Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Every writer can benefit from figuring out what makes for a successful book. If you understand what elements can add up to strong sales and reader interest, it can help you to forge a plan for your next book that can heighten the chances of your book succeeding.
The book we’ll examine isn’t a barn-burning best-seller, but it has stiff competition because it’s wedged onto stuffed shelves–the parenting category. When it comes to nonfiction titles, the two most crowded fields to play on are parenting and marriage. Once you pull off the shelf books written by psychologists and spokespeople, a plethora of possibilities still await the reader.
I first discovered the book we’ll examine when it was highlighted in Publishers Marketplace e-newsletter, which I subscribe to. What set it apart?
A Successful Book Has an Eye-Catching Title
The Game Theorist’s Guide to Parenting juxtaposes two groups of people in a surprising way with the title: game theorists and parents. That not only catches your attention, but it also startles you into taking a closer look.
Curiosity will carry you on to the subtitle: How the Science of Strategic Thinking Can Help You Deal with the Toughest Negotiators You Know–Your Kids. This subtitle speaks parenting language. And it uses words readers wold find appealing:
science. Parent thinks: Yes, science probably can help me to parent.
strategic thinking. Parent thinks: Oh, so that’s how game theory fits in. I need to be a strategic thinker as a parent–not to mention I like video games.
can help you deal with the toughest negotiators you know–your kids. Parent smiles and thinks: Yeah, my kids are cute, but they sure do know how to get what they want out of me–and my spouse, who is the type of sucker P.T. Barnum lived for.
The book could be sold solely on its title and subtitle–which is a lesson in the power of coming up with a title that has an element of “huh?” and an element of “ha!” and an element of “ah.”
A Successful Book’s Cover Design “Repeats” the Message of the Title
Okay, so the publisher had us at the title. But the design of the cover should echo that same response of “huh?” “ha!” “ah.” And this cover does simply deliver the same emotional resonance as the title.
Yup, there’s a cute, lovable, tough negotiator.
A Successful Book Explores Familiar Territory with a Fresh Approach
Having a game theorist apply his knowledge to the task of parenting ought to do the trick here. The book’s description explains how that will work: “In The Game Theorist’s Guide to Parenting, the award-winning journalist and father of five Paul Raeburn and the game theorist Kevin Zollman pair up to highlight tactics from the worlds of economics and business that can help parents break the endless cycle of quarrels and ineffective solutions. Raeburn and Zollman show that some of the same strategies successfully applied to big business deals and politics―such as the Prisoner’s Dilemma and the Ultimatum Game―can be used to solve such titanic, age-old parenting problems as dividing up toys, keeping the peace on long car rides, and sticking to homework routines.”
A Successful Book Garners Good Reviews from the Pros
You, as the author, might have some connections you can use to make sure authorities in the field your book appears in offer their opinions of your book. But your publisher also should send ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) to publications’ book reviewers and to authorities as well. (When it comes to spokespeople, generally the author is more successful at obtaining these reviews than the publisher–unless that publisher also is producing books for a leading authority and the authority has the time and inclination to write a review.)
Here are a few quotes from publication reviews The Game Theorist received:
“Unlike most parenting books . . . this one is based on actual research into how humans behave . . . in the home it should increase the odds that there will be less whining for all involved.” ―Laura Vanderkam, The Wall Street Journal
“[Raeburn and Zollman] join a welcome trend of academics pairing up with writers (or comedians!) to create a true crossover offering, one that marries rigorous research and real scholarship with a compelling style and narrative arc that human beings actually want to read on purpose.” ―Rebecca Schuman, Slate
“Kids are master manipulators. They play up their charms, pit adults against one another, and engage in loud, public wailing. So it’s your job to keep up with them . . . The Game Theorist’s Guide to Parenting . . . explains how.” ―Chelsea Leu, Wired
“The small transactions of parenting―sharing, dividing, collaborating and compromising―are fraught with peril. Solutions that feel fair are not always just, particularly in the eyes of our children. Paul Raeburn and Kevin Zollman achieve two incredible feats in The Game Theorist’s Guide to Parenting: they helped me find a way to be fair and just in my parenting while teaching me the basics of game theory. I absolutely loved this book, both as a parent, and as a nerd.” ―Jessica Lahey, author of the New York Times bestseller The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed
A Successful Book Makes its Content Accessible and Enjoyable to Read
Now, some books are about difficult topics, but the writing can bring us through reading about the most harrowing of events and gracefully carry us on to the next scene, the next chapter, the next paragraph. Successful books are satisfying reading experiences. The reviews for The Game Theorist suggest the book accomplishes that task admirably.
