Book Description
Millions of people around the world are involved in direct selling. There are 12 million in the United States alone! Almost 74 percent of direct sellers are women.
An estimated 46 million people in the world are involved in direct selling, according to the Direct Selling Association. In less than ten years this number is expected to grow to an unbelievable 200 million! With more people looking for careers that offer independence, flexibility, and tremendous income potential, this book offers a one-stop source of nuts-and-bolts advice, insights, and practical sales skills.
Build It Big: 101 Insider Secrets from Top Direct Selling Experts addresses the three most popular models of direct selling:
*
network marketing (e.g., Amway)
*
party planning (e.g., Pampered Chef)
*
person-to-person(e.g., Guardian Life Insurance)
The training that many of these companies offer is limited and typically covers only product features and benefits, basic sales techniques, recruitment, and order processing.
Through extensive research, the Direct Selling Women's Alliance (DSWA) has identified four crucial ""life skills"" that often are neglected or omitted from a company's training and support program:
* Financial and tax guidance.
* Coaching and leadership skills development.
* Business management and technology training.
* Daily success practices and implementation.
Build It Big unveils the methods and approaches in developing these skills that, DSWA believes, are the true linchpins of growth and long-term sales stability. The disciplined approach and real-life insights from some of the most successful and talented people in the direct selling business will have broad appeal to rookies and veterans alike, especially for people who are opting for direct selling for part-time work, extra income, and the autonomy it offers.
Customer Reviews:
The Best Info for Direct selling.......2007-03-08
Build it Big is THE book for you if you are in direct selling. This book has so much info and teaches you everything you need to know to build your business. This book walks you through everything and is for those brand new to direct sales or those that have been consultants forever. I will recommend this book to everyone!
Yes!! Finally.......2007-01-10
This Book is wonderful. Love it!
I can't say enough about this book and what it has done for me.
If you or someone you know is in Direct Sales purchase this
book. Written by Women for Women.
Some OK tips, but mostly common sense.......2006-07-27
I was interested to get this but really REALLY disappointed when one of the first tips was to call 100 people. No kidding. I found this to be a lot of re-hash of old ideas. Some decent tips but you really have to search for them. Bad layout, too. Not easy to read. Lots of stuff sort of thrown at you. If you are really NEW to sales, you might benefit but most of it you can get through better books or free in internet searches, your team leader, etc.
Million Dollar Wisdom for all entrepreneurs wanting success.......2006-07-25
This book in short is incredible, not only it's packed with tons of wits from proven experts, but it's so simple to follow and read that all I have to do is implement the startegies and which i have with tremendous immediate results. Every entrepreneur should get one, regardless of the industry. After all the art of networking and building heartful relationships is the core foundation for all business success-no exceptions. If you are reading this, you owe it to yourself to own one today. !!!
Lots of great ideas!.......2006-07-25
This book gave me a lot of great ideas for my Pampered Chef business. It was very helpful with answering objections and working with my downline. I only have 2 so far, but I will be better able to help them become successful. I had to pace myself or I would have read the whole thing in one sitting!
Book Description
A revolutionary shift is occurring in the world of work. Home-based entrepreneurs seeking independence, time, and uncapped income are selling everything from life insurance, carpet cleaning, and computer repair, to cookware, beauty products, and candles. According to the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance, 49 million direct salespeople sell $85.5 billion worth of products and services worldwide each year. More Build It Big is the sequel and smart companion to Build it Big. In this new handbook, industry leaders deliver straightforward advice, cutting-edge insights, and best practices to help direct sellers and distributors become sales superstars. Up-to-the-minute stories from top salespeople, profiles of leading distributors, and the latest how-to’s on networking, party planning, and person-to-person selling make this book a key addition to the direct seller’s reference shelf. More Build It Big delves into the personal and business skills that direct selling pros use to achieve success: sponsoring, building, and coaching a team; becoming a leader; organizing business finances; and integrating home life and business. Appropriate for novices or experts who want to set goals, fire up teams, and boost revenues, More Build It Big is sure to increase the power and motivation of thousands of direct salespeople worldwide.
Highlights
More Build It Big gives independent salespeople and distributors:
•New case studies covering an extensive range of products and services appropriate for direct sales
•Expert advice on booking venues and coaching hostesses
•Surefire techniques for developing relationships and building a contact database
•Tips for avoiding major mistakes and stumbles
Customer Reviews:
Best Direct Sales Books.......2007-09-30
The Build It Big Series are the best books on the market for helping you grow your home based business. It is divided into little articles written by the industries best. A great easy read! I have grown my direct sales business greatly after buying these books and joining the Direct Selling Women's Alliance.
