Saturday, July 14, 2012

My Next Book

I'm thinking of writing these books. Do you think either is worth the effort?

What It's Really Like to Teach in Oakland
30 Teachers Tell Their Story


Manipulated
40 Ways They Deceive You in Politics and in the Workplace



Posted by Marty Nemko at 1:34 PM
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11 comments:

jackbarry99 said...

Call the book: " How to Succeed in Life, Love, and Work, ...while improving the World"

or : Take the Arsenic Out of Capitalism..

jb

July 14, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Robert said...

My vote goes to "Zeal." When you've got a monosyllable, cherish it.

July 14, 2012 at 3:31 PM
John J. Walters said...

I like Robin Hoodlums: How Robbing From The Rich Hurts Us All.

But I am up very late for an east coaster...

July 15, 2012 at 1:34 AM
jackbarry99 said...

"What The World Needs Now" , in me unhumble opinion" .... the perfect title..

July 15, 2012 at 11:47 AM
jackbarry99 said...

call the book...

How to Fix the World...

July 15, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Greg Robinson said...

The whole "robin hoodism" thing doesn't make much sense to me because robin hood was a hero stealing from feudal landlords. The government is the one doing the stealing and it's a massive group of people. More like the planet gobbling robot Unicron in the transformers series. Maybe something along the lines of "taxing the rich: pros and cons" or "redistributive justice: is it really just?" Maybe put a comic spin on it too..."biting the hand that feeds: why taxing the rich means biting ourselves in the a**. One man's exalted perspective" or "poisoning the well: why upping taxes on the rich is destroying YOUR american dream" or "learn to love the 1%: x reasons NOT to over tax the rich" or "thank the 1% for (pictures of cars, appliances other products here): x ways the rich allow YOU to carry on your pathetic existence" or "humble yourself: the many ways in which the 1% allow you to live an exalted life of luxury and decadence" or "humble thyself: why you should pay more taxes and vote to cut taxes for the 1%" Honestly, there are so many books about this already, no one wants to read another serious one...A comic take on it though with serious arguments...you might have something there...Should be short too...

I don't think this kind of book has much chance for success though given the current political climate (anti-romney sentiment). No one empathizes with the 1% at the moment. Unless it's really funny...There's too much anger in this country already. Injecting a little levity into the political discussion would be welcomed by most people...

July 15, 2012 at 4:27 PM
Marty Nemko said...

Rex, I think your comments are dispositive. In this climate, Robin Hoodism is so respected (yes, termed the 99 percenters and 1 percenters) that all the effort it would take me to write such a book might yield little impact.

Thank you for your thoughtful criticism.

July 15, 2012 at 5:37 PM
Anonymous said...

Not meaning to be so negative but I think the titles you have listed are too long and a little confusing.

July 15, 2012 at 9:07 PM
Marty Nemko said...

Thank you, Anonymous. I think you're right. I've simplified them and added some simpler ones.

July 15, 2012 at 11:12 PM
Greg Robinson said...

Marty, I just heard a great episode on NPR's Planet Money (#387). They had a panel of experts from the left, middle, and right come together, and they all agreed on 6 different policy changes:

Overhaul the tax code in the following ways:
1) Eliminate the mortgage interest deduction
2) Eliminate the employer provided health insurance deduction
3) Eliminate the corporate income tax
4) Eliminate the income tax
5) Eliminate the payroll tax
6) Legalize marijuana

Also, they all agreed on either a consumption tax and/or taxing "bad things" like energy use, carbon, pollution, smoking, etc.

I thought this might be appropriate for your next book. I read your most recent book "How to do life." I enjoyed it greatly.

July 18, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Marty Nemko said...

I have written about the value of a consumption tax in the Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/we-need-to-think-bigger-on-taxes/2011/10/24/gIQArSdF8M_story.html

But while I feel I had enough expertise to write an article about it, I don't believe I have enough to write a book about it.

My current plan re a next good is to write an article-length version of Manipulate!: 40 tactics to watch for...and you to ethically use. OR Educated Reinvented. I have some wild ideas. And in education, I have lots of credentials, experience, previous books and articles, and been thinking for decades about how to blow up the ossified enterprise and start afresh.

And glad you liked How to Do Life. Feel free to write a review of it on Amazon.

July 18, 2012 at 10:54 AM

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