[Web4lib] Librarians Create Bestseller

[Mike Taylor]

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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