Amazon’s Forgotten Roots
Amazon’s Forgotten Roots: How Jeff Bezos Built an Empire on the Backs of Authors—and Left Them Behind (750 words)
When Jeff Bezos launched Amazon in 1994, it wasn’t an everything store. It was a bookstore. In fact, it was the bookstore—the first to make millions of books available online, delivering literature to doorsteps across the globe. Authors, both well-known and just starting out, saw it as a beacon of opportunity. For many, Amazon felt like a revolution, a place where their books could finally reach readers without the gatekeeping of traditional publishing.
But that promise came with a hidden cost—and over time, Amazon's evolution into a corporate empire has turned that dream into a nightmare for the very authors who helped build its foundation.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Amazon treats book authors like disposable content machines.
Today, authors earn shockingly low royalties—often as little as $1 to $2 per book sold. Amazon takes a massive cut of the profits, and its self-publishing platform, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), buries indie books under an avalanche of algorithms, paid ads, and preferential treatment for Amazon’s own publishing imprints. It's nearly impossible for new authors to get visibility without paying for Amazon ads—which often cost more than the profit made from a book sale.
Even worse, Amazon aggressively discounts books without authors’ consent, pressuring publishers to lower prices and devaluing creative work. And if an author dares to list their book cheaper elsewhere? Amazon may remove the “Buy” button entirely. That’s not just unethical—it’s monopolistic behavior.
Let’s also talk about Kindle Unlimited, Amazon’s subscription service that pays authors by the page read. It sounds fair on paper—until you realize that payouts can be fractions of a cent per page. This creates a system where quantity is valued over quality, and thoughtful, meaningful storytelling is punished. A 300-page novel might earn the author a few dollars—if readers finish it. And if scammers game the system with clickbait or AI-generated garbage? Amazon looks the other way.
All this from a company that, let’s be honest, owes everything to books. Jeff Bezos himself said, “Books were great as the first best product to sell online.” Books were lightweight, easy to ship, and rich in catalog depth. That early success—fueled by authors and their work—gave Amazon the runway it needed to expand into electronics, clothing, groceries, and eventually become the global juggernaut it is today.
Yet, the people who made that possible—authors—have been squeezed out of fair compensation, visibility, and control.
Amazon’s practices also hurt the art of writing itself. Authors are now pressured to churn out books rapidly to keep up with Amazon’s algorithms, sacrificing quality for volume. It’s a toxic cycle, designed not to support creatives, but to exploit them.
And for what? To feed the insatiable appetite of a trillion-dollar corporation that treats its warehouse workers like robots, avoids taxes, and continues to consolidate power across industries.
Authors deserve better. And they’re starting to look for it elsewhere.
TikTok Shop: A Better Path for Independent Authors (250 words)
If Amazon is a behemoth built on the backs of underpaid authors, TikTok Shop is the uprising—a grassroots, people-powered alternative that gives authors control, visibility, and direct connection with readers.
Unlike Amazon’s faceless algorithms and costly ads, TikTok Shop thrives on authenticity. Authors can sell books directly to their audience, while simultaneously building a loyal following through engaging content. With one short video, a previously unknown author can go viral and sell hundreds—sometimes thousands—of books in a matter of hours. No middlemen. No algorithmic pay-to-play. Just the power of storytelling and connection.
TikTok’s platform also allows authors to share their journey, give behind-the-scenes insights, and build real trust with their audience. That trust turns into sales—and better yet, into fans. Fans who buy your book, share it with friends, and come back for the next one.
And now, with TikTok Shop, viewers don’t even have to leave the app to make a purchase. One tap, and your book is on its way to their doorstep. More profit goes directly into the author’s pocket, not into the vaults of a trillion-dollar corporation.
For independent and first-time authors, TikTok Shop isn’t just a sales tool—it’s a revolution. It’s everything Amazon should have been but never was: author-centered, empowering, and fair.
So if you’re tired of playing Amazon’s game, it’s time to switch platforms. Because the future of publishing? It’s not a warehouse in Seattle—it’s a community on your screen.
