Penelope Trunk | That Book Thing!

Career Blogger Penelope Trunk wrote an interesting post on the need (or not) to write a book. 5 Reasons why you don’t need to write a book is shall we say a controversial post but worth actually reflecting on.
So let’s reflect.
1. People who have a lot of ideas need a blog, not a book.
2. A book is an outdated way to gain authority.
3. Books lead to speaking careers, but speaking careers often lead nowhere.
4. You’ll make more money per hour flipping burgers than writing a book.
5. When you’re feeling lost, a book won’t save you.

As someone who has finally completed the drafts on my first book and intend to get it published, and if push comes to shove self publish. Yeah that’s right, self publish.
I have a few comments on her points.

1. I agree like Penelope when you have lots of ideas or commentary on a subject people do blog.
The thing is you can’t write on a blog, or highlight, or underline on a blog like you would do with a book. Like Penelope I write about careers. Books like What Colour is Your Parachute, Free Agent Nation, The Pathfinder, Radical Career, etc. have great ideas and people buy them in the truckload. So heck we may not all be on to a best seller but it having that point of reference without having to switch on the pc, crackberry, [insert electronic device].

Ironically Penelope wrote a great book and has been blogging about the stresses of working on the manuscript for the second. Hmmm

2. If books were outdated ways to gain authority why do they still sell. Ok they may not as much as before with the new tech, but I wonder if Msrs Godin or Kawaskis or others of the ilk who sell such books would agree with such a position! Again Ms Trunk does your authority not get validated with your books?

3. Books and speaking careers. I have been a youth speaker for a number of years and also increasingly do more speaking with corporates. Many of the audience would love a book. OK maybe it is because it would be cheaper than my speaking or coaching fees, but books can also be audio as well as print. So there! Charging several thousand pounds to speak and facilitate does lead somewhere by the way, even if it is just part of the business model, and like any other business you can choose as and when you want to speak. And Josh agrees with me!

4. ** Sigh** You’ll make more money per hour flipping burgers than writing a blog!

5. I think the last point is well kinda true. However there are people who when they have an interactive book in front of them will make all the efforts neccesary to apply the principles in front of them to making it work.

I will be looking to get that book on careers out quite soon. To be honest most career books I have been exposed to tend to be very American. Here in the UK we have a somewhat different approach to things and it would be refreshing to offer something else. That is the challenge whether it is through a book deal or self publishing. It would also make some nice supplementary money when I am speaking and travelling. Most advisors/guides on careers and professional development have a book which flies in the face of most of the advice Ms Trunk gives. Maybe she is trying to stop people from writing so she can have all the attention. No chance lady! No chance!

Filed under: Work , Author, Books, Brazen Careerist, Penelope Trunk