Current #1 best seller on Amazon, August 16, 2013
- Thread starter Walter
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You realize how the 'Best seller list' works ?
Beneath the placid surface of Amazon, authors and reviewers have been in a ferment this fall. After several well-publicized episodes involving writers soliciting or paying for reviews,
Authors who have sent gift certificates to reviewers to buy their books. While it’s easy to see the potential for abuse here — “Here’s a $100 gift certificate. Buy a copy of my novel for 99 cents and keep the change” — some writers argue it is no different than sending a physical copy of a book to someone, which is what publishers do in the offline world and therefore is allowed by Amazon. At least, the line between the two is blurry.
Consider the case of Tim Ferriss, the self-help specialist whose extensive promotional activities help power his books onto the best-seller lists. He gave away a thousand advance copies — many more than most authors — before “The 4-Hour Body” was published two years ago. Some went to friends, some to companies where Mr. Ferriss had been a guest speaker, still more to those who helped or volunteered to help with the book. On publication day, all the recipients were sent an e-mail marked urgent asking them to spend 30 seconds writing a review. Many complied. But some readers saw something suspicious.
“Although this generated a fair amount of backlash from skeptics, it was an immense boon for us to have a solid foundation of 200 positive reviews in the first week,” a Ferriss marketing associate wrote in a guest post on the author’s blog in March 2011. “Having a solid Amazon rating gives the book an enormous amount of social proof that can last for years, and (although immeasurable from our end) boosts the conversion rate on the sales page substantially.”
Two weeks ago, Mr. Ferriss brought out his third book, “The 4-Hour Chef.” Published this time by Amazon itself, the nearly 700-page tome came equipped with many five-star reviews posted on the date of publication. Only a few of the reviewers said they had gotten advance copies. Once again, some readers saw something suspicious. “Tons of fake ratings have been posted on the first day that this book came out,” posted a reader who goes by carmex. “Please do not encourage this type of behavior.”
more
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/on-amazon-cooking-up-friendly-reviews/
http://dailyffa.com/forums/index.php?action=reporttm;topic=24113.0;msg=144511
Beneath the placid surface of Amazon, authors and reviewers have been in a ferment this fall. After several well-publicized episodes involving writers soliciting or paying for reviews,
Authors who have sent gift certificates to reviewers to buy their books. While it’s easy to see the potential for abuse here — “Here’s a $100 gift certificate. Buy a copy of my novel for 99 cents and keep the change” — some writers argue it is no different than sending a physical copy of a book to someone, which is what publishers do in the offline world and therefore is allowed by Amazon. At least, the line between the two is blurry.
Consider the case of Tim Ferriss, the self-help specialist whose extensive promotional activities help power his books onto the best-seller lists. He gave away a thousand advance copies — many more than most authors — before “The 4-Hour Body” was published two years ago. Some went to friends, some to companies where Mr. Ferriss had been a guest speaker, still more to those who helped or volunteered to help with the book. On publication day, all the recipients were sent an e-mail marked urgent asking them to spend 30 seconds writing a review. Many complied. But some readers saw something suspicious.
“Although this generated a fair amount of backlash from skeptics, it was an immense boon for us to have a solid foundation of 200 positive reviews in the first week,” a Ferriss marketing associate wrote in a guest post on the author’s blog in March 2011. “Having a solid Amazon rating gives the book an enormous amount of social proof that can last for years, and (although immeasurable from our end) boosts the conversion rate on the sales page substantially.”
Two weeks ago, Mr. Ferriss brought out his third book, “The 4-Hour Chef.” Published this time by Amazon itself, the nearly 700-page tome came equipped with many five-star reviews posted on the date of publication. Only a few of the reviewers said they had gotten advance copies. Once again, some readers saw something suspicious. “Tons of fake ratings have been posted on the first day that this book came out,” posted a reader who goes by carmex. “Please do not encourage this type of behavior.”
more
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/on-amazon-cooking-up-friendly-reviews/
http://dailyffa.com/forums/index.php?action=reporttm;topic=24113.0;msg=144511
Somehow I don't think the right wing will be too thrilled about this. The current mass ignorance works very much in their favour.
This book is starting to influence those in charge.
Tom Coburn calls for a national Constitutional Convention | WashingtonExaminer.com
Still the best selling hardcover on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/best-sellers-books-Amazon/zgbs/books/ref=zg_bs_nav_0
Number 1 in USA Today.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/best-selling/
Tom Coburn calls for a national Constitutional Convention | WashingtonExaminer.com
Still the best selling hardcover on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/best-sellers-books-Amazon/zgbs/books/ref=zg_bs_nav_0
Number 1 in USA Today.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/best-selling/
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I don't who this guy is. One of his suggestions is:
Interesting--that would be like the "notwithstanding clause" in the Canadian Constitution. Something I've heard members of the American and Canadian right ridicule.
Establishing the ability for states to override federal directives (with a 3/5 majority) could have some unintended consequences. Would have done in the emancipation of slaves, for starters. It would also lead to balkanization of the States. And I'm not sure it would decrease bureacracy because you'd have a lot of redundancy as areas currently administered by the feds would have to be indiviudally administered by 50 states.
I'd have a hard time calling the book "conservative." Though claiming to hearken back to teh Constitution, the book calls for a rather radical overhaul of the Constitution, with not much evidence such changes were in line with what the Founding Fathers had in mind.
Still, some not bad ideas in there. Food for thought.
Interesting--that would be like the "notwithstanding clause" in the Canadian Constitution. Something I've heard members of the American and Canadian right ridicule.
Establishing the ability for states to override federal directives (with a 3/5 majority) could have some unintended consequences. Would have done in the emancipation of slaves, for starters. It would also lead to balkanization of the States. And I'm not sure it would decrease bureacracy because you'd have a lot of redundancy as areas currently administered by the feds would have to be indiviudally administered by 50 states.
I'd have a hard time calling the book "conservative." Though claiming to hearken back to teh Constitution, the book calls for a rather radical overhaul of the Constitution, with not much evidence such changes were in line with what the Founding Fathers had in mind.
Still, some not bad ideas in there. Food for thought.
Still #1 on the NYT.
Video: Mark Levin Fans - Unbelievable Lines Stretch Around Town for Book Signing
Video: Mark Levin Fans - Unbelievable Lines Stretch Around Town for Book Signing
Levin in conversation at the Reagan library. Mark starts talking at the 6 minute mark.
Reagan Library Forum With Mark Levin - 9/7/2013 | RealClearPolitics
Reagan Library Forum With Mark Levin - 9/7/2013 | RealClearPolitics
A NYT bestseller will save America, what a bunch of dreamers. Any of you know what seventeen trillion in debt looks like? It's a big planet most of the sane pay no attention to the reading suggestions of the NYT.