In October 1968, Paul Elder Jr. sold the 70-year-old family business to Brentano’s. The bookstore, however, remained open under the Paul Elder name for another 14 months, closing for good on 29 December 1969. Be it by chance or design, just two days later—New Year’s Day 1970—the San Francisco Examiner announced a new column:
More than 30,000 new books are published each year. No one can read them all, or would want to. then how can you find out about the new books you do want to read and own? Use the Reading Man’s Filter: Paul Elder’s Book Forum. …
“The Forum” will be guided by a man whose name has long been a synonym for books in San Francisco. Until recently, Paul Elder owned and operated one of the country’s leading bookstores. He has bought and sold millions of books. No one in the country has a better idea of what Northern Californians look for in books, because for 40 years that was his business. Now this distinguished bookman will share with you his instinctive awareness of the books which has appeal to the varied tastes and interests of Examiner readers.1San Francisco Examiner, 1 January 1970, p57
“Paul Elder’s Book Forum” debuted on 5 January 1970 opposite the newspaper editorials, and alongside the regular Examiner columnists such as Guy Wright, Sydney J. Harris, Bob Considine, and Dick Nolan. The debut column began with this introduction:
It shall be the purpose of this book column to bring you informative, timely and complete coverage of new publications and events of interest in the book world—to evolve a true book forum by drawing on the best minds in this sophisticated area with guest reviews by talented members in academic and literary fields.
Elder then warmly reviewed Charlotte Armstrong’s suspense novel The Protege, saying “when one has been reading with enjoyment everything an author has written for 20 years or so, he can’t be blamed for feeling a personal loss when that author dies.” Armstrong had passed away six months earlier at the age of 64. Over the following weeks and months, the column’s book reviews covered a wide range of topics, including art, politics, public school integration, ancient Rome, celebrities, dictionaries, civic planning, and famous criminal cases.
Equally illuminating, in your editor’s opinion, are the other columns on the page. To give just one example: on 14 January 1970, running opposite Elder’s column reviewing an account of the ordeal of the crew of the captured spy ship USS Pueblo, is a piece by Sydney J. Harris applauding Sigma Delta Chi’s (the national journalism society) long-overdue decision to admit women as members. Harris notes in particular that women “understand men far better than other men do; the best interviews I have read have been conducted by women, with devastating accuracy.” He calls out Gloria Steinem as one of several women who “have proved that politics, city planning, transportation, and the other ‘heavy’ subjects of urban life can be dealt with as dexterously and insightfully (if not more so) by women as by men.”
Presumably, Paul Elder’s column was a popular one. The Examiner published several letters to the editor in praise of the Forum:
The new column “Paul Elder’s Book Forum” is most interesting. I am grateful for the objective and unbiased articles prepared by Paul Elder who is obviously well informed regarding books… It is refreshing to read a real expert. (Holly Talley, San Francisco) 2San Francisco Examiner, 5 February 1970, p30
Even though I am blind, I am enjoying Paul Elder’s Book Forum very much. My husband reads it to me every evening as he reads the paper to me. It is so good to have someone with whom to discuss books and I have truly missed this since I lost my sight seven years ago. Thanks again. (Mrs. M. Orr, San Francisco) 3San Francisco Examiner, 9 February 1970, p28
I miss Paul Elder’s as I miss Newbegin’s, but I am happy to see the Elder column in the Examiner. (Marshall Dill, Jr., San Francisco) 4San Francisco Examiner, 7 June 1970, p32
Paul Elder’s Book Forum ran for just over one year, totaling 321 installments. His final column appeared on 12 January 1971, though there was no indication that it would be Elder’s final review. Beginning the next day, the book review department continued on as the “Examiner Book Forum,” featuring a review from a syndicated service called “Book World.”
We can only speculate why Elder’s participation in the Book Forum ended so abruptly, without a published explanation. The simplest explanation is that, after 321 columns, Elder just wanted to move on to his next project. Less likely, there could have been an unpleasant disagreement with the newspaper, forcing the Examiner to scramble for a syndicated column rather than a local reviewer. However, until the end of its run in late 1973, the Examiner Book Forum continued to publish only syndicated reviews from Book World, so perhaps syndication was always the plan once Elder decided to end his participation.
Updated 2026-06-29
- 1San Francisco Examiner, 1 January 1970, p57
- 2San Francisco Examiner, 5 February 1970, p30
- 3San Francisco Examiner, 9 February 1970, p28
- 4San Francisco Examiner, 7 June 1970, p32