Browse, click, and buy. Shopping for books has never been easier with the help of online platforms like Amazon. The megagiant tech company founded by Jeff Bezos is by far the largest bookseller in the world and poses a huge threat to independent bookstores, publishers, and authors.
As Amazon continues to gain wider control over publishers, authors, and readers alike, concerns about the company’s attempt at a monopoly increase. The tech company is already widely considered to have a near monopoly in the book market, as it controls over 50% of print sales and 80% of e-book sales.
Amazon strategically uses books as a tactic to expand its already massive customer base. It offers prices that many physical stores can’t match, resulting in a multitude of struggling indie bookstores and, in many cases, their inevitable closure.
Amazon is able to lower the prices of books by pressuring publishers to give steep discounts on wholesale prices. “[Amazon] has put financial and other pressures on many publishers by extracting somewhat harsh, one-sided terms, which it is able to do because it controls such a large portion of book retail,” Mary Rasenberger, Executive Director of Authors Guild, said.
Few publishers can survive without Amazon, which is why Amazon is able to pressure them during contract negotiations. When book publisher Hachette resisted Amazon’s attempt at lowering its e-book prices, Amazon retaliated with aggressive tactics. Amazon slowed delivery of Hachette books, removed “buy” buttons, and halted pre-orders for new Hachette titles, effectively punishing the publisher and its authors.
While Amazon and Hachette were able to agree on a multi-year deal that resolved the dispute in 2014, the conflict demonstrated Amazon’s massive market power.
Amazon’s market dominance also significantly impacts books that are less market-friendly since Amazon likes to push out books that are more likely to generate greater revenue. “Imagine a future when one large corporation determines what is published and what you have access to read. We are getting perilously close to that future. The time to act is now,” Allison K. Hill, CEO of American Booksellers Association, said.
In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 states sued Amazon, alleging that the mega company is a monopolist that uses anticompetitive and unfair strategies to maintain its power. In April 2025, a federal judge in Seattle denied Amazon’s attempt to dismiss charges brought by the FTC.
While Amazon will have to face antitrust lawsuits from the government, it is important for buyers to start supporting other book retailers. Key competitors to Amazon are Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and bookshop.org, an online retailer that supports independent bookstores by sharing profits. It’s also important that readers support local bookstores, which are crucial to the local community.
While Amazon dominates online, other competitors have physical space, community, ethical sourcing, and specialized selection that enhance the purchasing experience. Moreover, if prices get a little too steep, readers can always buy secondhand or support local libraries.
