Comments on: Given out for free via Oprah, money book is now third-ranked bestseller at Amazon http://www.teleread.org/2008/02/19/given-out-for-free-via-oprah-money-book-is-now-third-ranked-bestseller-at-amazon/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:38:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mike Cane http://www.teleread.org/2008/02/19/given-out-for-free-via-oprah-money-book-is-now-third-ranked-bestseller-at-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-719731 Mike Cane Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:05:28 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/19/given-out-for-free-via-oprah-money-book-is-now-third-ranked-bestseller-at-amazon/#comment-719731 grumble grumble Some actual link love would have helped (and just putting my first name does *nothing* for Vanity Googling!): <a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/todays-oprah-women-and-money/" rel="nofollow">Today’s Oprah: Women And Money</a> <a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/oprah-get-a-sony-reader/" rel="nofollow">Oprah, Get A Sony Reader!</a> <a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/memo-to-steve-jobs-people-do-still-read/" rel="nofollow">Memo To Steve Jobs: People DO Still Read!</a> There. That's better. grumble grumble

Some actual link love would have helped (and just putting my first name does *nothing* for Vanity Googling!):

Today’s Oprah: Women And Money

Oprah, Get A Sony Reader!

Memo To Steve Jobs: People DO Still Read!

There. That’s better.

]]> By: hyokon http://www.teleread.org/2008/02/19/given-out-for-free-via-oprah-money-book-is-now-third-ranked-bestseller-at-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-719475 hyokon Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:22:49 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/19/given-out-for-free-via-oprah-money-book-is-now-third-ranked-bestseller-at-amazon/#comment-719475 I am very happy to see your thoughtful questions, as I suddenly see so many premature (in my mind, at least) conclusions that free is 'the' answer for digital contents. No, I don't think so. I began writing about this issue. The first one is <a href="http://hyokon.blogspot.com/2008/02/in-addition-to-free-part-1-free-is-not.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I am very happy to see your thoughtful questions, as I suddenly see so many premature (in my mind, at least) conclusions that free is ‘the’ answer for digital contents. No, I don’t think so. I began writing about this issue. The first one is here.

]]> By: Rob Preece http://www.teleread.org/2008/02/19/given-out-for-free-via-oprah-money-book-is-now-third-ranked-bestseller-at-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-719441 Rob Preece Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:30:36 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/19/given-out-for-free-via-oprah-money-book-is-now-third-ranked-bestseller-at-amazon/#comment-719441 I'm with McFeely on this one. If Oprah were to call me, tell me she'd plug my book but I'd have to give it away for free, I'd grab the deal so fast my own head would be spinning. Doctorow made a name for himself as the guy who gives away his free books and in this business, making a name for yourself is worth a lot. He was smart, saw the way the world was moving, and got there ahead of most of us. But, as I've argued here before, ultimately someone has to pay for something. As more and more people move to eBooks, you'll find you're giving away your steak to sell the sizzle. What I like about this is that there are hundreds of people out there who've never tried eBooks before and who are now getting their first exposure. Some of them will realize that they've seen a better way to read and will join us in the eBook revolution. So, thanks Oprah and Orman (and Doctorow). Rob Preece Publisher, www.BooksForABuck.com I’m with McFeely on this one. If Oprah were to call me, tell me she’d plug my book but I’d have to give it away for free, I’d grab the deal so fast my own head would be spinning.

Doctorow made a name for himself as the guy who gives away his free books and in this business, making a name for yourself is worth a lot. He was smart, saw the way the world was moving, and got there ahead of most of us.

But, as I’ve argued here before, ultimately someone has to pay for something. As more and more people move to eBooks, you’ll find you’re giving away your steak to sell the sizzle.

What I like about this is that there are hundreds of people out there who’ve never tried eBooks before and who are now getting their first exposure. Some of them will realize that they’ve seen a better way to read and will join us in the eBook revolution. So, thanks Oprah and Orman (and Doctorow).

Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com

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