[Web4lib] Librarians Create Bestseller

[Michael E. Bahr]

I agree, and suggest he be removed from the list serve.

-Mike 

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Mike Taylor
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 6:04 AM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] Librarians Create Bestseller

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
>  >  >  >  >  > _______________________________________________
 > Web4lib mailing list
 > Web4lib at webjunction.org
 > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
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