At this point on my journey scrolling down the book’s Amazon page, I’m thinking this book has it all going for it. So I check out its Amazon rankings (which can be squirrely, as we know).
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Books > Science & Math > Evolution > Game Theory
- #66 in Books > Science & Math > Mathematics > Applied
- #348 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Parenting
The rankings showcase just what one would expect from the package that the authors and the publisher put together. Even in the tough category of parenting, the ranking is darn good. (By the way, the book released in April; so these rankings reflect not just the first blush of sales from a brand new release, but sales a few months into the book’s life.)
In Every Successful Book’s Life a Little Rain Must Fall
So everything looks rosy for this book, right? Well, there is a smudge on its reputation. The reviews from Amazon readers (which number at 10, which is pathetically small) aren’t all glowing. As a matter of fact, this book rates 3.7 stars out of 5. A bit on the low side.
Not that you want all 5 stars; that sort of rating suggests all your friends and family are writing rave reviews. Reviews are subjective, and not everyone will like your book, as hard as that is to embrace.
But here is a sampling from those who didn’t care for the book:
“I can summarize this book in two bullet points: 1. When you make threats, they should be credible. 2. The I cut/you choose strategy for dividing things is handy.
Most of the book is variations on these themes, padded out with advice your game-theory-oblivious grandmother could have given you. There’s some interesting discussion of auction theory, if you’re into that, but the author doesn’t make a good case for its utility in childrearing.” –2 stars
“This is a superficial guide to game theory and parenting. The examples used are simplistic. The relevance to game theory is not well explained. I would not recommend this book.” –2 stars
“The book’s big problem is that most of the examples are either contrived or would yield to simpler solutions. There’s an example of two kids fighting over who gets to play a new video game system first. The answer seems pretty obvious: make them bid with time (i.e., whoever plays first would play for less time), but the book ignores that and uses this example to go into Solomon’s adjudication of the two mothers claiming the same baby.
“Similarly, later on there’s an example about a boy who persuades his parents to get a cat, but of course ends up leaving the cat care and training to his parents within a short period of time. The solution should be obvious: getting a cat is an ongoing contract, so extracting a promise up front is useless. You have to design systems where by cat care is incentivized through ongoing penalties. The authors ignore that and get into the Nash equilibrium without ever coming up with a good solution.
“Having said that, the book is so short that it’s still worth a read and who knows, maybe the ideas presented will eventually be useful. Mildly recommended.” –3 stars
So there you have it: the anatomy of a successful book–and a reminder that not everyone will love it, regardless how successful it is.
What other elements make for a successful book?
What book that you’ve read lately added up to meeting the criteria for a successful book?
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Shirlee Abbott
When my boys whined, “Why?” I often answered, “Because it’s in the mom handbook.” I got all the way to kid #4 before I was questioned as to the specifics of said handbook. How glorious it would have been to answer with this title!
*I’m sure there are lessons to be learned from your post, Janet, but they will wait for morning. For now, I’m cracking up with the cover.
Janet Grant
The mom’s handbook, eh? That’s a great response.
Kathy Cassel
A good cover is a must as you stated. Plus in our busy world, the opening page–or even the opening sentence–has to pull the reader in or he/she will go on to something else. I normally give a non fiction book only a page or two to grab me. For fiction, if I don’t care what happens to the character by the end of the second chapter, I’m done. Unless, of course, a friend wrote the book.
Janet Grant
I so agree. I don’t have time to languidly slip into the warm water of a book. The temperature needs to be just right from the get-go, or I’m moving on to other options.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Interesting post, Janet, and a great way to start the week! Some thoughts –
* The premise of this example actually doesn’t work for me because of personal experience – I lived in Sand Diego for a bit and was friends with a high-achieving couple who wanted to use all the high-end parenting techniques, and it was a disaster for awhile. It was saved by another friend who suggested that they should raise the kid like an ancient Assyrian – teach him to ride a horse and tell the truth. Kids, like men, are simpletons, however sophisticated the facade they present. Appeal to simplicity and you’ll be amazed.
* In any case, the jargon-heavy title doesn’t work for me, but that may be because I lived around jargon and weirdly stupid acronyms for most of my life.I suspect that it’s supposed to make a potential reader feel clued-in, but it makes me roll my eyes.