Awesome.......2007-03-08
More tips for those in direct sales. Awesome! I can't begin to say how much I love the Build it Big Books. This is the sequel to Build it Big and will help the novices in the field or the experts.
A reliable manual for home-based selling.......2006-09-07
If you've ever attended a Tupperware party or spoken to a Mary Kay or Avon representative, then you are familiar with the concept of direct selling. More than 49 million people worldwide are hawking everything from toys to life insurance as independent contractors. Many of these professionals found a terrific resource in the book Build it Big, published by the Direct Selling Women's Alliance (DSWA). Now, the organization has compiled more insights, anecdotes, tips and techniques, specifically for female direct-sales professionals. Unlike most business writing, which is usually gender-neutral or all about "him," the operative pronoun here is "her." Although the sales strategy and self improvement advice isn't particularly new, it is solid. The book guides promising novices (most advice would apply to men as well as women) through the direct sales necessities, from finding inspiration and prospects, to asking for referrals or sales, dressing appropriately and building a team. Whether you need the advice or support of a coach, a sales guru or a fashion diva, we believe you will find it in this collection of 101 best practice essays from veterans of home-based sales businesses.
More Build It Big.......2006-07-24
Sequel to Build It Big. Excellent book. All Direct Sellers should have this in your library of must have motivational books.
another Taste of Home Entertaining consultant must have.......2006-07-09
Ok, so I thought that the first Build it Big Book was great! Now here is even more great tips and information to furthur expand your business. I have learned a little something from everything that I read with this. If I feel that things are slowing down a bit, I pull this out almost like a reference book and look for some fresh ideas that I can use to liven things up. It never fails to come through and It enables me to coach my team more effectively and share the knowledge that I have gained with them. This book also makes a great gift for your team members.
Book Description
A century ago, daily life ground to a halt when the circus rolled into town. Across America, banks closed, schools canceled classes, farmers left their fields, and factories shut down so that everyone could go to the show. In this entertaining and provocative book, Janet Davis links the flowering of the early-twentieth-century American railroad circus to such broader historical developments as the rise of big business, the breakdown of separate spheres for men and women, and the genesis of the United States' overseas empire. In the process, she casts the circus as a powerful force in consolidating the nation's identity as a modern industrial society and world power.
Davis explores the multiple "shows" that took place under the big top, from scripted performances to exhibitions of laborers assembling and tearing down tents to impromptu spectacles of audiences brawling, acrobats falling, and animals rampaging. Turning Victorian notions of gender, race, and nationhood topsy-turvy, the circus brought its vision of a rapidly changing world to spectators--rural as well as urban--across the nation. Even today, Davis contends, the influence of the circus continues to resonate in popular representations of gender, race, and the wider world.
Customer Reviews:
Great!.......2006-08-07
after reading "WATER FOR ELEPHANTS" I needed some circus history and this book was great. Love the pictures. This was a pleasure to read.
Fine Historical Work on the American Circus.......2004-06-16
Davis' book is a rare scholarly exploration of the history of the American circus. She makes smart conclusions about this Amercan instituion. Her work is well documented and a pleasure to read.
Book Description
Come one! Come all . . . to the exciting world of Big Top! Rob Harrell's three-ring comic strip has already packed the house with fans eager for his hilarious take on the circus and those who bring it to life.
The circus and its colorful cast-led by 10-year-old Pete and his happily reformed performing bear, Wink-are a perfect metaphor for life. It's not always what happens on the surface, Big Top reminds us, but what takes place backstage that delivers the lessons and the humor. Pete and Wink keep plenty of odd company, including Kingston, coolest king of the jungle; Stucco, a mute clown who still manages to make his point; Manfred, the bookish monkey; Dusty, the wisecracking tell-it-like-it-is trained poodle; Andrea, the new acrobat girl who's caught Pete's eye; and Hairy Mary the Bearded Lady, a mother figure to them all.
Take this crew on the road and you get an endless array of situations and relationships, care and impatience, honesty and intolerance. It's like one big Big Top family . . . one that welcomes all readers for the mere price of a ticket.
