Shopping by publisher (but also, anything by Bernadette Mayer)

One thing that transformed my life as a reader/book hoarder is learning to pay attention to publishers/imprints vs. authors. Publishers have clear sensibilities and aims, and once you key into the ones that align with yours, a whole world of new works open right up b/c they are usually sourcing stuff that's adjacent to other work you like, but in a human, non-algorithmic way (publishers + editors tend to be an idiosyncratic bunch with specific tastes). You also have the joy of digging into a publisher's back catalog (all the books they've published in the past) for treasures. I could make a whole collection of my favorite small + independent publishers (not a short list), but the easiest thing to do is to look over the books you've loved, see who publishes them, and start there. Even if a publisher is no more, looking for their titles on places like Thirftbooks can turn up gems.

The very first publisher I followed was New Directions, which was founded in 1936 by a 22-year-old interested in new writing. That focus eventually broadened to include work in translation; and through the years, they've resisted being subsumed into the maw of corporate publishing to remain small and specific and weird and excellent. Also: they are having a sale right now, so it's a good time to stock up on brainy and ambitious vacation and pool reads (I am going to snag this Bernadette Mayer).