Comments on: Idea: I'll Pay You to Read My Book http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 15:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Sigmund Ausfaller http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663752 Sigmund Ausfaller Sat, 23 Feb 2013 20:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663752  "Sure, we'll sell at a loss, but we'll make it up on volume!"  ”Sure, we’ll sell at a loss, but we’ll make it up on volume!”

]]> By: Gilbert Wham http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663647 Gilbert Wham Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663647  You believe college students read <i>entire textbooks</i>?  You believe college students read entire textbooks?

]]> By: Heevee Lister http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663545 Heevee Lister Sat, 23 Feb 2013 08:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663545 So your business model is simple: by betting that someone else will fail, you profit.  What could possibly go wrong? So your business model is simple: by betting that someone else will fail, you profit.  What could possibly go wrong?

]]> By: David http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663446 David Sat, 23 Feb 2013 03:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663446 Ugh. There were some novels that no amount of money would entice me to finish. Besides, if the reading isn't the reward in itself, then the book sucked. Ugh. There were some novels that no amount of money would entice me to finish. Besides, if the reading isn’t the reward in itself, then the book sucked.

]]> By: HumanGoogle http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663339 HumanGoogle Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663339 Did I really just read this "idea" on the same site as the one run by a guy who wrote a novel homaging 1984 and that posts at least five times a week warning us about different privacy issues regarding technology? Did I really just read this “idea” on the same site as the one run by a guy who wrote a novel homaging 1984 and that posts at least five times a week warning us about different privacy issues regarding technology?

]]> By: eeyore http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663290 eeyore Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663290 Exactly.   Still, it does have some potential where you have social impetus to not cheat, perhaps as a special offer to a specific author's personal fan club, or a book club or professional association that have some reasonable barrier to entry ... people that have a strong social and personal incentive to play nice, but wouldn't mind getting a free book.  Exactly.  

Still, it does have some potential where you have social impetus to not cheat, perhaps as a special offer to a specific author’s personal fan club, or a book club or professional association that have some reasonable barrier to entry … people that have a strong social and personal incentive to play nice, but wouldn’t mind getting a free book. 

]]> By: Sean Grady http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663190 Sean Grady Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663190 I read this post and most of the comments.  You owe me a dollar. I read this post and most of the comments.  You owe me a dollar.

]]> By: Don Hosek http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663114 Don Hosek Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663114 I think that Kindle already tracks that info. Certainly they track bookmarks and highlights. I read somewhere that Netflix also does this sort of micro-tracking. They know what parts people fast-forward through, rewind to watch again etc. and allegedly they brought some of that knowledge to the production process when they made House of Cards. I think that Kindle already tracks that info. Certainly they track bookmarks and highlights. I read somewhere that Netflix also does this sort of micro-tracking. They know what parts people fast-forward through, rewind to watch again etc. and allegedly they brought some of that knowledge to the production process when they made House of Cards.

]]> By: Mike Perkowitz http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663110 Mike Perkowitz Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663110 Why not flip it? You pay full price for the book, but if you never go past halfway, you get half refunded, or the refund is pro-rated. That would incentivize nailbiters that you can't put down. Imagine a great mystery book where you only get the refund if you don't read the part where the detective reveals it all. Why not flip it? You pay full price for the book, but if you never go past halfway, you get half refunded, or the refund is pro-rated. That would incentivize nailbiters that you can’t put down. Imagine a great mystery book where you only get the refund if you don’t read the part where the detective reveals it all.

]]> By: Zak McKracken http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663067 Zak McKracken Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663067 So... the greater the difference between marketing and actual product the higher the profit? This is pretty much exactly the opposite of what would be useful. The reader should be able to get the book for free and only pay for reading it, or if they liked it. Except that this would again require DRM-like features on the device and therefore an invasion of the readers' property and therefore go away, just sell me the book already. Or get a flattr button. So… the greater the difference between marketing and actual product the higher the profit?
This is pretty much exactly the opposite of what would be useful.
The reader should be able to get the book for free and only pay for reading it, or if they liked it. Except that this would again require DRM-like features on the device and therefore an invasion of the readers’ property and therefore go away, just sell me the book already. Or get a flattr button.

]]> By: Robert Drop http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663065 Robert Drop Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663065 Not only is it easily exploited, it's also rather perverse - it encourages the publishing of unreadable novels, as novels that people <i>want</i> to read would be money-losers. Not only is it easily exploited, it’s also rather perverse – it encourages the publishing of unreadable novels, as novels that people want to read would be money-losers.

]]> By: Robert Drop http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663063 Robert Drop Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663063 Nah, all you need to do is hit the "next" button occasionally while watching television. Nah, all you need to do is hit the “next” button occasionally while watching television.

]]> By: Seth Jones http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663059 Seth Jones Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663059 Finnegans Wake would earn the publisher millions Finnegans Wake would earn the publisher millions

]]> By: rocketpjs http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663050 rocketpjs Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663050 A novel idea.  I could see it having a use with school textbooks, particularly at the University level.  But there is literally zero chance that textbook publishers will mess with their ridiculously profitable captive market. A novel idea.  I could see it having a use with school textbooks, particularly at the University level.  But there is literally zero chance that textbook publishers will mess with their ridiculously profitable captive market.

]]> By: Jellodyne http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663040 Jellodyne Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663040 Hello, my name is Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz, and I will pay you to read my poetry book. Of course there's a time limit, as we'll be putting in that hyperspace bypass later this afternoon. Hello, my name is Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz, and I will pay you to read my poetry book. Of course there’s a time limit, as we’ll be putting in that hyperspace bypass later this afternoon.