Customer Reviews:
Keep it coming, Rob!.......2007-04-10
One of my favorite strips of all time, Rob Harrell's "Big Top" series is right up there with Garfield and Doonesbury. (So what's wrong with your marketing people, Rob?!) Great fun to be able to relive the early strips, and only Harrell would think up adding OUTTAKES to his book! Hilarious!!! My only question is: Why is this guy not syndicated in more newspapers? He's great! If you like strips like "Pearls Before Swine" and "Foxtrot", you'll love this book!
I love Stucco!.......2006-08-31
Big Top has become one of my 2 favorite strips! (The other is Pearls Before Swine). I was so happy to find out there was a Big Top book out, I had to run out and buy it. I'd already read all the strips in it but I didn't care, I love reliving the best storylines. If you like Big Top this is highlyly recommended! Even if you know all the strips, get it because there are funny "outtakes" that you can't get anywhere else. Brilliant!
Probably some of the best cartooning available today.......2005-10-04
Big Top is a fresh, original, and downright hilarious comic. Rob Harrel has a wonderful style of cartooning and it is coupled with an equally matched sense of humor. The writing is very solid, and there's never a lack of interesting subject matter. His ability to connect jokes to Pop culture is awesome. I'm a huge fan, and want more!
Delightful, whimsical stories.......2005-06-08
The comic storytelling artistry of cartoonist Rob Harrel as showcased in his 'Big Top' syndicated strip, will serve to introduce newcomers to the quality of his work and enable previous fans to again appreciate the fun cartoon story of a pre-teen circus boy's coming of age. The black and white strips comprising Big Top are presented in chronological order for clarity of adventure progression and are delightful, whimsical stories.
i heart wink.......2005-05-12
this is a DELIGHTFUL strip. if it isn't in your paper, read it online at http://www.ucomics.com/bigtop/. the best thing about the book is that not only do you get the beginnings of one of the best new strips around, not only do you get to meet wink (who used to be cool), and dusty (who used to have different name), but you also get outtakes. that's right, at the end of this book are the first comic strip outtakes i've ever seen. definitely worth your money.
Book Description
An overweight teen is sure that she’s the weakest link in her high-powered family - until her handsome, athletic, star-student brother has a shocking fall from grace.
Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex. She lives on the Web, snarfs junk food, and follows the "Fat Girl Code of Conduct." Her stuttering best friend has just moved to Walla Walla (of all places). Her new companion, Froggy Welsh the Fourth (real name), has just succeeded in getting his hand up her shirt, and she lives in fear that he’ll look underneath. Then there are the other Shreves: Mom, the successful psychologist and exercise fiend; Dad, a top executive who ogles thin women on TV; and older siblings Anaïs and rugby god Byron, both of them slim and brilliant. Delete Virginia, and the Shreves would be a picture-perfect family. Or so she’s convinced. And then a shocking phone call changes everything.
With irreverent humor, insight, and surprising gravity, Carolyn Mackler creates an endearingly blunt heroine whose story will speak to every teen who struggles with family expectations - and serve as a welcome reminder that the most impressive achievement is to be true to yourself.
Customer Reviews:
Not a Self-Help Guide, But Still Super Inspirational.......2007-07-28
I just finished this book, and I couldn't put it down. It is not an action-thriller or crime story. Instead, it's a realistic story told from a to-the-point perspective. Virginia Shreves is "not FAT fat. Just chubby fat." Her family is full of perfect brunettes (and skinny ones, FYI), so she's always been the oddball. But that's what you have to love about her. She's so real.
I could completely relate to this story, because I had problems with weight, too. Reading the dieting tips Virginia came up with made me laugh and think. The book is basically about a girl who is heavier than your average teen, and who has a hard time fitting in with her own family.
I never read anything by Carolyn Mackler before, except for a story in a magazine, but after reading The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, I'm looking forward to picking up another book by her. Reading about Virginia's struggles to find some confidence made me realize that "fat" is not a bad thing. As long as you are healthy (and not making yourself vomit in a toilet) and happy with yourself, it's all good.
Beautifully Candid Teen Fiction.......2007-03-30
Virginia Shreves feels like the blonde, overweight exception to her perfectly fit, brunette family. Her mother is a beautiful adolescent psychologist, her father rarely around but equally successful, and her brother is the big man on campus at Columbia University. Virginia lives by her laugh-out-loud hilarious Fat Girl Code of Conduct, and has recently started an awkward romantic relationship with class reject Froggy. Virginia's perceptions change as she realizes her family dynamic isn't as simple as she thought. Her mom unfairly criticizes Virginia for being overweight, and her brother's social status is ruined by a campus scandal. Said scandal and Virginia's language when dealing with issues in her life make this book more appropriate for mature teen readers, but this book is a wonderfully funny, realistic portrayal of high school life of an overweight female teen trying to lose weight for all the wrong reasons.
