Knowledge Dissemination
In universities and research institutions, once you reach the professor level, it's not too difficult to write a book and have it published domestically.
Publishing academic monographs abroad, especially textbooks, particularly those for American universities and basic science disciplines, is extremely difficult for Chinese scholars.
Any Chinese product with even a modicum of technological content will encounter numerous obstacles when entering the US market.
Americans love importing inexpensive goods like shirts from China. The saying "800 million shirts for one Boeing" originates from the fact that China exports 800 million shirts to the US, which is equivalent to the US exporting National First Prize.
When Shen Qi was studying and working in the United States, he visited an American professor's home and saw that the professor's wardrobe was full of shirts, several rows of them, in various colors and styles.
Americans don't meticulously select shirts because they're so cheap—a dollar or even a few cents a shirt. They buy shirts by the dozen, wear them a few times, throw them away, and buy new ones.
The situation has changed. China has built its own large civilian aircraft, and with rising labor costs, many "Made in China" goods have become manufactured in Vietnam or Indonesia.
When Shen Qi left the United States, Americans no longer mentioned the "800 million shirts for one Boeing" incident.
Chinese shirts can dominate the American market, but Chinese high-tech products find it extremely difficult to do so.
Even though it's incredibly difficult, many Chinese high-tech companies are willing to lose money to enter the US market.
Because everyone knows that doing business becomes more enjoyable once America is conquered.
The United States will not allow any country to threaten its core industries, namely energy, automobiles, and ICT.
As for cultural and knowledge products, university textbooks, and books written by Chinese people, using them to educate American students is truly an impossible task.
Shen Qi succeeded. The beautiful manager of the American publishing house flew from Washington to the Chinese Capital to plead with Shen Qi to continue their cooperation.
In fact, Shen Qi had many options; the second edition of "History of Number Theory" did not necessarily have to be published by Springer's US branch.
"A price of over $150 is too high, can you make it cheaper?" Shen Qi said to Jennifer.
"Professor Shen, your request is so creative!" Jennifer thought she had misheard.
"The first edition of 'History of Number Theory' sold for over eighty dollars in the United States, and many readers with jobs and incomes couldn't afford it. The second edition sold for over 150 dollars, how could American students afford it?" Shen Qi was quite familiar with the American publishing industry, and the United States had arguably the strictest protection of intellectual property rights in the world.
Many American textbooks, especially those in science and engineering, are published in a new edition every year.
Textbooks for science and engineering are relatively easy to revise; changing only the exercises without altering the main text is enough to create a new edition.
American publishers naturally have established and mature sales channels built up over many years to get American universities to choose an academic work as a textbook.
Textbooks costing a little over a hundred dollars are not uncommon in the United States, and some even cost a thousand dollars.
A textbook costs over a hundred yuan, and with so many courses, the cost of textbooks for students is a considerable expense.
Don't assume that American students are rich; many American students take out loans to study.
Americans asking for a tip for helping with small tasks is often out of necessity, driven by the pressures of life.
Most American college students buy secondhand textbooks, or photocopies.
Fortunately, there are many secondhand bookstores in the United States, and with graduates selling their used books at flea markets, American college students' desire to read is maintained.
However, newly published textbooks are not available for secondhand purchase in a short period of time.
Faced with this situation, American college students can only go to bars less often and eat dozens less hamburgers, saving money to buy new textbooks in order to study.
The second edition of Shen Qi's * History of Number Theory * is a case in point. With your publisher charging such high prices, are American students even allowed to study properly?
There is no price bureau in the United States; the price of a book is entirely determined by the market, which is basically decided by the publisher.
Jennifer was also helpless. "Professor Shen, that's just how the market for textbooks is in the US. If the price is higher, you get a larger share, don't you?"
"Can the dissemination of knowledge be measured in money?" To be honest, Shen Qi doesn't care about the small amounts of money, like hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars a year. The most important thing is to pass on mathematical knowledge to more American students. It is a very important strategic step to occupy the market through high-tech products, but the market share of cultural and knowledge products is even more meaningful.
In the United States, academic authors, often professors, can receive a percentage of the sales revenue, ranging from several percent to over ten percent.
The cap is generally 30%, a privilege reserved for Fields Medal or Philippine Prize laureates.
A book costs $150, Shen Qi takes a 30% cut, earning $45 per book sold.
There are many universities in the United States, but definitely not many students Mathematics Department.
A book like "The History of Number Theory" can sell 10,000 to 20,000 copies a year, which is equivalent to the popularity of "Harry Potter" in the world of popular fiction.
If an author is financially independent and has achieved financial freedom, he will naturally want his work to be disseminated more widely.
Shen Qi listed a set of data and said, "Considering that the US GDP achieved positive growth last year, with an increase of 0.9%, and also taking into account the spending power of American students, I suggest that the price of the second History of Number Theory of <A History of Number Theory> should be increased by about 1% compared to the first edition."
Miss Jennifer looked up at the sky and shrugged, seemingly speechless.
I've seen great authors, but I've never seen one this great.
He wouldn't even accept money offered to him; only Professor Shen would do that.
But there's nothing we can do about it; only one person in human history has ever won both the Fields Medal and the Nobel Prize.
The man, standing right in front of Miss Jennifer, after carefully considering the economic growth and the well-being of the American people, expressed his desire to publish his academic work at a 1% price increase and sell it in the United States.
"Professor Shen, I need to consult with headquarters in the United States before I can give you an answer," Miss Jennifer said.
Shen Qi nodded. "Okay, please do it as soon as possible."
"It will take some time for headquarters to reply. In the meantime, how about we have a meal together?" Miss Jennifer gave a beautiful smile. American women are very proactive when it comes to making friends.
When Shen Qi received training from the Party School Principal last time, the principal warned all the trainees to be vigilant against scientific research spies, especially those alluring female agents. The higher the position and the more state secrets one possesses, the more careful one needs to be in every situation, and one must never make a mistake, comrades.
Money was hardly enough to tempt Shen Qi, but what about beautiful women?
Shen Qi smiled and said, "There's an old Chinese saying, 'Even if a deal falls through, goodwill remains.' Let's go Jennifer, this meal is on you."