Soon I'm going to get back to what I love best—writing about crowdsourcing. For a little longer I'll instead be writing about the writing of crowdsourcing, which is to say, promoting myself and my book. The British edition of the Crowdsourcing Book was published last week. As my regular readers know, the British version is identical in nearly every way except for one notable exception: The cover was crowdsourced, or to be precise, coversourced. The winning cover is markedly different from the US version. Compare:
(Ed's Note: You'll have to imagine the margins yourself.) It's a different approach than the US edition, as well it should be. It is also, by any measure, a pretty risky cover. I love it, but am also curious to see how it plays on English (and Australian! And New Zealand!) bookshelves. As it happens, I'll be able to find out firsthand, as I'll be spending much of next week in the mother country. If anyone out there happens to live in London or Rotterdam come check me out Wednesday at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (details here) or at the Emerce eDay event in Rotterdam the following day. (Don't even ask how I'm getting from one venue to the next. Hint: the Chunnel plays a role).
And for those of you actually reading my press (Hi Mom!), I've already received a few reviews pegged to the British release. The first appeared in the London Times. It's mildly critical, accusing me of giving too "breathless" an account of crowdsourcing's emergence. Ouch. I'd take some issue with that. The heart of my book—the middle section in which I dig deep into everything from iStockPhoto to Kiva.org to my own foray into crowdsourcing, Assignment Zero—contained a great deal of skepticism. But it's futile to quibble with reviewers, and I'm flattered to receive column inches in such an august publication. Management Today, Britain's leading business magazine, gave the book a rave, to my considerable satisfaction.
Once again, congrats on the English version of your book, the US version’s cover, particularly the 3D, raised marbles, get my vote though.
A “breathlessly enthusiastic roll call” doesn’t sound like much of a criticism to me Jeff and calling your book “the product of a well-connected and talented journalist. It is carefully researched and crisply written,” certainly makes up for any tinge of any even mildly critical remarks!
Take plenty of Dollars with Jeff, fish and chips are now closer to $15 and that’s without the mushy peas and pot of tea and they are no longer served wrapped in a news paper cone.
I am not sure if being sandwiched between “heavy metal in Baghdad” is a good thing or not. It should be interesting though and will probably draw a younger crowd, no pun intended!
Alan
Posted by: alanbooker | September 11, 2008 at 06:11 AM
I am not sure if being sandwiched between “heavy metal in Baghdad” is a good thing or not. It should be interesting though and will probably draw a younger crowd, no pun intended!
Posted by: kraloyun | December 07, 2009 at 04:50 AM
The picture is great!!
Posted by: Clenbuterol | July 22, 2010 at 04:23 AM
Take plenty of Dollars with Jeff, fish and chips are now closer to $15 and that’s without the mushy peas and pot of tea and they are no longer served wrapped in a news paper cone. http://www.hotfileseek.com
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Posted by: Rerto Jordans | August 17, 2010 at 05:50 PM