The earth, my butt and other big round things.......2007-03-27
The book "The earth, my butt, and other big round things" is about a teenage girl named Virginia whoes parents don't appriciate her very much because they think she's overweight. Throughout the book, many things happen to Virginia such as her friend living in Walla Walla for a year. Also, she decides to change her style by dying her hair purple and getting an eyebrow ring. In her family, a lot of things are going on with her brother. Overall, Virginia is going through many teenage things throughout this book.
There were many good parts in this book. My favorite part was when Virginia goes on the airplane to go visit her friend Shannon and gets her eyebrow pierced. This was a very funny part.
I would definately recommend this book to a lot of people. I would say that this was a girls book. You would like it if you like books about teenagers problems. This was my favorite book I've read in a while and I would say you would probably like it. There were many funny parts in it. Overall, this is a very good book for teenage girls to read.
Fat Girl Code of Conduct.......2007-03-11
There is really nothing wrong with being larger than average. Comprehending this is not something Virginia Shreves is able to do. On top of that, she is in denial, refusing to look in a mirror. Once she finally comes to grips with the fact that being overweight isn't something she wants, she decides to drop the pounds. Sadly, nothing is working. After weeks of hating herself, Virginia realizes that her problem isn't so much her weight as her self esteem. Once she grasps this concept, not only does her self respect go up, but she does things (like kickboxing) to actually change herself. So, in the end, everything works out all right.
Normally, Virginia stays comfortably in her penthouse apartment in NYC. She loves it there because you can easily walk to anything you want or need. But when her best friend Shannon (who just moved to Walla Walla, Washington) invites her to spend Thanksgiving with their family in Seattle, Virginia just can't refuse.
Once in Seattle, Virginia's outlook on herself begin to drastically change. She and Shannon decide to do something outrageous for Thanksgiving, and agree on both piercing something. While Shannon gets her tongue done, Virginia settles for her eyebrow. Turning out to be a real turning point for Virginia's new look, everyone (including Virginia, of course) absolutely adores her eyebrow ring.
The Fat Girl Code of Conduct.......2007-03-11
There is really nothing wrong with being larger than average. Comprehending that is not something Virginia Shreves is able to do. On top of that, she's in denial, refusing to look in mirrors. Once she finally comes to grips with the fact that being overweight isn't something she wants, she decides to drop the pounds. Sadly, nothing is working. After weeks of hating herself, Virginia finally realizes that her problem isn't weight, so much as self esteem. Once she grasps this concept, not only does her self respect go up, but she actually does things(like kickboxing) to change. So, everything works out all right in the end.
Normally, Virginia stays comfortably in her penthouse apartment in NYC. She loves it there because you can easily walk to anything you need or want. But when her best friend Shannon(who just moved to Walla Walla, Washington) invites her to spend Thanksgiving with their family in Seattle, Virginia just can't refuse.
Once in Seattle, Virginia's outlook on herself starts to drastically change. She and Shannon decide to do something outrageous for Thanksgiving, and agree on each piercing something. While Shannon gets her toung done, Virginia settles for her eyebrow. Turning out to be a real turning point for Virginia's new look, everyone(including Virginia, of course) adores her eyebrow ring.
Book Description
Showing off a dog’s distinctive attitude is easy and stylish with this collection of 12 colorful and upbeat knitwear designs for medium to large dogs. Patterns for classy, special-occasion knits, warm coats and hats, and adorable everyday sweaters blend simple shapes and sumptuous yarn with high-energy colors to create sophisticated canine apparel. A photo gallery of the designs contains a profile for each of the “top dog” models—including Hugo, a firehouse Dalmatian and Rheinhard, a German–Setter rescue dog. A measuring chart for mid- to large-size breeds, knit-to-fit instructions, and a primer on basic stitches make this an all-in-one guide in a fun, portable format. Quick to knit and very functional, these are knits that any pooch would be happy to wear.