* The 3.7/5 rating wouldn’t bother me a whit. Opinions are like egos; everybody has one. For a book like this a potential thumbs-down would be a verifiable statement that the writers are unqualified. Rather like what brought down William Kimber…after they published Eric Thomason’s memoir ‘Whirlwind Squadron’, it was proven to be a fabrication. Thomason later admitted as much (his RAF service record was public information), and Kimber had to reclaim and destroy the copies that had been sent out. They were working on a small margin, and this pushed them over the edge.
* One thing that is important to me is a clear and legible font, and a good arrangement of margins and chapter breaks. I don’t mind dense text; actually I like it rather more than the 200 words per page style that some publishers use.
* On the same note, if there are photographs they should be crisp and clear. Usually when I pick up a history book I will turn to the pictures first (men are simpletons, remember?) and if they are shoddily reproduced there is a good chance I’ll put it down again. It bespeaks carelessness, and in history that’s unacceptable.
Shirlee Abbott
Wise comments, as always, Andrew.
*Consider the readership–I am with you on history. Careless history sends me howling in the opposite direction.
*You are right about the star rating, people are different. I am often swayed to buy a book by a negative comment. What someone else hates may be exactly what I want.
*Regarding parenting books: I want a book with humor! Kid #4 was our star negotiator. I told my husband, “Being out-maneuvered by a 3 year old is hard on my ego. Again. Yet again.” But I also heard from God, “My hand is on this boy. Just don’t screw it up.” That clever child is now teaching in one of LA’s toughest high schools. Using game theory and negotiation skills honed on his mother. God has a sense of humor.
Jeanne Takenaka
This was an interesting post, Janet. And, as a mom who had a big “kerfuffle” with the boys last night, I was tracking with the parenting aspect of your post. 😉
*I enjoyed reading the elements that help make a book successful. I found it interesting to read the pros reviews and the average readers’ reviews/comments.
*I’m curious. Do any of these elements change for works of fiction?
Janet Grant
Jeanne, the same elements apply to fiction as well: a strong title, a cover that conveys the emotional tone of the story, a fresh hook, satisfying writing, and strong reviews to help drive discoverability.
Shelli Littleton
What a great post! I bought one book on parenting when my girls were tiny. And that was on how to discipline properly, in love. The author came to my city. I went to hear him with a friend. I would never buy a random parenting book. When my girls were little, I looked around at church at other young mothers and found the one whose kids behaved … we became friends. Because I wanted to know what she was doing right. I only went to that parenting conference and bought that one book because she did.
*And that book cover is not attractive to me. I’d rather buy a book that had well-behaved looking kids on the cover. A cover that had a child sitting at the table and asking, “May I be excused?” Lol. But for me, when it comes to parenting … let me see how your kids have turned out, let me see how your kids act, and then, I’ll listen to you. 🙂 I figured if I read random books, there’d be no telling where my kids and I would end up. My daughter actually just babysat a kid that looked just like the cover kid … I told her she’d never babysit him again … it was too dangerous for her. 🙂
Carol Ashby
You are so right, Shelli. The proof is in the product. I didn’t ask young mothers. I asked the mothers whose kids were doing well in adolescence and on into adulthood.My mom was 36 when I was born and I was 40 when we adopted, so I was raised by parents from the generation that expected kids to behave. Maybe that’s why almost all the kids did behave then. I got a chuckle from the review that said there was nothing there that Grandmother couldn’t tell you.
We raised ours like we were raised and got many compliments on how well behaved they were. Lots of love, but always clear who was in control.
My inclination would be to believe the readers and not buy the book.
Lara Hosselton
Interesting topic, Janet. What will the experts think of next?
*In the course of rearing my four children I read one parenting book, Raising the Strong Willed Child, by Dr. James Dobson. My second child was highly intelligent and a masterful negotiator. In first grade she skillfully forged my name to a note that would allow her to go home if she felt sick. All is well, however, she’s a successful young adult thriving within the boundaries of the law.
*If I were writing a parenting book my advice would be too short for successful marketing purposes: love your kids unconditionally, set boundaries with consequences and don’t be afraid to discipline.
*It’s okay to be “the parent.” God gave us rules to live by because He loves us.
Carol Ashby
Lara, I used that Dobson book, too, and its advice was superb for my daughter, who was an 11 on a scale of 10. Its emphasis on helping the child develop self-control was spot on for a fiery strong-will. All I had to do was tell her to “get it under control” when her temper flared in grade school, and she could.
