[Web4lib] Librarians Create Bestseller
Mike Taylor
mike at indexdata.com
Mon Apr 30 07:04:14 EDT 2007
Is this kind of transparent shilling really appropriate for the list?
wroldfie at library.uwaterloo.ca writes:
>
>
> My name is William Oldfield and I have been a librarian at the University of
> Waterloo Library for over 28 years and writing books longer. One of them has
> finally been published and I$,1ry(Bve decided to make it part of an experiment.
>
> As you are no doubt aware, Amazon.com has a bestseller list that they
> advertise as updated hourly. It should theoretically be possible to concentrate
> a few purchases on a single day within a spread of hours to push a title
> onto and move it up the list. I have heard that this has been done but I have
> been unable to find any concrete information about it.
>
> If you are interested in participating in the experiment, order a copy of the
> book, The greatest hero: the genius behind the myth by Blake Whitman (my nom
> de plume) on Friday May 4th, 2007 between the hours of noon and 4:30 pm
> EDT from Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1425994814) Please also
> sent me an email (wroldfie at library.uwaterloo.ca) at the same time with the
> subject line $,1rs(B $,1rx(BAmazon $,1rs(B hour:minute (i.e. 1:34 pm) so I can collate the order
> and time with the book$,1ry(Bs position on the list. I intend to write an article
> about the experiment.
>
> Putting the experiment aside, I believe you will find the book very interesting.
> Here is an ad blurb:
>
> Meet the genius behind the myth. From the study of creativity
> and mythology comes a startling new perspective on the life of
> Jesus of Nazareth. The book adopts Joseph Schonfield$,1ry(Bs thesis
> that Jesus stage-managed his own crucifixion and resurrection,
> accepts the suggestion of a number of scholars that there was
> a romantic relationship between Jesus and Mary and proposes
> that Lazarus$,1ry(B resurrection was a publicity stunt to raise
> interest in a flagging mission. But most startling of all is
> the book$,1ry(Bs new theology. Jesus$,1ry(B goal was not to save the
> world but to liberate our minds from superstition. His message
> was simple -- seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all else
> will follow, for within the Kingdom of Heaven lies all the
> human heart could ever desire. Within the realm of the mind
> through the creative process lies escape from despair.
> This is his 'good news'.
>
> The book is based upon a theory that equates the hero myth of Joseph Campbell
> with the creative act or the experience of inspiration. You can find out more
> about the book and the theory at http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/~wroldfie/whitman/.
>
> Again, if you decide to participate in the experiment, order a copy of the book
> from Amazon.com on Friday May 4th between the hours of noon and 4:30 EDT and
> send me an email noting the time. You can also monitor the experiment yourself
> by checking the Amazon.com Bestseller list
> (http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/) periodically during the day.
>
> If the experiment is successful, I have a title for my article $,1rs(B
> $,1rx(BLibrarians Create Bestseller$,1ry(B.
>
> Bill
>
> William Oldfield
> Networked Information Research Associate
> University of Waterloo Library
> Office: 519-888-4567
> Email: wroldfie at library.uwaterloo.ca
>
>
>
>
>
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