"Drawing on research data from 18 African countries, this important study examines the relationship between government policy and decision makers and the educational book industries, concentrating on three main areas concerning textbook publishing in Africa: (1) the business environment, (2) the publishing industry, and (3) the critical success and failure factors related to book provision. Primary data was gathered through a series of questionnaires delivered to various organizations concerned with textbook provision, as well as follow-up through direct interviews with government officials and those representing the book professions in each country. Secondary data for the study was collected through published and unpublished sources. Individual chapters provide essential background information about textbook publishing and thereafter analyze current market structures and publishing systems, demand and supply, the size and ownership of the publishing industry, market research, and patterns in purchasing and funding of textbooks. A final chapter “Looking Ahead: Issues and Priorities” provides an overall picture of the major issues as they relate to textbook publishing, sets out a number of recommendations what the authors perceive to be priority targets for textbook provision, and suggests an outline for implementation strategies according to a division of responsibilities between governments and Ministries of Education on the one hand, and publishers on the other. A conclusion states that “the basic problem of publishing in Africa is financial: lack of assets, low level of equity capital and difficulties in meeting loan conditions. Lending institutions in Africa do not consider publishing bankable. And even if they did, present interest rates, which are as high as 44 per cent in some countries, would prohibit any publisher from making use of the facility.” An Appendix provides background facts on all the countries covered by the study, including educational indicators such as literacy rates, government expenditure on education, enrolment ratios, pupil/teacher ratio, and school age population projections." (Hans M. Zell, Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa, 3d ed. 2008, nr. 1868)