Basic Books
Basic Books is a nonfiction book publishing imprint founded in 1950 and owned by Hachette Book Group (Hachette Livre). It publishes award-winning titles in history, science, sociology, psychology, politics, and current affairs for educated general and academic readers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Basic Books does
Basic Books is a New York-based nonfiction book publishing imprint founded in 1950 and wholly owned by Hachette Book Group, a division of Hachette Livre, the third-largest publisher in the world. The imprint specializes in intellectually rigorous nonfiction across history (US, European, and World), science and nature, mathematics, sociology, psychology, politics, and current affairs, and it publishes an active frontlist alongside an enduring backlist of titles by prominent academics and public intellectuals including Steven Pinker, Jonathan Haidt, Douglas Hofstadter, Niall Ferguson, and Eric Topol.
The imprint's product surface is published books rather than software or platform services. Distribution operates entirely through Hachette Book Group's infrastructure: global wholesale to physical and online bookstores, direct e-commerce via hachettebookgroup.com, and academic/library channels with exam and desk copy programs for educators. Marketing leverages Hachette-owned social media accounts (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube), an email newsletter with promotional offers, a structured author events program, and earned press coverage in outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and Gizmodo.
Basic Books generates revenue through traditional trade publishing economics: wholesale and retail book sales, with backlist titles contributing recurring revenue over multi-decade horizons. As an imprint rather than an independent entity, it does not publish standalone financials, raise external capital, or operate a separate management structure; strategic and operational decisions are made within the Hachette Book Group framework. There is no disclosed pricing model, subscription product, or direct-to-consumer platform beyond standard book retail.
Basic Books firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Basic Books
- Legal name
- Basic Books
- Website
- https://basicbooks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Basic Books is a nonfiction book publishing imprint founded in 1950 and owned by Hachette Book Group (Hachette Livre). It publishes award-winning titles in history, science, sociology, psychology, politics, and current affairs for educated general and academic readers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Basic Books industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313), Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJAAAA)
Keywords
Where Basic Books is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Basic Books business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Basic Books product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Basic Books is a nonfiction book publishing imprint that acquires, produces, and distributes award-winning trade books in history, science, sociology, psychology, politics, and current affairs. Operating as an imprint of Hachette Book Group since its founding in 1950, the imprint maintains a curated catalog of titles from influential academic and public-intellectual authors, sold through bookstore distribution, direct e-commerce, and academic/library channels.
Product overview
Basic Books is a book publishing imprint under Hachette Book Group that has shaped public debate since 1950 by publishing award-winning books. The imprint focuses on nonfiction works across categories including history, science, mathematics, sociology, psychology, politics, and current affairs. The portfolio includes both recently published titles and enduring classics from influential authors, representing a collection of published books rather than a software product or platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Basic Books Group: A subgroup within the Basic Books imprint publishing books in specific categories including US History, European History, World History, Classics, Science & Nature, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology, and Politics.
Products and services
- Rise of the Robots A nonfiction book by Martin Ford examining the impact of robotics and artificial intelligence on employment and economic futures, published for general readers.
- Huge Numbers: A Story of Counting Ambitiously, from 4 1/2 to Fish 7 A mathematics and popular science book by Richard Elwes exploring human fascination with incomprehensibly large numbers, cognitive limits of numerical understanding, and the evolution of number systems from ancient civilizations to modern scientific notation.
- The Cybernetic Society: How Humans and Machines Will Shape the Future Together A speculative book exploring artificial intelligence's future impact on society, examining how humans and machines will shape the future together.
- The Echoing Universe A science book by Dr. Emma Chapman covering topics related to the universe and astrophysics, published for general nonfiction readers.
- Waves in an Impossible Sea A science book by Matt Strassler exploring fundamental physics concepts for educated general readers.
- Weimar A history book by Katja Hoyer covering the Weimar Republic period in Germany, published for general and academic readers.
- The Happiness Hypothesis A psychology book by Jonathan Haidt examining happiness and the sources of human well-being through ancient wisdom and modern science.
- Gödel, Escher, Bach A landmark book by Douglas R. Hofstadter exploring the intersection of mathematics, art, and music through the lenses of Gödel, Escher, and Bach.
Companies that use Basic Books
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Basic Books technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Basic Books partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Basic Books competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Oxford University Press: Large scholarly and academic publisher whose trade-adjacent lists (OUP USA) include serious nonfiction in history, science, and ideas; competes for academic authors and library/institutional sales that Basic Books also targets.
Direct peers
- Bloomsbury Publishing: Mid-sized trade publisher with serious nonfiction and academic-adjacent publishing across history, science, and current affairs, overlapping with Basic Books' categories and author pool.
- Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group: Penguin Random House imprint group (Knopf, Vintage, Doubleday) publishing prestige nonfiction across history, science, and current affairs — directly comparable list profile to Basic Books.
- Penguin Random House: The largest trade book publisher in the world, operating Knopf, Viking, Crown, and other nonfiction imprints that compete head-to-head with Basic Books for the same marquee nonfiction authors and the same educated general readers.
- W. W. Norton & Company: Family-owned independent publisher renowned for serious nonfiction in history, science, and ideas — a direct competitor in prestige nonfiction pitching the same authors and awards (National Book, Pulitzer) as Basic Books.
- Grove Atlantic: Independent trade publisher with strong nonfiction lists in history, ideas, and current affairs; competes with Basic Books for marquee nonfiction authors and the same educated trade reader audience.
- HarperCollins: One of the Big Five trade publishers, with Ecco and Harper imprints publishing serious nonfiction in history, science, politics, and psychology, directly competing in the same author pool and category space as Basic Books.
- Simon & Schuster: Big Five trade publisher whose adult nonfiction imprints (e.g., Scribner, Simon & Schuster) compete with Basic Books for high-profile history, biography, and public-affairs authors.
- Macmillan Publishers: Big Five trade publisher with imprints such as Henry Holt, St. Martin's, and W.H. Freeman that publish serious adult nonfiction in the same categories as Basic Books (history, science, politics, current affairs).
Emerging players
- Dey Street Books (HarperCollins): HarperCollins imprint focused on serious nonfiction and current-affairs titles; overlaps with Basic Books on AI, politics, and culture nonfiction pitching similar educated readers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Basic Books social profiles
Digital presenceBasic Books financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Basic Books leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Basic Books funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Basic Books M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Basic Books
What does Basic Books do?
Basic Books is a nonfiction book publishing imprint that acquires, produces, and distributes award-winning trade books in history, science, sociology, psychology, politics, and current affairs. Operating as an imprint of Hachette Book Group since its founding in 1950, the imprint maintains a curated catalog of titles from influential academic and public-intellectual authors, sold through bookstore distribution, direct e-commerce, and academic/library channels.
Is Basic Books a public or private company?
Basic Books is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Basic Books founded?
Basic Books was founded in 1950. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Basic Books based?
Basic Books is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Basic Books's main competitors?
Oxford University Press is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Bloomsbury Publishing, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Penguin Random House, W. W. Norton & Company, Grove Atlantic, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan Publishers. Dey Street Books (HarperCollins) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Basic Books have an API?
No public API is recorded for Basic Books.
What industry is Basic Books in?
Basic Books's product category is Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAA, General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction). Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.