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A Christian Readers Survey
- 05/06/10
- 33
Yesterday I spent some time thinking about how and why and where we all buy our Christian books. I started with the question, “Why do people shop at one e-commerce store and not another.” And from there I just found more and more questions that were asking for answers.
I started writing out such questions and before I knew it I had put together a survey suitable for Christian readers. And I’d love it if you’d take 2 minutes to complete the survey. It asks for no identifying information and really shouldn’t take you more than a couple of minutes. After we’ve gotten a good quantity of responses, I’ll let you in on the results.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (33)
I don’t generally pay much attention to who publishes the books I’m reading so the questions requiring 3 credible and 3 not-so-credible publishers was wasted on me.
It’s a fair question, but it isn’t something you should REQUIRE 3 responses for.
I agree. Lots of them I didn’t really know. I answered a couple that were random because at least I had heard of them. So, I too, would say that readers should choose at least one but no more than three. That way you get accurate responses instead of people picking publishers just because they heard of them.
I also found the publisher’s questions difficult … it is more of an exception for me to have an opinion about the publisher themselves (Crossway is the only substantial exception for me). It was especially difficult to figure out who was not credible as nothing really jumped out at me … not sure my answers to that were completely fair to the publishers listed.
Also, I wasn’t feeling the Canadian love with the e-commerce choices, or lack thereof ;)
In any case, I hope the answers help you out.
I’m aware of the difficulty with that question. Unfortunately it comes down to a limitation in the software. I can’t require 3 answers unless I require that you answer the question. There’s no logic that says “choose no more than 3 answers” or “choose at least 3 answers” unless it includes the logic that says “you must answer this question.”
So just do the best you can. It’s not that big of a deal.
Hi, I agree with the above comments. I chose three publishers that i trusted just fine, but when asked to choose three publishers that i don’t trust i just picked three random ones that i wasn’t familiar with because in my mind there are no publishers which i distinctly don’t trust. But I had to pick three, so likely I did those three publishers a disservice. they might actually be great.
As someone who doesn’t pay much attention to publishers, I agree that requiring three answers is going to scew your results.
I would suggest adding a box for “I have no idea.”
Great survey Tim. I look forward to seeing the results.
Glad to do the survey but I had to pick three publishers I don’t like (or trust - can’t remember the wording) and I don’t feel that way about any of them but I couldn’t submit without answering. That left me frustrated.
I read ebooks on my laptop, not on a handheld device. But your choices are only handheld or paper. So I was forced to lie :-)
I also do most of my reading via libraries. Books cost too much.
I had a hard time answering the am I reformed (calnvinistic) in my theology. If I answer yes then the assumption is I am a 5-pointed and covenant. If I I answer no, then I’m Arminian. I needed an option for a 4-point Calvinist who is dispensational. ;)
my sentiments exactly. The not-so-credible question should have had a “none-of-the-above” option. The publishers I was familiar with I would not say were not credible as, say, a publisher like “Kenneth Hagin Ministries” might be. Some were not preferred.
Tim,You forgot to add a question about Blog Programs influencing where you buy your books online.
Paul
I went ahead and made the publisher questions optional. So stop complaining already! :)
I needed an option for a 4-point Calvinist who is dispensational.
Well…sooner or later I need to just work with broad categories rather than miniscule ones!
I occasionally read pdf’s of books. Your questions about reading books electronically assumed a hand-held device. I wouldn’t call a desktop computer a hand-held device or a paper book.
Since I buy books from Amazon I could hardly say that the theology or other types of books sold mattered could I? I read far more books either checked out from the library, bought secondhand or borrowed from friends and relatives than what I buy new. I checked publishers names I have heard of as ones I trust and didn’t check the ones I have never heard of as being either good or bad.
Hey bro,Enjoyed the survey. But I must register a different protest. There’s no space for “Caribbean” on your question about where are you from. What’s up wit dat? :-)
T-
I can’t believe you made this question optional. What were you thinking? Just kidding. Great survey. I’m curious to see the results!
Never got my prize at the end!! Write back if you need my shipping address.
Same boat as some others. I didn’t know which publishers I didn’t care for, because I only recognized some of the publishers. I look at the authors and content of books more than anything. A “I have no idea” option would have been helpful. :)
I had the same thoughts about publishers, your results will probably be skewed on that one.
On the question about reading electronic books in the future it would have been helpful to have a choice that I am planning on trying out a device reader this coming year.
Looking forward to the results.
My soul is still smarting from being required to pick “just ONE” favorite Christian author.
Hi Tim, not too sure about picking the 3 no-so-credible publishers, ended up choosing some publishers that I don’t really know of.
Looking forward to see the results.
Agree on having only one favorite author. I had a tough time deciding between C.S. Lewis and Luther.
I kept thinking of all kinds of additional questions I would like to have been asked or possible options for answers. Any way, I was glad to throw in my two cents.
Regarding the publishers, I didn’t find it that difficult. If I think in terms of credibility being earned rather than assumed, then publishers that I have never heard of don’t have credibility with me , yet. That doesn’t mean they are bad, just unknown. I do try to pay attention to who publishes what. Their were some listed that are really hit or miss.
I have to admit I cheated on favorite author, listing instead a category of writer, puritans.
Gee, I perhaps am one of the few that feel that certain publishers are more “trustworthy” than others and certain ones to me seem to be a bit dicey. (Yet there is always that one amazingly respected author in there so I can’t discount ALL a certain publisher’s books)
I sometimes read books on my laptop, but not on a handheld device….
I just skipped the publishers questions as I never pay attn to that. But when it comes who I buy from, it all boils down to free shipping options. Prices don’t vary enough from seller to seller. CBD doesn’t seem to realize what a huge seller free shipping is. Bummer. Back to Amazon I go.And since I can get free shipping on Lamplighter books for my kids at Timeless Christian Books w/ a min order of only $15!, I gotta go there for those awesome character builders.
Perhaps the question regarding favorite author could be split between someone dead (ie. Bonhoeffer) and someone living (ie. RC Sproul). Too difficult to pick so I put both down one for each…sorry!
In the question about reading electronic books in the future it would have been helpful to have a choice that I am planning on trying out a device reader this coming year.
Good point … I think the new Kobo eReader might be in my future :)
Here in South Africa I usually get my books from a local Reformed Baptist church’s bookroom and at Kalahari.
New entry here on ambivalent answers - Infant v believer baptism. While the denomination with which I am affiliated holds to infant baptism, my reading of the Bible leads me to the conclusion that God accepts either. So I would’ve liked at least a third option: Doesn’t matter (or Undecided or ….) I left the question blank.
In full agreement with comments already made re: publishers, especially those not trusted. I selected 2 that I definitely have misgivings about as “Christian” publishers but since the instructions still stated 3 were required, I picked one at random. Hate to think of having maligned someone undeservingly…..
Tim,
Where do you live should have ‘others’ also. I live in New Zealand. We are a small nation but still do count.