Comments on: Ethics and Praise on Book Jackets http://www.ryanholiday.net/ethics-and-praise-on-book-jackets/ Meditations on strategy and life Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:06:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Sean http://www.ryanholiday.net/ethics-and-praise-on-book-jackets/#comment-9406 Sean Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:00:43 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/ethics-and-praise-on-book-jackets/#comment-9406 Yeah, I see your point. But I don't think the line is as clear cut. For instance, if [book that validates Google's business model] has a blurb from Eric Schmidt stating, "If you want to understand our business model, read this book!" I'd say that'd be a pretty honest and straightforward endorsement, and transform what would otherwise be a conflict of interest into something helpful to the consumer (like if the consumer was trying to find books related to Google's business model -- that'd be a beneficial blurb, assuming Schmidt's honesty.) Yeah, I see your point. But I don’t think the line is as clear cut. For instance, if [book that validates Google's business model] has a blurb from Eric Schmidt stating, “If you want to understand our business model, read this book!” I’d say that’d be a pretty honest and straightforward endorsement, and transform what would otherwise be a conflict of interest into something helpful to the consumer (like if the consumer was trying to find books related to Google’s business model — that’d be a beneficial blurb, assuming Schmidt’s honesty.)

]]> By: Chris Johnson http://www.ryanholiday.net/ethics-and-praise-on-book-jackets/#comment-9405 Chris Johnson Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:58:13 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/ethics-and-praise-on-book-jackets/#comment-9405 There is an ethical issue, sure. But look: just because you benefit from a book doesn't mean it's not a great book. The rest is marketing. You might be a subject of a book and learn something AND Be a fan. Plus, people are able to cut the bullshit so it's saying "I want to be counted in Eric Schmidt's Camp," or "If you like seth godin, you'll dig this book...." There is an ethical issue, sure.

But look: just because you benefit from a book doesn’t mean it’s not a great book. The rest is marketing. You might be a subject of a book and learn something AND Be a fan.

Plus, people are able to cut the bullshit so it’s saying “I want to be counted in Eric Schmidt’s Camp,” or “If you like seth godin, you’ll dig this book….”

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.ryanholiday.net/ethics-and-praise-on-book-jackets/#comment-9404 Anonymous Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:27:55 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/ethics-and-praise-on-book-jackets/#comment-9404 Amen to that. And there should be proof that the blurber has actually read the book and isn't simply being forced by the publishing company to fulfill some contractual requirement to sign N number of blurbs per year. I just read a so-called horror novel that Steven King praised as "Best of the Century." That should have been my first red flag, since 94% of the century remained in the future at the time the blurb was written. The book sucked, and so did Steven King's blurb. Amen to that.

And there should be proof that the blurber has actually read the book and isn’t simply being forced by the publishing company to fulfill some contractual requirement to sign N number of blurbs per year.

I just read a so-called horror novel that Steven King praised as “Best of the Century.” That should have been my first red flag, since 94% of the century remained in the future at the time the blurb was written.

The book sucked, and so did Steven King’s blurb.

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