Avatar photoSteven Savage

Books As History: Your New Sales Tool?

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So as we all know eBooks are selling like crazy.  Right now as we can read ebooks on multiple formats, on multiple devices, and save money, it's not surprising.  These eBook sales also bring up the usual question of what happens to print media (you know the one that comes up every few months)

As much as I love my Kindle and eBooks, I admit part of me wonders about the role permanence of the printed word.  A book can last.  A book can be read without a battery charger or a when locked out of an account.  A book is a record without strings attached.

So I'd like to postulate something that both sells more physical books and helps people appreciate them – something that may help you authors out there get your hard copies into people's hands.

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Book Review: The Price Of Everything

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The Price of Everything: Solving the Mystery of Why We Pay What We Do by Eduardo Porter
# ISBN-10: 1591843626
# ISBN-13: 978-1591843627

PROS:

  • Makes you think seriously about prices and economics on a variety of subjects.
  • Has fascinating historical and cultural insights, with plenty of references.
  • Asks – and answers – some hard economic questions.
  • Extremely readable and accessible.

CONS:

  • References are arranged in a hard, odd-to-use way.
  • At times the author's opinion intrudes on his analysis.
  • Discusses solutions to economic issues, but not in much depth.

SUMMARY: An accessible and thought-provoking look at how economics affects almost everything we do that's good for people who want a better handle on the psychology of our economic behaviors.

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Frustration Friday: Pay Attention To Egypt

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Last week Egypt took itself off of the internet.

Did you learn how it was done?  Try here. 

Do you think it can happen in your country, say America?

In fact, do you know even how you reach the internet and what your options are?

There are many lessons from what's happening in Egypt.  I hope for a quick and positive resolution, the minimal amount of casualties, and the best for all.  I also hope people take a serious hard took at the Internet and how important it is because someone turned off a country.

Some time ago I ranted on how people really didn't understand how the modern world was possible and why things ran the way they did.  I've praised shows like Dirty Jobs and Mythbusters for showing us how the world works (while often being funny and blowing stuff up).  This is the serious side of all my little tirades.

Someone shut a country off the internet.  Yes, many people are noting that's horrible.  Some particularly egregious individuals are probably looking at Egypt and getting ideas.

We're geeks, progeeks, the modern-day literati.  We need to know how information and culture works – and what can screw it up.  We also are the kind of people who can be aware of it and help raise awareness because we're neck-deep in tech, communications, and media.

– Steven Savage