Welcome, again, to the American literary circus, where we worship the celebrities and ignore the unique. Our nation is dazzled by glitzy headlines while literary gems slip through the cracks, like lost socks in a dryer of cultural consumption.

Back in 2008, the great recession hit. As we fretted over financial woes, true authors with worthy stories went unnoticed. Writers poured their hearts into pages, but unless they donned sequins and dated pop stars, they were left to languish in obscurity. Authenticity? Who needs it when there’s a shiny cover calling?

Cut to 2014—mediocrity rules, and anything without a hefty budget is doomed. Unique works fade into the shadows while glitzy, marketed drivel takes the stage. The literary elites, with their condescending judgments, couldn’t care less about genuine creativity. They only want what’s popular, feeding this cycle of ignorance.

Yet, every unique book has a few eager readers. They dive into the depths of these forgotten stories and gasp in delight. “What have we missed?” they ponder, while the masses continue to celebrate the surface. Is it any wonder the literary world is filled with neglect?

And let’s address the Amazon boycott—the misguided crusade. This “noble” move hurts the very authors it aims to support. New talents struggle in silence, drowning in the shadows of the celebrity-fueled spotlight.

Adding to this mess is the fear surrounding AI-written books. Does it really matter? Have we forgotten about ghostwriting? It seems those behind the words must be famous to be worthy. The ghostwriter is often just a plaything for the wealthy, hidden behind the shadows of recognition.

It’s time to change the narrative. Let’s turn away from superficiality and embrace the extraordinary stories that deserve a chance. Say no to the cult of celebrity and yes to the richness of the unheard.