Galley Review - Naked Conversations
I’d like to thank Shel Israel and Robert Scoble for selecting me as one of the galley reviewers for their new book Naked Conversations.
When I finally received my copy of the galley, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I hadn’t followed their blog until they nearly finished the book.
Naked Conversations more than surprised me, in terms of the quality of the content and writing. Scoble and Israel are not only experienced business bloggers, they also did their homework. Their investigation of the use of blogs in the workplace is highly informative both from a contextual and practical standpoint. Business bloggers will have a reference for the development of the blogosphere that they have come to know and love. Skeptics will be convinced that blogs are not just a fad. All will be provided with an interesting page turning read and a vital resource to the blogging business space.
I could go on but rather than put up an extensive review (and you know from my posts that they do get quite extensive), I decided to take a different approach. I thought to myself, “Self, if I were to be on the back cover of Naked Conversations, what quote would be attributed to my name.” Of course, I couldn’t come up with just one or two, so I wrote a handful of them (and I also found it necessary to add my own comical bio).
Robert and Shel seem to like to pick out the juicer quotes from the reviews they’ve received, highlighting them on their blogs. This approach should make their job easier. Which quote do you like best? Which bio?
If you care about the future of your business, you need to read Naked Conversations.
- Ken Yarmosh, Really Smart Technical DudeConfused or skeptical about blogs as a business tool? Naked Conversations will navigate you through the business blogosphere, profiling experienced practitioners, providing lessons learned, and detailing best practices - Scoble and Israel will help you fill in all the blanks.
- Ken Yarmosh, Author of my grocery listWritten in the conversational style of the blogosphere, Naked Conversations is the definitive reference to show you how to use the power of blogs to connect with your customers.
- Ken Yarmosh, Unknown ConsultantScoble and Israel are seasoned business blogging professionals who clearly articulate the why’s and how’s to get your organization blogging.
- Ken Yarmosh, Blogger ExtraordinaireForget about adding Naked Conversations to your Amazon.com Wishlist. You need to order it now.
- Ken Yarmosh, Web 2.0 OverlordNaked Conversations will walk you through the development of the business blogosphere, while providing you with the practical guide to help you successfully join it.
- Ken Yarmosh, Host of…my blogIf your PR or marketing people are clueless about blogs, go out and buy every single one of them a copy of Naked Conversations.
- Ken Yarmosh, Social Software Guru
November 1, 2005 at 1:01 pm
Ken,
The best quote is…
“If your PR or marketing people are clueless about blogs, go out and buy every single one of them a copy of Naked Conversations.”
…b/c it implies that the book is relevant to specific business people. It also has what they call in the advertising world a “call to action” prompting the reader to actually go out and do something. In this case, buy the book.
The best bio is…
“- Ken Yarmosh, Blogger Extraordinaire”
…b/c is creates a certain interest in the reader to find exactly who this self-proclaimed “blogger extraordinaire” is? A lofty claim that you better be able to back up once made. A claim I believe you can back up.
1 Suggestions though, wouldn’t it be more relevant to give away a copy of the very book you reviewed “Naked Conversations”? This would show just how much you truly support it. Not to mention I’m sure Israel and Scoble would appreciate it!
November 1, 2005 at 1:25 pm
Ken, I think I like the second to last quote the best. It displays the problem and the solution succinctly. The 3rd quote and the last quote also resonated with me. If it were my book, I wouldn’t really want any of the other quotes on its back.
As for your tag line, I just kinda shrug at them. They did not really strike me as humorous and wouldn’t belong on the back of a business book.
November 1, 2005 at 2:18 pm
I like the last one most.
November 1, 2005 at 6:43 pm
Doug…I agree but this book isn’t out yet (not till January). I took advantage of a promo for Seth’s book and still have a bunch of copies to give away. If I can get a similar promo for this book, I’d be happy to do something similar.
Blaine…the bios were obviously a joke. Sorry you didn’t find them funny but I know at least a couple of people got a laugh (including myself)! BTW…I don’t have your email address, so if you want a copy of The Big Moo, please drop me a line via my contact form.
November 1, 2005 at 8:56 pm
Ken, thanks. I emailed you through your form.
As for the humor, I didn’t mean to say that they weren’t funny and I didn’t recognize the humor in them (despite that being exactly what I did say); when I was reading them, I was reading them from a business perspective and they didn’t really fit in with the rest of what it seemed you were trying to do.
November 1, 2005 at 9:00 pm
I echo Doug’s comment–last blurb, “Blogger Extraordinare” for the bio. Both are more relevant to the subject at hand. An alternative might be “Naked Conversations” is the blogosphere clue your PR people need.
November 1, 2005 at 9:05 pm
Blaine…I see where you were coming from…perhaps a bad choice to mix in the humor there…I appreciate the feedback!
To all who have commented thus far, I will send an email out to you by the end of the week requesting your mailing address. If you want to pass along this link to others or post about it, feel free to…I really want to get these copies out!
November 3, 2005 at 9:38 am
Ken,
Good point about the book not coming out untill January :) The big moo is fine. I’ve really enjoyed Seth’s free e-books thus far!
February 2, 2006 at 2:46 pm
My pick for both quote and attribution are:
If your PR or marketing people are clueless about blogs, go out and buy every single one of them a copy of Naked Conversations.
- Ken Yarmosh, Social Software Guru
Succinct, controversial statement combined with a call to action.
What did you eventually go with?