There is a sweet injustice in the world, where many people go to college to major in Creative Writing or English only to spend the next fifteen or so years frustrated over their attempts at a first novel. All that time and effort, when it turns out just about anybody can get a 3-book deal with a reputable publishing house, provided that they star in a reality television show for a couple years first. Enter The Hills star Lauren Conrad:

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You know how blogs have let any would-be writer spew their deep thoughts onto the Internet, regardless of taste or talent? Some call the medium a tool for the democratization of ideas. We call it the worst thing to happen to our leisure time.

So we're troubled by a new platform for would-be publishing mavens that takes the whole "barrier to entry" thing — which has kept the financially, and talent, deficient off the cultural radar for so long — and throws it out the Microsoft Windows.

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Let’s start at the beginning. Sunday morning starts with a trip to the bodega for a banana and the Sunday Times.

And where do we begin with that five pound paper? One hint: we have two X chromosomes and we live in New York.

The Vows section, obviously. And after that, it’s Modern Love, which alternatively leaves us misanthropic or self-hating, depending on whether we can relate to the column. Feel free to judge. We already have.

As the most emailed list proves, the column is insanely popular. Since 2004, the space has led to nine book deals.

That may seem ridiculous to those who start the Sunday paper with the Week In Review. But really, Modern Love is like The Hills for smart people. An intelligent person articulating what’s wrong with his or her love life: What could be better, other than attractive person doing the same with wide shots over Hollywood?

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Americans are always feeling bad about being fat. So they buy a book about getting skinny. But these books are stupid and people just get fatter. So they another one, and the cycle continues. This system might help the publishing industry, but as the video above proves, doesn't do much for you.

[via GalleyCat]

PHEW Bob Woodward will publish his fourth book on George Bush this year. Good, because otherwise Bush's legacy would be indiscernible. [E&P]

CHA-CHING Publishing is dead, unless you’re publishing a book about buying stuff. Lucky EIC Kim France got a $500,000 advance her second Lucky book, The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style. This seems like a depressing exposition scene from a rom-com about a broke but talented young writer trying to make it big, except it's reality and no one cares about your thinly-veiled autobiographical fiction. [NYP]

Well, what do you do after controlling the most powerful White House in recent history? Why, shop your tell-all, of course! Karl Rove has put his memoir on the auction block today.

Considering Ted Kennedy got $8 million for his proximity to power, Rove should score a seven-figure deal. The Bush White House little romantic appeal for housewives, but Rove’s alpha-man account should make a good beach read for plenty of men. Insiders are predicting a $3 million sale.

Does anyone else remember that study showed that no one reads anymore? And yet the publishing industry will pay $3 million for what will surely be a limp memoir. Maybe print deserves its death.

After recently publishing a book about the potential benefits of napping daily (i.e. increased productivity, improved health, etc) Peter Workman has decided to institute naptime at his own place of business.

As a result, his employees have come up with a variety of inventive ways to grab a 10 minute catnap on the job, including—but not limited to—curling up in the closet, passing out flat on the floor and lying face-first against a book poster.

Naturally, however, our favorite testimonial was that of Mike Vago, "who works in the art department."

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