Customer Reviews:
Sweaters and Coats for your best buddy........2007-01-31
I have wanted to knit something for my labrador for awhile now, but was confused as to properly measure her and the adjust patterns. While this book does not have alot of different patterns, the patterns in here are totally open to creativity and adjustment. The best part of the book was the "how to" when it comes to dogs. My lab is not the full knitted sweater type, but she will use the coats. I had to laugh at the "pillbox" hat and have been threatening to make her the ensemble for next October. This book was definitely worth every penny to me.
Average customer rating:
- Fun and entertaining
- Brilliant absurdity
- Awkward prose and humor that misfires
- Ho hum
- First Book Much Funnier
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Big Kiss: One Actor's Desperate Attempt to Claw His Way to the Top
Henry Alford
Manufacturer: Villard
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Binding: Hardcover
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Municipal bondage: one man's anxiety-producing adventures in
ASIN: 0679438734
Release Date: 2000-03-14 |
Amazon.com
On the cover of his memoir, Henry Alford looks like a guileless galoot, a handsome hayseed, but beware! He is in fact a trained humorist from Spy and The New Yorker, as savvy as a charmer of snakes. His illuminatingly humiliating odyssey as an aspiring actor mines a comedy vein akin to that of David Sedaris or Joe Queenan, with a bit of George Plimpton's participatory reportage. First, Alford tries to win fame without achievement by talking Manhattan deli owners into posting his glossy next to photos of Telly Savalas and Kaye Ballard. Despite Alford's offer to write "Big kiss!" on it with his autograph, it's mostly no sale. So he studies Shakespeare at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, soap opera at the Weist-Barron School of Television, improv comedy with the guy who trained Nichols and May. Despite Alford's hard-won ability to play "Winona Ryder pretending to be Wynonna Judd" and "an actress who is unsure if she is Karen Allen or Brooke Adams and thus has changed her name to Karen Adams," success arrives slow as sludge. He blows his chance to be on the first U.S. Olympic ballroom dance team ("my floor craft was uneven, and I was chesty through my topline"). He flops as a salesman of Thierry Mugler's chocolate-based perfume at Saks and as a TCR (telecommunications representative) at a phone-sex firm. His performances as an extra in Godzilla and on Bobcat Goldthwait's Big Ass Show earn no Oscars (though he does win a $199 ottoman). At last, he scores a gig on VH1, screening rock videos for old folks and Hells Angels to comic effect. He follows his big-deal Hollywood agent boyfriend, Jess, to L.A., and his book becomes a straightforward memoir.
When it's not overtly funny (the "sadopedagogy" of his cruel New York acting coach is authentically ghastly), Alford's autobiography is ever alert, witty, and penned in the nimblest prose. --Tim Appelo
Book Description
"I'd like to thank the Academy and all of the little people who made Henry Alford's hilarious book possible. Mr. Alford delivers a performance that is laugh-out-loud funny and written with high style."
--Christopher Buckley, author of Little Green Men
Henry Alford was a well-adjusted, critically acclaimed author living quietly in New York City.
Then he decided to become an actor.
In the course of this memoir, Alford is rejected by directors, ignored by casting people, abused by a sadistic acting teacher, and educated in the finer points of Shakespearean thespianism at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England, where he fails to convince the Queen to attend his final performance.
Along the way, Alford auditions for the role of Wil-bur the Pig in Charlotte's Web, triumphs as an extra in Godzilla, and takes his sixty-nine-year-old bird-watching, chain-smoking mother to improvisational-comedy camp. Hoping to broaden his range, he takes a job with a phone-sex business, where he assays many roles on a popular party line.
Finally, Alford finds happiness and celebrity as the cohost of VH1's hit series Rock of Ages, on which he quizzes elderly Italian women, among others, about videos by heavy-metal groups.
Original, absurd, and written with true comic grace, Big Kiss captures in a new and unforgettable way the experience of being a performer.
Customer Reviews:
Fun and entertaining.......2001-11-21
Henry Alford is an author I had never heard of. I ran across a copy of this book in New York City and I'm glad I purchased it. He faithfully recreates an actors plight in going from job to job
in a very hard profession. He never seems to lose his wit or sense of humor throughout. It is an enjoyable light read. I recommend it to everyone who is in theatre or wants to know what it is like to be a professional actor. I loved the part of Henry taking his mother to Paul Sills acting camp in Wisconsin. A neat lady with a great sense of humor. In fact Henry proves the apple doesn't fall very far. Most enjoyable
Brilliant absurdity.......2001-06-19
In the tradition of David Sedaris or Joe Orton, this author exposes the absurdities of life in a wholly original and daring way.