My parenting book would be exactly like yours. I don’t have to be the parent now, and my grown kids are actually adult friends. That is such a blessing!
Lara Hosselton
It is a blessing, Carol. My three girls and I have done two mother-daughter trips that were just awesome, Savannah and Disney World. I invited my son, (the oldest) on the Disney trip and he just laughed. Imagine that?
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Janet, one thing I would add, at least for non-fiction, is controversy, giving the sacred cows a hard slap on the rump.
* Parshall and Tully did this very well in “Shattered Sword”, a look at the 1942 Battle of Midway from the Japanese side, using a new approach vis-a-vis research. What did they do? Being fluent in reading Japanese, the began with original source material (admittedly scarce).
* What they did NOT do is lean on the two ‘definitive’ books in print, Fuchida Mitsuo’s “Midway: the Battle That Doomed Japan”, and Walter Lord’s “Incredible Victory”. (Fuchida was an eyewitness to part of the Battle.)
* In so doing, and really looking at contemporary photos written during the attack, and first-hand accounts written soon thereafter – without reference to the aforementioned ‘seminal’ histories – Parshall and Tully found that the Battle was not the skin-of-the-teeth war-saving singularity that would define all that came after it. Instead, it was a doctrinal failure by the Japanese – many levels – that lead to their almost inevitable defeat. After about 0700 on June 4, 1942, the Japanese could not win the Battle. An hour later, they could, at best call a draw. And at 1020 the goose of the First Carrier Striking Force, Kido Butai, the mailed fist of the Japanese Navy, was well and truly cooked. Literally..
* In setting out this hypothesis, they essentially said that Fuchida’s story was largely a feel-good fantasy directed at the postwar Japanese audience (it was written in the early 50s), and that Lord had swallowed it with scant analysis or criticism.
* Walter Lord was an immensely popular historian, who could bring to life the people behind the statistics, and many readers were quite upset. The Japanese, however, welcomed “Shattered Sword”; Fuchida was already considered unreliable.
* And that sold books. For a WW2 history, a LOT of books.
* For those who still be with me in this very long comment, here are some of the takeaways I find –
1) The world did not need another Midway book. It needed something fresh, that would re-examine the old assumptions
2) Parshall and Tully treated this as an academic exercise, with extensive footnoting and an enormous list of references, many only available in Japanese.
3) The authors made themselves available on social media to discuss their views, and (as far as I ever saw) were unfailingly polite with their critics.
4) In the book, criticism of previous works was respectful, and much leeway was given to the analyses of Lord that they found to be questionable. (Fuchida came in for somewhat harsher treatment as his account is factually wrong in many major details, which, as a participant, he should have known to be in error. And even here, they did not go beyond criticisms already leveled in Japan.)
5) The writing’s first rate, and far from being a dry Olympian view, they are very much ‘present’ in the work, and invite the reader to be there with them as well, through a few masterfully placed asides to the reader. This device is effective, and not overused.
6) Their footnotes are worth a read in themselves, not being just titles and year of publication or ibids for a selected referential footnote.
7) They maintain a website on the Imperial Japanese Navy (www.combinedfleet.com) which goes into greater detail than the text in some areas, provides updates, and generally shows the depth of their research.
* Wow. I’m tired. But I recommend “Shattered Sword” to anyone who is even remotely interested in the War in the Pacific, in how the Imperial Navy worked, and above all in the courage of sailors and airmen, both Japanese and Americans. It’s something of a loving coda to the legacy which that generation, now passing into history, has left us.
Janet Grant
That’s fascinating material, Andrew. And to your point about controversy being an important element in your example, I would add: The authors are adding to the body of work regarding that battle not by repeating what came before but by examining the battle using a different method.
The same could be said of the nonfiction book I used as my example. This is the first book, to my knowledge, in which parenting skills are examined by a game theorist.
Norma Brumbaugh
Interesting read. Book choice we could relate to. I once wrote a blog about parenting tips and it got a lot of mileage. Frankly, I wrote it out of frustration with the current parenting style which has a couple of weaknesses in its structure. I did a positive spin on aspects of parenting (and teaching) that work and practical insights for handling difficult situations. I have a friend who reposts it on her FaceBook page once a year. Parenting is a hot topic, even though you are using it as an illustration of pushing in when the field is already crowded. It makes me think of my current WIPs and what I can do to improve their chances in the marketplace.
Janet Grant
The way you’re applying my post is exactly the action I had hoped to inspire. Hooray!