[surgical_fire]

I have no idea how the book industry works, but I think I sort of understand the problem you are gesturing at.

Instead of being worried, I just feel an unsurmountable sense of apathy to new publications. Maybe due to my disconnect and disinterest in themes being addressed, and what I perceive as excessive contamination of current sociopolitical agitation. Stories are often highjacked to in favor of those things. Perhaps it was always like this, and I just didn't know better? It changes little.

This extends to other forms of art, such as movies, comics, videogames. My solution was embracing the past, sticking to things created more than a decade and a half ago. For more modern things, I try to look at more independent produced works.

Maybe I am just too old and boring at this point.

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"

[noch]

> I just feel an unsurmountable sense of apathy to new publications[…] disinterest in themes being addressed […]

You've nailed it: there's a massive disconnect because this alienation of the interested reader as well as the average person, is not even recognised as a problem.

> My solution was embracing the past, sticking to things created more than a decade and a half ago.

It's wild that I was told something similar by a mentor. And it's an excellent strategy.

[surgical_fire]

> It's wild that I was told something similar by a mentor. And it's an excellent strategy.

Depending on the media you chose to focus, you have from decades to centuries of works to go through.

Hell, if I was to go through my whole queue list I would probably need two lifetimes, maybe more, at the rate I consume those things.

Likely I will be disconnected from contemporary mainstream culture. I am not convinced I am missing anything worthwhile.

[CRConrad]

> My solution was embracing the past, sticking to things created more than a decade and a half ago. For more modern things...

Those are modern things; a decade and a half ago was the day before yesterday. Sheesh, kids...

(Now where's my walking stick?!? I need it, to shake at the clouds I'm going to yell at.)

[noch]

> a decade and a half ago was the day before yesterday.

Ha! True. Which was why he said "more than a decade and a half ago", and in the comment below he said to go even further back in time. :-) I was told simply not to bother reading stuff from my generation.