Questions inspired by and related to You’ve Read the Headlines. Now, Quick, Read the Book (by Motoko Rich, NY Times, 3/29/2009, posted at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/books/30quic.html)
Questions:
- How does this necessity/predisposition for more, deeper material ASAP affect popular writing by academics and academic publishing in cutting edge fields of technology?
- Are there particular topics, themes, fields which deserve (possibly even demand) a longer time frame for consideration during the writing process, the community of scholars, and the wider public?
Quote from the article:
“People can’t wait a year to get timely information on critical subjects,” said Amy Neidlinger, associate publisher of FT Press. “Especially today it’s dated 10 minutes after you’ve just received the first installation.”
Of course many publishers and authors suggest that taking time to produce a reflective work is what books are about, and that they should not succumb to the pressures of the 24-hour news cycle.
Bonus Round:
- How about the below approach to writing an up-to-the-minute book which wouldn’t be worth writing using normal publishing procedures?
- Anyone else you know following this model?
The current economic downturn prompted Robert T. Kiyosaki, the best-selling author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” to write a book that he is posting chapter by chapter online at conspiracyoftherich.com, where readers can see his work free. … The final book, “Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money,” will be published in paperback by Grand Central in September.
Chapter 2 of my book on Up to the Minute Publishing coming shortly. Don’t miss it as I’ll incorporate your feedback 😉
I like having information up-to-the-minute, but in an information environment where there are few costs and thus lots and lots of junk, the value of having carefully reviewed material becomes very important.