Comments on: Book Update http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Mon, 1 Dec 2008 17:34:17 +0000 By: Petrucio http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26880 Petrucio Fri, 14 Sep 2007 07:50:57 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26880 @E.B.: You are not the first to ask, but no, not related to that. It's the translation of Petry (if I'm not mistaken), a pterodactil from a Disney dinosaur movie. It's a long story... @E.B.:

You are not the first to ask, but no, not related to that. It's the translation of Petry (if I'm not mistaken), a pterodactil from a Disney dinosaur movie.

It's a long story...

]]> By: Prof.V.N.K.Kumar (India) http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26762 Prof.V.N.K.Kumar (India) Mon, 10 Sep 2007 06:49:12 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26762 How about "Atheism for Dummies". The subtitle could be "Meaning and Morality in a Godless world" or "Meaningful life for a science-savvy bipedal ape" or " Creating sense through a Scientific temper". If you do not like any of these, just laugh it off. Please send me the draft copy of the fifth chapter of your forthcoming book. How about "Atheism for Dummies". The subtitle could be "Meaning and Morality in a Godless world" or "Meaningful life for a science-savvy bipedal ape" or " Creating sense through a Scientific temper". If you do not like any of these, just laugh it off. Please send me the draft copy of the fifth chapter of your forthcoming book.

]]> By: E.B. http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26732 E.B. Thu, 06 Sep 2007 23:38:01 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26732 Petruchio: Good points. I was deliberately leaving <u>Breaking the Spell</u> off since I didn't feel it stirred up very much "controversy," although I have read it and enjoyed it. However, I completely forgot about <u>I Sold My Soul on Ebay</u>, which may be good to compare to as you say. Also, don't worry about offending me regarding <u>Nothing</u>; I haven't actually read it either-I just had heard from someone that it was good and was noncontroversial. I'll probably check it out of my local library at some point and see if I like it. I do stand by what I said about many people only reading the title of the book, however. P.S. It's off-topic, but is your username based off <i>The Taming of the Shrew</i>? I noticed it's the name of the protagonist from that play (I'm currently working backstage at a production of <i>Kiss Me Kate</i>, which is based off it, so I know most of the characters.) Petruchio: Good points. I was deliberately leaving Breaking the Spell off since I didn't feel it stirred up very much "controversy," although I have read it and enjoyed it. However, I completely forgot about I Sold My Soul on Ebay, which may be good to compare to as you say. Also, don't worry about offending me regarding Nothing; I haven't actually read it either-I just had heard from someone that it was good and was noncontroversial. I'll probably check it out of my local library at some point and see if I like it. I do stand by what I said about many people only reading the title of the book, however.

P.S. It's off-topic, but is your username based off The Taming of the Shrew? I noticed it's the name of the protagonist from that play (I'm currently working backstage at a production of Kiss Me Kate, which is based off it, so I know most of the characters.)

]]> By: Lynet http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26712 Lynet Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:08:26 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26712 How about "Daylight Atheism: An Unapologetic"? I've always liked that 'unapologetic' line. Putting it in the title would be too confrontational, but in the subtitle you can probably get away with it. How about "Daylight Atheism: An Unapologetic"? I've always liked that 'unapologetic' line. Putting it in the title would be too confrontational, but in the subtitle you can probably get away with it.

]]> By: Jerryd http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26711 Jerryd Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:27:08 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26711 What is the audience for the book? Is it atheists or believers, or both? I've always thought that a title that challenges theists might get their dander up and make them read a book just to try prove you wrong. Maybe something like: "Challenge Your Faith: Can you read this and still be religious?(or believe in God?)" Although I believe totally in the scientific method, I'm aware of little true science that has been used to verify what would work to make religious believers convert to freethought and/or atheism. For instance, is anyone tracking what percentage of the readers of Dawkins and Hitchins are leaving their religion in favor of atheism? To me the important thing is their conversion rate more so than their Amazon.com rank. I'm guessing we don't know that. I know from reading Adam's information that it should strongly impact a lot of believers to change their thoughts, but the key would be to get it in their hands to read. The perfect title might do that. It might make a nice research project for someone: give a list of titles to a large number of believers and ask them to select the titles that sound interesting enough to actually make them want to read the book. What is the audience for the book? Is it atheists or believers, or both? I've always thought that a title that challenges theists might get their dander up and make them read a book just to try prove you wrong. Maybe something like: "Challenge Your Faith: Can you read this and still be religious?(or believe in God?)" Although I believe totally in the scientific method, I'm aware of little true science that has been used to verify what would work to make religious believers convert to freethought and/or atheism. For instance, is anyone tracking what percentage of the readers of Dawkins and Hitchins are leaving their religion in favor of atheism? To me the important thing is their conversion rate more so than their Amazon.com rank. I'm guessing we don't know that. I know from reading Adam's information that it should strongly impact a lot of believers to change their thoughts, but the key would be to get it in their hands to read. The perfect title might do that. It might make a nice research project for someone: give a list of titles to a large number of believers and ask them to select the titles that sound interesting enough to actually make them want to read the book.