]]> By: Vincenzo Ravina http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663027 Vincenzo Ravina Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663027 That is a terrible idea, but I still read the whole post! I believe I'm owed money. That is a terrible idea, but I still read the whole post! I believe I’m owed money.

]]> By: peregrinus http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663028 peregrinus Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663028 One word:  Ponzi. One word:  Ponzi.

]]> By: savagejen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1663001 savagejen Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1663001 Wouldn't this incentivize people to write books so bad that no one wants to actually finish them? Wouldn’t this incentivize people to write books so bad that no one wants to actually finish them?

]]> By: Lobster http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662987 Lobster Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662987 There's a word for someone you pay to read your book: "editor." There’s a word for someone you pay to read your book: “editor.”

]]> By: mkanoap http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662966 mkanoap Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662966  Also: "We have a wildly successful book and people love it.  Every time we sell one we loose a dollar!  How are we going to make any money?" "We'll make it up in volume!"  Also:
“We have a wildly successful book and people love it.  Every time we sell one we loose a dollar!  How are we going to make any money?”

“We’ll make it up in volume!”

]]> By: Reverend Loki http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662968 Reverend Loki Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662968 This strikes me like someone has been watching The Producers too much.  "We can make more money from a flop than a hit!"  New, from Mel Brook, "The Publishers"!  They thought they were releasing the worst, most unreadable e-book ever... which turns out to be THE smash hit which no one can put down! This strikes me like someone has been watching The Producers too much.  “We can make more money from a flop than a hit!” 

New, from Mel Brook, “The Publishers”!  They thought they were releasing the worst, most unreadable e-book ever… which turns out to be THE smash hit which no one can put down!

]]> By: mkanoap http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662961 mkanoap Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662961 It almost seems like this is some sort of "modest proposal" type troll. All this will do is provide authors with an incentive to make as unreadable a book as possible, and publishers to look for them. It almost seems like this is some sort of “modest proposal” type troll.

All this will do is provide authors with an incentive to make as unreadable a book as possible, and publishers to look for them.

]]> By: Bruce Arthurs http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662955 Bruce Arthurs Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662955 Are the Evelyn Wood speed-reading courses still available? I foresee thousands of Chinese speed-readers "word-mining" for a living.  Unintended consequence: Because of the breadth and variety of books read by those Chinese word-miners, they end up becoming an army of brilliant generalists, inciting a new era of Chinese progress and creativity.  China takes over world.  The End. Are the Evelyn Wood speed-reading courses still available?

I foresee thousands of Chinese speed-readers “word-mining” for a living.  Unintended consequence: Because of the breadth and variety of books read by those Chinese word-miners, they end up becoming an army of brilliant generalists, inciting a new era of Chinese progress and creativity.  China takes over world.  The End.

]]> By: SamLL http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662953 SamLL Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662953  I've often thought this modern world needed more business models that are completely based on unbreakable DRM and complete control of the end-users' devices.  I’ve often thought this modern world needed more business models that are completely based on unbreakable DRM and complete control of the end-users’ devices.

]]> By: Dan Donaldson http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662950 Dan Donaldson Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662950 I have a better idea: write better books that people will pay to read. I have a better idea: write better books that people will pay to read.

]]> By: therantguy http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662947 therantguy Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662947 I assume this is click bait? As an idea it is profoundly stupid. Like world shatteringly epically ridiculous. The only way this idea works is if it's like a government sponsored education think (i.e. on health or safety) where the payout of $1 a book nets overall savings in excess of that. For like a novel? It is silly beyond words. The only way you make money is if people don't read the book and does banking on your customers essentially throwing out your product seem like a logical way to build a customer base? I assume this is click bait? As an idea it is profoundly stupid. Like world shatteringly epically ridiculous. The only way this idea works is if it’s like a government sponsored education think (i.e. on health or safety) where the payout of $1 a book nets overall savings in excess of that. For like a novel? It is silly beyond words. The only way you make money is if people don’t read the book and does banking on your customers essentially throwing out your product seem like a logical way to build a customer base?

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662948 SamSam Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662948 Agreed. For that reason alone, it seems like terrible marketing. Rebate Publishing Ltd. <i>Where no one finishes our books (TM)</i> Agreed. For that reason alone, it seems like terrible marketing.

Rebate Publishing Ltd.
Where no one finishes our books (TM)

]]> By: David Pescovitz http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662942 David Pescovitz Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662942 So, publishers would improve their chances of profiting by putting their promotional dollars behind crappy books! Oh wait. So, publishers would improve their chances of profiting by putting their promotional dollars behind crappy books! Oh wait.

]]> By: Sara Chatfield http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662933 Sara Chatfield Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662933 So...the very people who actually 'consume' more of the book and get more value from it pay less?  How does this make sense?  Also...wouldn't most people be seriously creeped out to have their reading habits tracked like this?  I certainly would be. So…the very people who actually ‘consume’ more of the book and get more value from it pay less?  How does this make sense? 

Also…wouldn’t most people be seriously creeped out to have their reading habits tracked like this?  I certainly would be.

]]> By: Sand_Viper http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/idea-ill-pay-you-to-read-my.html#comment-1662926 Sand_Viper Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214738#comment-1662926 You're basically saying "I bet you won't bother reading this book" - as that's the only way the publisher can make money. The idea has merit though. Probably only if you get a refund for reading it, otherwise people will find a way to make money by downloading books and skipping through them. You’re basically saying “I bet you won’t bother reading this book” - as that’s the only way the publisher can make money.

The idea has merit though. Probably only if you get a refund for reading it, otherwise people will find a way to make money by downloading books and skipping through them.

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