Clarks, the shoes that tap to Jamaica’s reggae beat

How did the brand become the music genre's footwear of choice? Tom Horan reveals the history of a strange love affair

Penguin and Random House may merge, but the power lies elsewhere

Philip Jones: Talks over a Penguin-Random House consolidation are driven by the big tech giants – and more publishers are likely to follow

Penguin and Random House merger may be finalised in two weeks

Talks between publishers' owners Pearson and Bertelsmann may conclude quickly, say insiders, as Pearson shares rise 0.7%

William Faulkner estate sues Sony over Midnight in Paris line

Faulkner Literary Rights LLC claims Sony did not seek permission to quote snippet in Woody Allen's hit comedy

Random House-Penguin: publishers moot deal for digital clout

If you need Amazon, Apple or Google to reach readers, size matters

Penguin and Random House in merger talks

Successful deal would create world's largest book publisher out of two of the 'big six' companies that dominate the industry

Robin Marris obituary

Influential economist and academic noted for his work on understanding corporations

Goldman Sachs ‘muppet’ trader says unsophisticated clients targeted

Greg Smith says investment bank routinely took advantage of charities and pension funds to increase profits

Ben Goldacre: ‘It’s appalling … like phone hacking or MPs’ expenses’

Ben Goldacre's first book, Bad Science, shredded the claims of homeopaths and fake doctors. For his second he has his sights trained on the pharmaceutical industry. Ian Tucker puts your questions to him

The Wisdom of Psychopaths by Kevin Dutton – review

A convincing study shows that business leaders and serial killers share a mindset, writes Tim Adams

How Do We Fix This Mess? by Robert Peston and Laurence Knight – review

Robert Peston's compelling account of global financial meltdown is essential reading, writes Peter Preston

A rocket from Rochdale: Co-op tells its story in graphic novel form

Movement releases celebration of its pioneers, from their Lancashire roots to an imagined space mission in 2044

Boomerang by Michael Lewis – review

America's scourge of high finance has come up with another perceptive, witty journey through the global economic meltdown , writes Iain Morris