Book worming, PT 2: Book marketing

As I said in the previous post, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, the new book by Thomas L. Friedman, is on my reading & wish list. It is there for two reasons, the topic and the author. Not because of the marketing. Ever since I got into bestseller lists a bit for my M.A. thesis, I have big problems with “the new XXX bestseller”. From their print run alone or based on pre-orders, expecting sales, books are promoted as bestsellers, without having sold a single unit.

To promote Hot, Flat, and Crowded, the publishing house Farrar, Straus, and Giroux gave away the audio book of Friedman’s previous bestseller The World is Flat and a “sound bite” from the new one. Great! Freebies are always good to catch one’s interest. Now, I expect some “commercial messages”, but I was taken aback by the pre-roll ad on each track, announcing the new “breathtaking account”, “bestseller” etc. at length. On all tracks.

Why don’t you let me be the judge? I can think for myself, you know?

Secondly, I’d prefer a chapter from the beginning of the book that lays down the topic, not from the middle. And, not the one that makes to point that there are thousands of “how to save the plant-lists”. Because I don’t want to listen to three minutes of somebody reciting the names of those lists. Boring. You are not making a point, you are burying it.

So, despite these points I’ll most likely read the book. See above.

friedman, hotflatcrowded