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Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

priceonomics.com

71–80 of 101 posts

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#71

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…

I did that 10 years ago (which is how I got my first book published). The formula you describe has been done countless times for many years already.

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#72

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?

I'd consider you as someone with class and higher moral standards. Never apologise for that. We need more people like you Brian.

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#73
post #30

I'm genuinely confused about the legality about building a business whose sole purpose is to scrape the web, repackage and sell that information. One side of the fence, you have all this publicly accessible information, so it's like.. why not? Anyone can obtain it. Why should you be restricted? Then on the other side you have companies who will place all sorts of legal restrictions, TOS/EULAs, etc to prevent against…

I think part of the problem is that some services' TOS do give users the option to restrict access to their information so if you go and scrap it that might cause problems to the startup where that content was posted to.

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#75

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?

Or, you know, when your 9-year-old asks you "Papa(Mama), what is 'bullshit'?" You could explain that it does not literally means cattle manure, is a strong and rude expression sometimes used by people, and it's best to avoid that kind of expression in conversation.

Either you kid will learn the word from you (instead of their peers) and gain more knowledge, or they'll just mentally shrug and think "What the _, I'm nine and my dad thinks I don't know bullshit!"

Just don't act horrified when you're asked. That will fascinate your kids to no end.

Source(?): I have a 8-year-old daughter. (Hopefully she doesn't know what is 'bullshit' yet... but what's the big deal?)

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#77

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…

Addressing your concern about 'repackaged articles', the 'Hyperbole and a Half' book was in the same situation. I really just bought it to support the blog, but I really enjoyed reading it. Even when though you've read half the content before, the distance of a few years and the feel of paper make it an enjoyable experience. Plus I've been able to loan it out to a few friends who wouldn't otherwise go and read through a few years of blog posts.

I will be buying this book too and I expect the same enjoyment. If only I had a pleasant, crackling fire!

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The horror! Someone might encounter a word!

It says parent under your post, but are you really a parent? Could it be that some people have different points of view on language usage around their kids?

Parents have different points of view on vaccines too, and I don't see people defending anti-vaccination rhetoric as "different points of view".

Re: Everything Is Bullshit: A Book by Priceonomics

#80

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?

I'd consider you as someone with class and higher moral standards. Never apologise for that. We need more people like you Brian.

I'm sorry, but that is bullshit. Plain and simple.
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