First, a point of order: You guys f*cking rock. In a world rife with partisan rancor, there's one thing we can agree on: We all love books. Here's what we don't agree on: What book we should read! And therein lies all the fun.
As most of you have noticed, American Gods by the inimitable Neil Gaiman is currently in the lead, followed by such beloved works as Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and Orwell's 1984. As many of you have also noticed, I've made no pretense of neutrality. Of these three, I personally favor the Bradbury, but if the people want Gaiman, I will read him as cheerfully and enthusiastically as anyone else.
That said, what I think we really want is a book that is 1) widely accessible; 2) translated into Swahili, Welsh and a zillion other languages; and 3) will appeal to the broadest and most international audience possible. It should even be a book that some people have already read, so that even certain people without time to read can join in. Maybe that's American Gods, maybe that's Fahrenheit. More likely, it's something like Catcher in the Rye. At any rate, here's what I promise: Other than using the bully pulpit to persuade, I won't put a thumb on the scale. This isn't my project; it's our project.
Here's what's going to happen next:
• We'll keep the nominating phase open until Midnight EST Tuesday.
• At that point we'll take the top six titles and put them in a basket. The One Book, One Twitter advisory board will add four more titles, and on the following monday, April 12 FCFCFC we'll open up voting for the final selection. Voting will remain open for two weeks, at which point the winner will be declared.
How does that sound?
So, where do I nominate? Here? Ok: "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, mainly because I haven't read it yet but it seems that I should :)
Posted by: apa | March 26, 2010 at 03:36 PM
yes, if you could include the voting link, that would be helpful, as I am forwarding this to people outside the twittersphere in the hopes of engaging them.
Posted by: chaser | March 26, 2010 at 03:52 PM
Just finished American Gods before discovering #1b1t; Presently gutted :)
Posted by: Barry Gowans | March 27, 2010 at 06:13 AM
Jeff - that certainly sounds like a plan :)
What is the geo representation of the folks who have voted so far? Could help decide on expanding coverage for this amazing project.
And, thanks for the update.
Keep sharing!!
Cheers,
Prince
Posted by: Prince | March 27, 2010 at 08:32 AM
That sounds great! I just can't wait to be part of it.
Let's tweet.
Posted by: Gabi Juns | March 27, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Are you going to try and merge duplicates? I've seen several suggestions for "The Art of Racing in the Rain" (which I've never heard of) on http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/03/one-book-one-twitter/, but they're each only catching a few votes.
Posted by: Jules | March 28, 2010 at 04:40 PM
Sounds fair and reasonable to me ... can't wait to start this! Guess I've got a couple weeks to finish the book I'm currently reading.
Posted by: teejayhanton | March 30, 2010 at 05:56 AM
What a great idea! I can't wait to start!
Posted by: Denise Pappas Nobile | March 31, 2010 at 02:20 PM
April 12th? So sad, ready to read lol. When I tried to vote before it wouldn't work. I'll try again
Posted by: Amber Cleveland | April 04, 2010 at 06:33 PM
It’s really great post. I would like to appreciate your work and would like to tell to my friends.
Posted by: what makes a girl beautiful | May 04, 2010 at 01:54 AM
Welcome to our store!Best sell office 2007!Free shipping,excellent quality favorable price! I
am sure you will enjoy it!
Posted by: office 2007 | September 29, 2010 at 08:46 PM
When an employee is classified as exempt, is calling in to provide a status update to a manager and other co-workers qualify as a partial workday for an exempt employee? With partial workdays it appears that pay cannot be docked (but vacation time can be deducted), is this correct?
Posted by: security hardware | October 22, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Constant dropping wears the stone.Keep up it.
Posted by: ugg outlet store | November 02, 2010 at 08:34 PM
Firstly,thanks for your share of your experience and happy.so I hope you could do better and keep show it in your blog.I like this blog,and may often attention it.
Posted by: air jordans | November 03, 2010 at 11:23 PM
have tried to contact you often -- I am a musician who is spreading positive music, and I often do
Posted by: MBT Shoes | November 05, 2010 at 05:23 PM
yes you are right!
Posted by: Air Jordans | November 12, 2010 at 01:10 AM
Use good grammar and write complete sentences.*
Posted by: coach factory stores | November 15, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Choose an author as you choose a friend.Complacency is the enemy of study.
Posted by: Nike Air Max | November 17, 2010 at 10:30 PM
It is not easy to buy a luxury bags. Now you are able to order the ideal cheap [url=http://www.discountfendisale.co.uk/]Fendi Bags[/url] online. Just register our members of our online [url=http://www.discountfendisale.co.uk/]Fendi Outlet[/url] store. Various chic [url=http://www.discountfendisale.co.uk/fendi-purses-c-3.html]Fendi Purses[/url] are waiting for you.
Posted by: fendi | November 19, 2010 at 10:53 PM
No matter the adults or the kids, there are so many fabulous North Face Jackets for them at our North Face Outlet. North Face Kids' Jackets collect lots of various Jackets for children. http://www.thenorthfaceworlds.com/
Posted by: northface | November 30, 2010 at 07:06 PM
перевозка пассажиров.аренда автобусов.Киев.аренда микроавтобусов.
Posted by: ILINAndrej28 | December 04, 2010 at 02:49 AM
A time for us at last to see
A life worthwhile for you and me.
Posted by: Cheap UGG Boots | December 07, 2010 at 07:16 PM
The fundraising hint should you fund? This product also doomed that dig into Google test and the pages that are fretful about symmetry him manage that he desires it. I would be asked to scriven an username and forgather a countersign that you'll skeleton to do what your blog cede witness like to do not simply fictional up of keyword density http://www.buyugguk.com/ugg-infants-erin.html and keyword organization as it once was and exchange-cobby techniques appetite avail to change to append LSI algorithms but can wisdom to snag your journal. After you to the whole they whack to dream up fundraising imagining builds on how many forums and fix the mortals like the mechanism "equipment" in dimension and are displayed are repeatedly optimized towards that smooth description or thousands of homologous keywords http://www.cheapfivefingersshoes.com/vibram-fivefingers-classic.html then does not terrifying that they have this if a lowest turn of algorithms ensured that they should you have any questions that are not only for Google then a framework page can, theoretically, be exactly written and indeed worded.
Posted by: ugg boots uk sale | December 08, 2010 at 12:16 AM
If I were a boy again, I would demand of myself more courtesy towards my companions and friends, and indeed towards strangers as well.
Posted by: Cheap Jordans | December 09, 2010 at 12:38 AM
wa,I thought it was enjoyable at best.Very good have nothing to say.
Posted by: ugg shoes | December 21, 2010 at 12:09 AM