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Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

priceonomics.com

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Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#61

Post by bmelton »

steveklabnik wrote: post #46
ivansavz wrote: post #41

I wouldn't have said it in so much words, but the authors are onto an important new business model: free web stuff and sell books The key point is that content in the form of a book (a unit of meaningful discourse) can be productized and offered in a sidebar. Instead of advertisements that pay micro cents per impression, why not offer a book and make 40% profit on print books and 97% profit on eBooks sold? I'm not su…

This model isn't that new. Webcomics and Tumblrs have been putting out coffee table books for years.

Agreed. "Stuff White People Like" is perhaps the earliest one I can think of, but "Shit My Dad Says", Dan Lewis' "Now I Know" and even our own Patio11's "Sell More Software" have all executed this business model, or one close enough to it to count as prior art.

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#62

Post by sp332 »

ivansavz wrote: post #48
blisterpeanuts wrote: post #22

I guess when you can't think of a creative title, just use a profanity. I don't want my 9-year-old to be exposed to this kind of language either on the coffee table or on the tablet, so I won't be buying the book. Could you put out a PG-rated version for those of us prudish and old-fashioned types?

> this kind of language Could you explain a bit about this? Is this an American thing? Two different online advertisement platforms refused to place ads for my book because of the "swear word" in the title. I didn't get it... To me bullshit isn't a swear word at all... except for the unpleasant graphical nature of reference, I would classify it totally in a different category from other swear words. It like a strong…

"Crap" is a weaker word for "shit" because sometimes the word "shit" is too strong. There's a language phenomenon called "code switching" - in different contexts, people will use different words or even switch languages. Remember in Firefly, when people got emotional and started swearing in Chinese? It's like that. http://english.stackexchange.com/a/29271

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#63

Post by ChuckFrank »

rohin wrote: post #40
ChuckFrank wrote: post #35

It seems like the Amazon reviews might be stacked. There certainly are a ton of them popping up at 10 am this morning. Plus you can always tell a sock puppet review when they don't actually mention content and say things like "Greatest Book Evah" instead. I know it's important to appear that the book is a proven reading experience, and reviews are the essential way to do that, but fake/paid/friend reviews just raise…

Hi there, I work at Priceonomics. Thanks for the suggestions. We'll probably do a blog post about our marketing strategy of this book, but I wanted to address your point that the book had reviews as soon as it launched on Amazon. How is that even possible? Many people had advanced copies of various drafts of the book. When the book went live this morning we emailed all of them letting them know it was up there. Hence…

Ah, yes, the amazon page went live this morning. That makes sense. You may have wanted to curate, or to pull out some specific talking points for your reviewers. I think good good reviews are better than bad good reviews. But I understand the challenge.

As to the pricing info.

I like this post, though it's old and prices may have changed --

http://evilgeniuschronicles.org/2011/01/12/ebook-pricing-vs-...

Here are some more current discussions.

http://gigaom.com/2013/05/09/whats-the-best-price-for-a-self...

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/how-can-the-avera...

(see pricing barometer above)

http://boingboing.net/2014/01/16/whats-the-most-profitable-p...

https://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20120728/...

At 266 pages, I think you $16.95 book price is perfect. You might have even been able to push it up to $18.95 because of your brand. But being conservative, I think $6 a copy profit is good.

I would have priced the Ebook at $5.95, and I would've signed up for the free matchbook service, so when you buy the book you get the ebook for free. I'd drop the DRM too.

But these reviews are just stinkers:

"I was taught to question everything when I was in school and have practiced that ever since. Everything Is Bulls* is a fine example of that. Love it!" & "Love it! Rohin and the guys really put together a fantastic book. They did a great job using stories to explain the concepts. Very engaging - I highly recommend!"

Because, you don't actually use 'stories' to explain concepts. You use data. And his 'questioning everything' isn't really the gist of your work. You don't question everything, you examine some things in great detail.

Still, congratulations. I think that your marketing/content/service structure is really the future. Instead of you wanting to be bigger than the NYT, I could see the NYT following your model - if they could build a service structure that isolates it from the content structure.

Who knows. Even Porlandia wadded in on the topic.

http://www.newscastic.com/news/did-portlandia-show-us-the-fu...

*Note -- Charlize Theron NSFW (not actually it's part of the joke)

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#64

Post by sp332 »

alttab wrote: post #53
coffeecodecouch wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A simple solution is to not leave this book out for your 9-year-old (or realize your 9-year-old really isn't interested). You can't seriously expect them to release a PG alternative.

Or expect to be able to shelter your children forever. Source: Not a dad.

Yeah but that's no excuse for giving up without a fight.

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#65

Post by atwebb »

beamatronic wrote: post #58
atwebb wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For anyone that wants to skim them: "I hope everyone reads this book and learns about the cruel business of selling pets." - Bowser, a dog "I can confirm I make money - making you feel bad about yourself." - Marketing Executive "We've finally been bested in the battle for best book with 'onomics' in the title." - Freakonomics "Buying this book was the best decision I ever made." - You, in the Future "I didn't really…

Can't forget: "I only read the title, but I entirely agree with everything in this book." - Internet Commenter

I probably should've put that one at the top, just copied from the serialized object in the page.

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#67

Post by clarkm »

shitgoose wrote: post #54
blisterpeanuts wrote: post #22

I guess when you can't think of a creative title, just use a profanity. I don't want my 9-year-old to be exposed to this kind of language either on the coffee table or on the tablet, so I won't be buying the book. Could you put out a PG-rated version for those of us prudish and old-fashioned types?

Just put this book with the rest of your magazines.

He's just suggesting that the book follow the same guidelines the magazines figured out ages ago: use discreet packaging.

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#68

Post by SonOfLilit »

devindotcom wrote: post #21
discodave wrote: post #8

I think this book should get some kind of Godwin award for mentioning hitler in the fourth paragraph.

You may be surprised to hear that there are books that mention Hitler in the first paragraph — in fact, some concern themselves with him exclusively!

I think there's an exemption to Godwin's Law for writing about Nazi Germany.

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#69

Post by hkmurakami »

ChuckFrank wrote: post #35

It seems like the Amazon reviews might be stacked. There certainly are a ton of them popping up at 10 am this morning. Plus you can always tell a sock puppet review when they don't actually mention content and say things like "Greatest Book Evah" instead. I know it's important to appear that the book is a proven reading experience, and reviews are the essential way to do that, but fake/paid/friend reviews just raise…

As far as I know, Eric Reis' "Lean Startup" book was largely a repackage of his blog posts, but that didn't stop it from being a success.

Then again, much like you, as an avid reader of the original blog, I did not pick up a copy ;)

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#70

Post by Crito »

blisterpeanuts wrote: post #22

I guess when you can't think of a creative title, just use a profanity. I don't want my 9-year-old to be exposed to this kind of language either on the coffee table or on the tablet, so I won't be buying the book. Could you put out a PG-rated version for those of us prudish and old-fashioned types?

9 year olds are typically in what, 3rd or 4th grade? Unless you are homeschooling him, he may not be swearing at home but that ship has long since sailed. I'm sure he and his recess buddies could teach you a few new words.
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