BRIEFLY NOTED: For 2022-07-13 We: FIRST: Well, Well, Well: Today Is a Very Good Day for the Book Slouching Towards Utopia: I do not think it would've been realistic to ask for a better book trade press reviews, or for better blurbs from people of weight and influence who do not happen to be my friends: these are wonderful in themselves, and also wonderful because they are real guides to how reviewers in general will react to the book when they push their way through it.
What I am really waiting for is a review by my neighbor's son, Cosma Shalizi!! His take on the book will make it or break it. :-)
I don't think you will know what the general public feels until the book comes out. Unlike the the distinguished folks who had access to the pre-pub, we have to wait until publication day. I have a pre-order in and will start reading it once it hits my Kindle.
Hey Brad-can I be this personal since I'm a paid subscriber and I've been reading your posts for at least a decade?-I'm very much looking forward to the new book. If you want to do something to help the general public, what about taking a step back and looking at what background knowledge would help the general reader understand your book? What knowledge do you assume your reader has that maybe the folks you want to reach do not? If that is a reasonably small target, how about create an FAQ or series of posts to fill in the missing knowledge? Post it somewhere that is easy to find and maybe you'll reach more folks.
Brad,
I ordered the book on Jan. 5. May I express my unhappiness that all these reviewers, blurbists, etc. have copies and I don't?
Yes, I understand that the book business works a certain way, but still, it's annoying.
What I am really waiting for is a review by my neighbor's son, Cosma Shalizi!! His take on the book will make it or break it. :-)
I don't think you will know what the general public feels until the book comes out. Unlike the the distinguished folks who had access to the pre-pub, we have to wait until publication day. I have a pre-order in and will start reading it once it hits my Kindle.
Good luck on the book. I look forward to reading it.
Aside. On "kettle of fish," you might find this origin story of interest...kiddle:
https://wordhistories.net/2016/07/06/kettle-of-fish/
Hey Brad-can I be this personal since I'm a paid subscriber and I've been reading your posts for at least a decade?-I'm very much looking forward to the new book. If you want to do something to help the general public, what about taking a step back and looking at what background knowledge would help the general reader understand your book? What knowledge do you assume your reader has that maybe the folks you want to reach do not? If that is a reasonably small target, how about create an FAQ or series of posts to fill in the missing knowledge? Post it somewhere that is easy to find and maybe you'll reach more folks.
Good luck. I hope it sells well.