benefit mostly from the closure of Borders’ flagship store in downtown Ann Arbor — not the closure of the Borders superstore on Lohr Road.
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
CincoDeMayo
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 3:19 a.m.
I'm not even a big football fan, but I love John Bacon's writing enough to check this book out.
racerx
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.
Gee, I wonder what the comparisons between the two books are in Silicon Valley.
Bob
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 10:52 a.m.
"Do not read this book"? Wow. Oh, I'll read it - Bacon is an excellent writer - I'll just hold out until it' s given as a gift!
eom
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:47 a.m.
Really? WAS an excellent writer? Seems to me he's doing a brilliant job and writing about things he's passionate about. How is writing a book destined to end up on a best seller list "throwing his career away"? Fame and money often comes with great writing. Jealous perhaps?
Terry Star21
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 5:48 p.m.
Bacon was an excellent writer - now throwing his career away with 'opinions' for fame and money.
Sam McDermott
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 7:13 p.m.
Any chance of Nicola's moving downtown? With the gap from Shaman Drum and Border's leaving, it's something I think a lot of people would like to see.
mrpaul
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 4:05 p.m.
Yeah. With all those book stores going out of business downtown... someone should really open a book store downtown.
Rod Johnson
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 1:47 a.m.
The rent is just too high downtown.
arborani
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.
Oh, noes . . . Nicola, please stay in the mall, where the parking is easy, accessible and free.
Roy Munson
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 6:52 p.m.
Sorry Terry, but the last three years are not over. Bill Martin destroyed Michigan football and its traditions and that will require years of rehabilitation. Hearing what really happened from the inside might help some recover from this disaster. If it exposes some folks (Lloyd Carr), so be it!
lindor
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 7 p.m.
Agree with Roy.... And you think someone is throwing away their career because they tell the truth, and that truth is ugly? Give me a break. The first thing LC should have done is take part in the book and agree to be interviewed. It's his fault. If Dave Brandon is upset, maybe he should have done the same. I love that Denard tried speaking to Brandon about the coaching situation at the very end several times and Brandon refused to speak with him... In my book Lloyd Carr was a legend at this school.... WAS. After reading Bacon's book and considering what I have heard internally, Carr did a nice sabotage job. I could even get over it if it was Lloyd v. RR, but when he actively tried to protect his legacy (which was never in doubt btw) while screwing over the very players he recruited and HIS program, I've got a problem with it.
Terry Star21
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 5:47 p.m.
Okay Roy I hear you, no offense but honestly if Michigan Football needs a book to recover then we are in worse shape of anything that happened in the last three years. Lloyd Carr is a Michigan legend, anything he may/may not have done was for Michigan - any smearing of his reputation by someone throwing away their own career for fame/money is bogus.
Terry Star21
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 6:22 p.m.
Michigan Football Faithful, Alum, & Former players DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. We are moving forward and making great progress, we watched this movie fold out for three years in what seemed like 24 hour days - let us all Skip this RERUN, please !!!!!!! MgoBlueForTiM.........paid our dues, and now working toward a great future...
Newzdog
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 11:43 a.m.
Give it up Terry
eom
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 12:35 a.m.
Michigan faithful should decide to read a book on their own. John Bacon is an amazing Ann Arborite and an insightful author and football fan. Why hate?
48104
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 10:59 p.m.
The time will come when we need to hire a new coach. Best to know what went wrong and try to avoid the errors of the past. Ignorance is not bliss.
aatownie
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 6:32 p.m.
I do not take lightly to someone telling me not to read and stay informed. If you want to remain blindly faithful go ahead-I will be reading the book.