Two Must-Read Seth Godin Books Reviewed: The Dip, Meatball Sundae
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On my Books ‘n’ Such book review Internet radio show, I try to focus on books that have potential to change your life in some way, personally or professionally.
This week, I review two of Seth Godin’s books, The Dip and Meatball Sundae.
Each of these books is having a continuing impact on me in many ways.
The Dip is subtitled, The Little Book that Teaches You When to Quit (And When to Stick). On the show, I talk about how Seth’s thoughts color my professional life, and my parenting as well. In a world in which there are way too many choices and distractions, this book gets you to ask and answer the questions that can bring clarity and focus.
Meatball Sundae is a must-read for anyone who wants to use the Internet professionally–to sell your books, promote your business or even a cause. Nobody has a better bead on the culture of the Internet than Seth Godin (and make no mistake, it is a culture of its own).
Seth not only understands and clearly articulates what is, but he sees what can be, where things are likely to go. In this book he outlines 14 trends that “are completely remaking what it means to be a marketer.”
Maybe you don’t think of yourself as a marketer. You’re an author, or would-be author.
Think again. What is an author but someone with information to share, information that you believe is valuable to other people (even if it’s mostly entertainment)? If you want to actually reach other people with your message, then you are a marketer.
Seth Godin teaches you how to think like a marketer. Not the kind that is full of hype (the Internet culture especially hates this, though Internet Marketing gurus largely don’t seem to get this). Seth whole approach, as mentioned on the cover of Permission Marketing, is “turning strangers into friends, and friends into customers” (or readers, for us authors). This is what works in the Internet age, and it works especially well for authors.
I hope you will read Meatball Sundae especially. It will enable you to understand a lot of what I’ll be talking about concerning “new era publishing.” The publshing industry is on the brink of huge changes, in my opinion. Largely because it’s a “meatball” industry that can, perhaps more than many other industries, benefit most from the “toopings” that Internet marketing offers. (Again, I go back to the Michael Cader quote–that the Internet is perfect for authors and publishers. But only if we change “meatballs” to “ice cream,” to get back to Seth Godin’s metaphor.)
Listen to my review of Seth’s books (it’s only 30 minutes or so), and get either or both if they fit what you feel you need now. By the way, Seth’s books are fun to read. Like his blog (check that out for a taste of Seth).
April 19th, 2008 at 2:16 am
I too have two books that are must reads.
#1 Changing your Course
#2 Live what you Love
These books help in so many ways. I’ll explain. These are some ways these books can help you along your journey:
College students with lots of choices - help evaluate options
Men and women in their thirties confronting grown-up responsibilities for the first time
Moms with new babies who know they don’t want to go back to their old demanding jobs and are searching for ways to translate their skills into more family-friendly careers
April 20th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I heard about the first one, so I guess I will finally buy them both if they are as good as people say