]]> By: Andreas http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26667 Andreas Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:40:18 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26667 Hmm... now that I think of it, that might have been an unfair assessment of Dawkins's book. Hmm... now that I think of it, that might have been an unfair assessment of Dawkins's book.

]]> By: Andreas http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26666 Andreas Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:35:58 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26666 I'm very excited about your coming book. I like that you seem to focus more directly on the arguments for and against the existence of a god than Dawkins and Harris (I've not read Hitchens or Dennet), whose books I think was mostly about the dangers of religion. I'm very excited about your coming book. I like that you seem to focus more directly on the arguments for and against the existence of a god than Dawkins and Harris (I've not read Hitchens or Dennet), whose books I think was mostly about the dangers of religion.

]]> By: Alex Weaver http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26663 Alex Weaver Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:22:26 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26663 <blockquote>I thought Daylight Atheism would serve just fine as a title. I'm still considering what would be a good subtitle.</blockquote> That might be a little awkward if you write more than one, especially in the same vein, that are subsequently associated with the site. Also, I'd like to read, though I won't be able to actually sit and read it for a while yet.

I thought Daylight Atheism would serve just fine as a title. I'm still considering what would be a good subtitle.

That might be a little awkward if you write more than one, especially in the same vein, that are subsequently associated with the site.

Also, I'd like to read, though I won't be able to actually sit and read it for a while yet.

]]> By: Petrucio http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26660 Petrucio Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:23:12 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26660 Sorry, forgot to paste the rank of Nothing: 253,124 Sorry, forgot to paste the rank of Nothing: 253,124

]]> By: Petrucio http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26659 Petrucio Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:14:58 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/08/book-update-6.html#comment-26659 E.B, you are forgetting Daniel Dennet (Breaking the Spell), who was also a good seller, and whose title was not at all provocative. I Sold my Soul on eBay also had good attention and sales (although not as much near the others), some would say the title is provocative, some wouldn't. I did a quick check on the rank of some books on amazon: God is not Great: 18 (Freaking A!) The God Delusion: 76 (Great) Letter to a Christian Nation: 354 (Good) The End of Faith: 592 (Good) Breaking the Spell: 1,408 (Not too shaby) I Sold my Soul on eBay: 39,704 (Ok) Nothing: Something to believe in: (Abismal) I believe the top 5 were MUCH better than this near their release, but on the absence of better numbers, it's a start. I think I Sould my Soul on eBay is another independent book, a decent goalpost to chase. But I think (may well be wrong) this site has much more traffic and support than Hemant Mehta's, so it will likelly generate a good initial wave of readers after release, and the ball could start rolling nicelly from their reviews and word of mouth marketting. And I've read the first chapter of Nothing, and my honest opinion is: it sucks. Did only harm to the little inclination I had to buy it. Sorry if you are in any way related to the writer, I'm just being honest about my initial reactions (they may well be wrong, but that initial chapter available for reading surelly does not help to increase sales at all). That guy should definitely write longer sentences. I don't care if he's trying to stay in character, it makes for lousy reading. And I love books and I love non-belief; if you can't raise my interest with your Amazon page, it's unlikelly you will raise much of anyone else. Sorry. And I may of course be wrong on all that. Let's wait and see. E.B, you are forgetting Daniel Dennet (Breaking the Spell), who was also a good seller, and whose title was not at all provocative. I Sold my Soul on eBay also had good attention and sales (although not as much near the others), some would say the title is provocative, some wouldn't.

I did a quick check on the rank of some books on amazon:
God is not Great: 18 (Freaking A!)
The God Delusion: 76 (Great)
Letter to a Christian Nation: 354 (Good)
The End of Faith: 592 (Good)
Breaking the Spell: 1,408 (Not too shaby)
I Sold my Soul on eBay: 39,704 (Ok)
Nothing: Something to believe in: (Abismal)

I believe the top 5 were MUCH better than this near their release, but on the absence of better numbers, it's a start.

I think I Sould my Soul on eBay is another independent book, a decent goalpost to chase. But I think (may well be wrong) this site has much more traffic and support than Hemant Mehta's, so it will likelly generate a good initial wave of readers after release, and the ball could start rolling nicelly from their reviews and word of mouth marketting.

And I've read the first chapter of Nothing, and my honest opinion is: it sucks. Did only harm to the little inclination I had to buy it. Sorry if you are in any way related to the writer, I'm just being honest about my initial reactions (they may well be wrong, but that initial chapter available for reading surelly does not help to increase sales at all). That guy should definitely write longer sentences. I don't care if he's trying to stay in character, it makes for lousy reading. And I love books and I love non-belief; if you can't raise my interest with your Amazon page, it's unlikelly you will raise much of anyone else. Sorry.

And I may of course be wrong on all that. Let's wait and see.

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