Recent data from Pew Research Center indicates that while 75% of adults have read at least one book in the past year with print remaining the most popular format, digital and audio book consumption has grown since 2019. For example, 53% of people in the United States have listened to an audiobook. Readers now engage with books in diverse circumstances—while commuting, exercising, or using mobile devices—prompting authors and publishers to consider releasing titles in every available format to match modern lifestyles.
This trend toward format flexibility is exemplified by Rich Christiansen, author of The Zig Zag Principle. The second edition of his book, published in August 2024 by Mountain Grabbers Press, advocates for strategic adaptability in business and life. Christiansen draws a parallel between readers choosing among print, e-book, or audiobook formats and the "zig zag" approach he promotes for entrepreneurship. "Just like people can zig and zag between acquiring knowledge and going on an adventure with characters and an author by engaging with a hardback or paperback, an e-book, or an audio book—or all four—we can get so much more from our businesses and our lives by being willing to take detours and pivot," Christiansen explained.
Christiansen, who has launched 51 businesses and authored five books, including the original The Zig Zag Principle that became a Wall Street Journal bestseller in 2011, only recently embraced multi-format publishing. For the second edition and his forthcoming book BlindSighted (October 2024), he ensured simultaneous release across all formats, even narrating the audiobook himself. The audiobook for The Zig Zag Principle became available last week on platforms including AudioBookstore, GooglePlay, and Audible.
"I want people to be able to read or listen to my books wherever they are," Christiansen said. "I do a lot of driving and appreciate when I can listen to my favorite authors while I am in my car or traveling. I want to be able to help readers and the people I mentor ignite flow in their businesses and in their lives." This approach not only caters to reader convenience but also aligns with industry shifts, as publishers increasingly recognize that offering choice in how content is consumed can expand audience reach and engagement. The move underscores a broader imperative in publishing: to adapt to fragmented media habits by making books accessible in any context, thereby sustaining relevance in a competitive attention economy.
