Manning Publications
Marjan Bace and Lee Fitzpatrick established Manning Publications in 1990 as a book packaging business. They operated with most of the established technical publishers during those early years. The IEEE Computer Society Press also became one of their clients. Their scope included all of engineering and computing at that time. An early success was the publication of a materials science series containing a dozen specialized tomes. This project included the large Encyclopedia of Materials Characterization with over 50 contributors. Soon Manning began to see computing topics as the liveliest and most interesting area for them.
Manning would eventually be drawn to the computer industry. Computing soon became the focus of Manning's publishing operations. Addison Wesley served as Manning's first customer for a computer book. Addison Wesley's reputation helped open doors at other leading commercial houses. A number of these companies became Manning customers after that initial partnership. The company shifted its scope from general engineering to specializing in computer industry topics. This strategic pivot changed the trajectory of the entire organization.
The company introduced a unique Manning Early Access Program known as MEAP. Subscribers receive incremental completed chapters before the book is finally published. This model allows readers to access content while authors are still writing the final drafts. It has become a standard feature for many modern technical books. The program represents a significant shift from traditional publishing timelines. Readers gain immediate value rather than waiting months or years for completion.
Manning partnered with its competitor O'Reilly Media to expand distribution channels. They added some of their digital library on the Safari Books Online cloud platform. BusinessWire reported this addition in July 2008 in response to subscriber demand. This collaboration allowed Manning to reach audiences through established platforms. Competitors often avoid such partnerships but Manning chose cooperation instead. The move demonstrated flexibility in how they delivered content to professionals.
The covers of books published by Manning feature illustrations of traditional dress customs from around the world. These illustrations come from a variety of historical sources. One source includes the 1805 edition of Sylvain Maréchal's four-volume compendium of regional dress customs. Another source features Thomas Jefferys' A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, Ancient and Modern. The official website lists these images under a page titled Covers accessed the 24th of November 2022. Each cover displays unique cultural attire that distinguishes the brand visually.
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Common questions
When was Manning Publications established and by whom?
Manning Publications was established in 1990 by Marjan Bace and Lee Fitzpatrick. They initially operated as a book packaging business serving engineering and computing sectors.
What strategic shift did Manning Publications make to focus on the computer industry?
Manning Publications shifted its scope from general engineering to specializing in computer industry topics after Addison Wesley became their first customer for a computer book. This pivot changed the trajectory of the entire organization and made computing the central focus of their operations.
How does the Manning Early Access Program known as MEAP function for subscribers?
The Manning Early Access Program allows subscribers to receive incremental completed chapters before the final publication date. Readers gain immediate value while authors are still writing the final drafts instead of waiting months or years for completion.
When did BusinessWire report that Manning partnered with O'Reilly Media to expand distribution channels?
BusinessWire reported this addition in July 2008 in response to subscriber demand. The partnership added some of their digital library to the Safari Books Online cloud platform to reach audiences through established platforms.
From which historical sources do the covers of books published by Manning feature illustrations?
One source includes the 1805 edition of Sylvain Maréchal's four-volume compendium of regional dress customs. Another source features Thomas Jefferys' A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, Ancient and Modern.