Fire and Fury sales

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Isn't it the job of the author to verify?

Right now I'm deep into the Civil War chapters of Stanton: Lincoln's War Secretary. The biography quotes insults powerful men hurled at each other, such calling the President a baboon. Is it the job of the author to quote accurately? Yes. Is it the job of the author to verify if the target was actually a homo sapiens? No.

This is not meant to imply that the Trump administration is Lincolnesque. Or isn't. As has been noted, there is an opt-in politics forum here for that. But if I was going to judge presidential administrations, I'd have to consider insults and gossip, and it would help there to have read books more or less in the ballpark of the one under discussion.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by frahse

The author said "in the book - at least on the jacket" that he knew some people were lying and that a lot of people's comments were in conflict with each other. He also said on line or in interviews that he would lie if necessary to get comments.

I guess I'll treat it like that OJ book.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

Live in such a way that if someone spoke badly of you, no one would believe it.

Be so good no one would dare say anything bad about you.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

But if I was going to judge presidential administrations, I'd have to consider insults and gossip, and it would help there to have read books more or less in the ballpark of the one under discussion.

Insults are one thing. Reporting unverified allegations is another. Hopefully the author at least pointed out direct contradictions in the testimony of his sources.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by frahse

The author . . . also said on line or in interviews that he would lie if necessary to get comments.

frahse, your post is giving me a lot to think about.

Hypothetically, if an author agreed to a statement being background and then quoted the source, that's a serious ethical violation. A newspaper (and all my newspaper reading is Mobilereading, so this is on topic ) should discipline the reporter who did this, probably by firing on the first offense. Perhaps the only exception -- and I don't think this would happen in a political interview -- is an admission to having committed a murder. The reporter then must break the promise.

If an author earns out his or her advance after producing an accurate* book that includes off-the-record quotations, I don't see how the publisher can discipline the author for that book. But the publisher shouldn't buy any more book proposals from that author.

If the author was unethical in a less extreme way -- say, by giving the false impression of being a political supporter of the person being interviewed -- I don't like it. But I'm now thinking the public need to know is more important than the misleading statement. This is something where I could easily change my mind.
_____________
* Most non-fiction inevitably has a few mistakes. I mean -- accurate within normal expectations.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by barryem

On the other hand, maybe I could get rich writing this kind of book about one of you! Hmmm! Issybird?

I'm flattered! And my public will thank you! be put to sleep in short order.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Byrdie

Not at my library yet, but there'll probably be a long waiting list if it does turn up. It is among the books patrons can recommend that the library purchase but ain't no way I'm gonna suggest they spend money on that when there are so many other works more worthy of acquisition.

I agree with the sentiment, but I think the reality is that many people will be recommending it and one more won't matter, but it will bump you up the eventual waiting list if they do purchase it and you want to read it just the same. At least that was my theory when I recommended it to my various OverDrive libraries.

It's a tough act to balance buying what people want, exercising judgment in terms of quality, and meeting all readers' needs to a reasonably comparable extent. I personally think at least some of my libraries buy too much romance. I understand that it's justified on the basis of circulation (and most likely also on the basis of circulation vis a vis cost), but it doesn't quite seem fair to patrons who have the scour the listings to find the relatively rare book of serious (as opposed to popular) history, just as one example.

[Wearever]

I've never read anything by Bannon before and I won't start now. After this book, he'll probably be on games shows like :

Let's make a deal.
The price is right.
The wheel of fortune.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Please remember that this thread is in the General discussions forum of MobileRead. Any discussion of the contents of the book should happen in the Politics & Religion forum.

MR has a politics and religion forum? Which main category is it in? I didn't see it in the lounge.

[Dr. Drib]

This looks like a very readable and entertaining book.

I find the comments on Amazon equally entertaining and quite funny, actually. (So many angry people!)

I just bought it and plan to settle down with my stinky feet propped up on the coffee table and a beer or two next to me. I already have one hand under my sweaty armpit ready to make some appropriate sounds. YAHOO!

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by booklover6

MR has a politics and religion forum? Which main category is it in? I didn't see it in the lounge.

Go to your User CP.
In "Group Memberships" under "Networking", sign up for the "Hardened Debaters" group.

Then you'll see the Politics and Religion forum in the list of forums under Miscellaneous.

[jselby]

Originally Posted by booklover6

MR has a politics and religion forum? Which main category is it in? I didn't see it in the lounge.

You have to opt-in by joining the "Hardened Debaters" group.

Details are in this thread https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=103942

[booklover6]

Thanks, I look forward to reading posts in the sub group.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Wearever

I've never read anything by Bannon before and I won't start now. After this book, he'll probably be on games shows like :

Let's make a deal.
The price is right.
The wheel of fortune.

Fire and Fury was written by Michael Wolff, not by Steve Bannon.

[Wearever]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Fire and Fury was written by Michael Wolff, not by Steve Bannon.

That's true but without Bannon's insight there would be no fire or fury. Wolf wrote it, but all most people will know is that it's from Bannon's point of view.