05-08-2013, 04:31 PM | #1 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 44,748
Karma: 55645321
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Peru
Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One
|
Do authors cross the line when they recommend their own books?
To repeat: Do authors cross the line when they recommend their own books?
Is there a distinction to be made in promoting one's book and recommending one's book? What is that difference, if there is one? I'm purposefully leaving the venue [originating source] open in order to see if a conversation on this issue is one that we may all wish to explore - in its many manifestations and permutations, and perhaps even in some that I am unaware of. Personally, I consider this to be the low-mark of a narcissistic mind, an action akin to picking one's nose in public. But...is such an action ever justified, within any context, do you think? You know my thoughts on this issue. What are your thoughts on this issue? (Or perhaps you see it as a non-issue.) Don Last edited by Dr. Drib; 05-08-2013 at 04:42 PM. |
05-08-2013, 04:38 PM | #2 |
Omnivorous
Posts: 3,281
Karma: 27978909
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Rural NW Oregon
Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1
|
Is the author recommending the book in his own name or using a pseudonym?
If he's using his own name, I ignore the recommendation. If he's using a pseudonym, I'll probably never buy another book from the same author. |
Advert | |
|
05-08-2013, 04:40 PM | #3 |
Award-Winning Participant
Posts: 7,318
Karma: 67930154
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NJ, USA
Device: Kindle
|
I can see some value to modesty, but as long as it's disclosed as such, why on Earth would one NOT recommend their own book? I'd much prefer that to an author who DIDN'T think their book was worth recommending.
In college, while I had an issue with the financial motive, I certainly understood if a professor wanted to teach from a textbook that he wrote. What would it say about his work if he didn't? For myself, other than articles in periodicals, I've only published one little primer. If someone happens to ask me for recommendations on an introduction to the particular topic of my primer, I'd likely suggest, among other works, my primer...cuz that's why I wrote it. Although, I'd also be likely to offer them a free copy. ApK |
05-08-2013, 04:48 PM | #4 |
Illiterate newbie
Posts: 661
Karma: 1702090
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Finland
Device: Sony PRS-T1
|
If he uses his own name and is clear that it is his own work I don't see any issues.
There is many comparable situations and it's really quite regular to recommend once own services or place of work. If not done so and oposite is stated it might be even good to avoid such works or places. |
05-08-2013, 05:03 PM | #5 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,345
Karma: 52398889
Join Date: Oct 2010
Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip
|
Quote:
|
|
Advert | |
|
05-08-2013, 05:37 PM | #6 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,732
Karma: 128354696
Join Date: May 2009
Location: 26 kly from Sgr A*
Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000
|
Context matters.
(And how...aggressive... the recomendation is.) A lot of the recommendation queries around here ask for stories in specific genres or topics. I wouldn't be offended if an author offered up their own work in a reply to a query like that. Not that I've seen anybody do it. |
05-08-2013, 06:10 PM | #7 |
monkey on the fringe
Posts: 45,477
Karma: 158151390
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Seattle Metro
Device: Moto E6, Echo Show
|
Cross the line? No; I see nothing wrong with it.
As with anything else - caveat emptor. |
05-08-2013, 06:15 PM | #8 |
Nameless Being
|
Context is everything. If you're asking an author to recommend a book on a particular topic, it should be perfectly acceptable for them to mention their own book. If you're asking an author to recommend the best book on a particular topic, they should suggest another author's book or decline due to a conflict of interest.
Of course not mentioning that they are the author, or concealing that they are the author are dishonest and I would see that as unacceptable. |
05-08-2013, 06:27 PM | #9 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,747
Karma: 3761220
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD
|
I see nothing wrong with an author recommending his own book. If one is proud of what they have accomplished, I see nothing wrong with getting the word out about that accomplishment. Taking a full-page ad out in the local newspaper is a little overboard, but in moderation I think it is good.
|
05-08-2013, 06:32 PM | #10 |
Fanatic
Posts: 513
Karma: 2644386
Join Date: Apr 2012
Device: iPhone, Kindle Touch
|
I'd expect authors to recommend their own works, except possibly in the case of juvenilia that an author doesn't want to be associated with. I don't have a problem with that if the author is making the recommendation in his/her own name.
It's manipulative and dishonest for an author to do that under assumed names. I've read of authors creating pseudonym accounts online solely to praise their own works. That's just wrong. |
05-08-2013, 07:09 PM | #11 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,230
Karma: 7145404
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Southern California
Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+
|
I have no hate for it as long as they disclose they are the author. If they pretend to be a reader? Whole different slimy behavior!
Context matters to me only in how narcissistic it looks. It isn't such a bad thing as a response to someone asking for a recommendation that their book does indeed match. If it is out of the blue then it isn't as valued and much more "hey, look at me!" |
05-08-2013, 09:25 PM | #12 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,221
Karma: 8381518
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2
|
I got a book and started reading. Pretty soon I was just skipping pages of reviews for other books by the author. The first 14% of the book was this nonsense. I deleted the book and made a note to ignore the author.
|
05-08-2013, 09:35 PM | #13 |
Illiterate newbie
Posts: 661
Karma: 1702090
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Finland
Device: Sony PRS-T1
|
In that case I think it's bad editing and self promototion. At the least they should have decency to leave those to end...
|
05-08-2013, 09:49 PM | #14 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,305
Karma: 43993832
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Monroe Wisconsin
Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)
|
I figure that if the author is afraid to toot their own horn then who will do it for them? And if an author writes a book about writing it's almost certain that they will include clips from their own writing when showing a technique. That isn't part of the normal book promotion either. It does solve the problem of copyright though. I mean you have to prove fair use if you use clips of someone else's writings in your book on writing, but if you use clips from your own that isn't an issue. At least as long as both books are published by the same publisher anyway.
|
05-08-2013, 10:59 PM | #15 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,360
Karma: 9026681
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Colorado
Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Recommend books like TV | supermighty | Reading Recommendations | 4 | 09-01-2012 07:26 PM |
Can you recommend any authors similar to Douglas Adams | m-reader | Reading Recommendations | 9 | 04-29-2010 05:17 AM |
epub - set authors from cmd line not correct | dapjukebox | Calibre | 2 | 07-27-2009 04:18 PM |
Recommend some Thriller/Adventure authors please | tech_au | Reading Recommendations | 35 | 05-30-2009 09:19 AM |
Recommend your favorite books! | Bob Russell | Reading Recommendations | 25 | 10-01-2006 11:02 PM |