Planet Money

Inside a BOOK Auction

In this episode, Planet Money chronicles its own journey to land a book deal, revealing the hidden economics of publishing—from literary agents pitching the idea, to crafting a proposal, and courting major houses amid industry consolidation. Host Alex Horowitz-Gazi and executive producer Alex Goldmark explain how they shaped a field‑guide concept for the global economy and navigated the "whale" versus "dolphin" dynamics of the Big Five publishers. The episode highlights the tension between artistic ambition and market risk, illustrating how books are treated as financial investments in a power‑law market.