“Amazon Publishing has acquired my next book, The 4-Hour Chef, to launch its New York-based imprint.”

So says Timothy Ferriss – well-known fitness and lifestyle expert. Beyond any interest Ferriss might garner regarding his cooking ideas (which I assume will be slow-carb oriented) the deal is interesting. Ferriss is a known commodity in publishing and his decision to go with Amazon means that he is passing up traditional publishing houses – which have worked very well for him in the past. It will be interesting to see how this all works out and I’m sure that the big publishing houses will be watching carefully — What is the future of the traditional book in an age of easy and effective self-publishing?