The evergreen insight is massive. One of my favorite novels (still) is Catch-22. That's because it's not about World War II, it's about the world and all the people inhabiting it being batshit crazy. As long as humans are around that's going to be the case. And as long as humans keep reading, Catch-22 will keep selling.
Thanks for this post! I somehow missed the first one in the series. I'll go back and read that and then impatiently wait for your next installment. Ryan Holiday fascinates me because he has found a way to monetize philosophy of all things in a way that is earnest and interesting and not Glengarry Glen Ross-like at all.
Thanks for reading, Jason! It's a good point you make about Holiday's work and I feel the same way. Realizing I could've been clearer here about not endorsing the actual use of Glengarry Glen Ross-like tactics, more paying attention to worlds seemingly far removed from our own while going in for those "earnest and interesting" angles you mention. Anyway, here's the first post in the series: https://poecansaveyourlife.substack.com/p/what-sells-books-and-why-should-you
Love Glenngary Glenross (sp?) It lasts because like someone said in the notes above, there are hustlers like that in all walks of life -- law, medicine, science -- wherever the focus is solely on making it to the exclusion of thinking carefully on the thing made. Thank you for sharing this part of book making!
Having seen many Mamet plays on and Off-Broadway, he lacks emotional substance, but he scores for jargon and sarcasm. I remember him in a coffee shop copying down other people's conversations as give and take. Am not a fan.
The evergreen insight is massive. One of my favorite novels (still) is Catch-22. That's because it's not about World War II, it's about the world and all the people inhabiting it being batshit crazy. As long as humans are around that's going to be the case. And as long as humans keep reading, Catch-22 will keep selling.
Great stuff, Cat, per usual.
Thanks for this post! I somehow missed the first one in the series. I'll go back and read that and then impatiently wait for your next installment. Ryan Holiday fascinates me because he has found a way to monetize philosophy of all things in a way that is earnest and interesting and not Glengarry Glen Ross-like at all.
Thanks for reading, Jason! It's a good point you make about Holiday's work and I feel the same way. Realizing I could've been clearer here about not endorsing the actual use of Glengarry Glen Ross-like tactics, more paying attention to worlds seemingly far removed from our own while going in for those "earnest and interesting" angles you mention. Anyway, here's the first post in the series: https://poecansaveyourlife.substack.com/p/what-sells-books-and-why-should-you
Case in point:
ELP's artistically best albums are also their perennial bestsellers.
So good! 🙌🏻
Love Glenngary Glenross (sp?) It lasts because like someone said in the notes above, there are hustlers like that in all walks of life -- law, medicine, science -- wherever the focus is solely on making it to the exclusion of thinking carefully on the thing made. Thank you for sharing this part of book making!
We agree; thanks.
Having seen many Mamet plays on and Off-Broadway, he lacks emotional substance, but he scores for jargon and sarcasm. I remember him in a coffee shop copying down other people's conversations as give and take. Am not a fan.
Hey, I get it! He's not for everyone. I like his work but recognize he's a polarizing figure.