I understand that Amazon’s size is a problem for the marketplace. I am a strong antitrust advocate.

However, I also understand being the biggest guy in a fight doesn’t categorically make you the bad guy. Most importantly, I understand that spreading lies and logical fallacies, however well-intentioned, is toxic to the integrity of public discourse and therefore hurts everyone in the long run.

A lot of Amazon’s critics don’t seem to understand those last two critical facts.

For example, thriller writer Lee Child has been getting a lot of press lately for a BBC Newsnight interview in which he tries to dismantle Amazon’s position in their dispute with contract-fumbling, deadline-bumbling Hachette. But, when you take a close look at his logic, if you can call it that, not only does it fall apart but it displays a remarkable lack of basic knowledge and reasoning.

Specifically addressing Amazon’s arguments about the economic efficiency of selling ebooks at lower prices, Child calls Amazon’s claims “disingenuous,” then sneers:

There is a very specialized branch of science that you can examine these propositions with. It’s called arithmetic.

Let’s remember that Child is invoking disingenuousness and arithmetic. They’re the ropes with which he’ll hang himself. Continue reading →