Simon & Schuster, a world-leading publisher, will mark its 100th Anniversary in 2024. From its inception, co-founders Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln (Max) Schuster set out to establish an innovative, nimble publishing house that published high-quality books of great interest to a wide audience, and to approach publishing differently than their peers. Starting with its first publication on April 10, 1924 – The Cross Word Puzzle Book, a runaway success capitalizing on the puzzle craze of the time – Simon & Schuster has gone on to become a global powerhouse that publishes bestselling and critically acclaimed books for all ages and every reading taste, in all formats, in more than 100 countries and territories around the world. Today, it is the largest independent trade publisher of general interest books for adults and children.
The year-long celebration kicks off today with the debut of The Simon & Schuster 100, a selection of one hundred titles across genres, imprints, borders and decades, chosen to represent the breadth and depth of the company’s publishing programs. With an overabundance of deserving titles to choose from, the selection is sure to spark debate and discussion, which is welcomed.
The Simon & Schuster 100 can be found at the company’s dedicated 100th Anniversary website, SimonandSchuster100.com, which also features the company’s prize winners, centennial videos, beloved page-to-screen titles, trivia, and other highlights and information garnered from the company’s colorful history and lasting cultural legacy. New content, including a special 100th Anniversary crossword, will be added throughout the year.
The Simon & Schuster 100 will also be prominently featured in Simon & Schuster: A Century of Publishing by Julianna Haubner, a completely new, richly illustrated history of the company from its humble beginnings as a one-room, two-person operation to the cultural and commercial force that it is today.
A major event on the anniversary year calendar will occur on Monday, April 8, when the company will host Author! Author!: A Simon & Schuster Centennial Celebration at New York City’s iconic Town Hall auditorium. The star-studded event will feature more than 30 renowned Simon & Schuster authors coming together for an evening of stories, conversation, memories, laughter – and even song. From beloved children’s book authors and illustrators to celebrated biographers, from dazzling debuts to legendary names, Simon & Schuster’s literary superstars will showcase the talent, creativity, and joy that they bring to works beloved by millions of readers.
In the spirit of celebration, Simon & Schuster will donate 20% of its net proceeds of ticket sales to Binc (Book Industry Charitable Foundation), the book and comic industry’s safety net for employees and owners facing life’s emergencies. Safeguarding local book and comic stores for over 28 years. Learn more about Binc at bincfoundation.org.
Authors appearing at the event will include Fredrik Backman, Judy Blume, Sandra Boynton, Jack Carr, Ray Dalio, Laura Dave, Anthony Doerr, Angela Duckworth, Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Jennifer Egan, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Sanjay Gupta, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Rupert Holmes, John Irving, Walter Isaacson, William Kent Krueger, Christina Lauren, Kiese Laymon, Michele Norris, Susan Orlean, Jason Reynolds, Rebecca Serle, Safiya Sinclair, Brad Thor, Colm Tóibín, Jeannette Walls, Jesmyn Ward, Ruth Ware, Bob Woodward, and more.
Tickets for the event go on sale today, January 31, via Ticketmaster. The event will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person; livestream tickets are also available for purchase starting today.
“For one hundred years, Simon & Schuster has brought the works of thousands of authors to millions upon millions of readers worldwide. Books of every kind, for every taste. Our founders, Dick Simon and Max Schuster, and their successors, have bequeathed us a legacy of entrepreneurial publishing that we are honored to carry on today. There is much to be joyful for, both in celebrating our long and glorious history, and taking from it inspiration that still today informs our efforts in service of our authors and their books,” said Simon & Schuster President and CEO Jonathan Karp.
Celebratory festivities will continue throughout 2024, with giveaways, behind-the-scenes author features, and more.