Awkward prose and humor that misfires.......2001-06-14
The author is described above as "a trained humorist," which makes him sound about as entertaining as a taxidermist. Despite that billing, this book is rarely funny. It begins with a few mildly interesting anecdotes about acting and auditioning, but follows them with several dozen pointless episodes. In one, the author dons pajamas and wanders around Manhattan. Why? It isn't clear. What does wearing pajamas to the New York Stock Exchange have to do with the author's ambition to act? Nothing, as far as we can tell. In another, he badgers the New York Police Department for details of the city's Rent-A-Cop program. Again, nothing to do with acting, but it's clear the author expects readers to marvel at his eccentricity. "See how wacky I am! I phoned the police department! I asked about renting a cop! Twice!" In one of the book's many inexplicable shifts of tone, the author spins the rent-a-cop anecdote into a rant on the police force being used as private security for the rich, providing wealthy residents with taxpayer-subsidized parties. All well and good, Henry; you're a perceptive social critic. But why are you telling me this? And why are you telling me HERE, in a book about acting? In an attempt to anchor his gossipy narrative with gravitas, the author makes occasional reference to the possible dissolution of his 7-year relationship. This material might prove interesting in another venue but it's out of place here. We learn little of substance about the author or his boyfriend, Jess. How can we be expected to care when their relationship stumbles? Perhaps the most annoying aspect of this book is its sloppy writing. Not only does the author resort to hackneyed phrases in place of original observations; he actually manages to MANGLE the clichés. Thus we read: "Could a weekend with Tony Roberts be far in the offing?" He means to say, "Could a weekend...be in the offing?" OR "Could a weekend...be far off?" Evidently, Alford's pajama-wearing wackiness prevents him from using a dictionary or hiring an editor. (By the way, Henry, "messenger" is not a verb.) The writer to which Alford is often compared, David Sedaris, artfully converts his highly individual speaking style into original, musical prose--carefully controlling both tone and rhythm. Instead of attempting something equally creative and true to himself, Alford merely imitates this style by spewing an onrush of breathless prose. The result is a vacuum where wit should be.
Ho hum.......2001-03-02
I guess I managed to finish it, but there are no belly laughs in this book. Maybe there are for those who really appreciate the subtleties of the rather-seeming world of priviliged gay New York artistic types, but I guess I am just not hip to that scene. The man can write and clearly has a good eye for the humorous side of life, but this just wasn't the hysterically funny book earlier reviews had led me to believe.
First Book Much Funnier.......2000-07-12
His first book, Municipal Bondage, was much funnier. This one is a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but I didn't fall over on my couch laughing the way that I did with the first one.
Amazon.com
If your goal is a Pulitzer, don't look here. But if your aspirations include wealth, bestsellerdom, and an appearance on Oprah®, You Can Make It Big Writing Books can help. The majority of the book comprises author and literary agent Jeff Herman's profiles of more than 60 topselling authors. While the profiles quickly begin to sound formulaic--the authors all seem to have been asked the exact same questions--there is a lot to learn from this group of confident, successful self-promoters: mainly that writing may be an art form, but, as says Carmen Renee Berry (Girlfriends for Life), "publishing is a business." Some of the best--and funniest--tips come from Ralph Roberts (Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman). Roberts recommends autographing books at every bookstore you can (it makes it more difficult for the store to return them to the publisher) and giving the pilot a copy of your book every time you fly. "It's awesome," says Roberts, "to hear the pilot announce: 'We have Ralph Roberts, the world's greatest salesperson, on board.'"
The final third of the book is devoted to promotional tips from Herman and other specialists. They advise that you write a query letter so good that an agent will feel compelled to call you immediately; make your radio appearances so engrossing that even ice cream in the trunk wouldn't make a listener turn off the car and go inside; and take advantage of America Online's 30-day free trial to promote your book to its members. Of course, divine intervention and that booking on Oprah® wouldn't hurt, either. --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
How would you like to become the next John Gray or Mark Victor Hansen? The enormously successful authors of the bestselling Mars and Venus and Chicken Soup for the Soul books weren't always so famous or prosperous. Just like you, they once only dreamed of making it to the top. How they—and 58 other bestselling writers—made it big is revealed inside, along with the tips you'll need to make it onto the bestseller lists. You'll learn the secrets to:
• Turning a good idea into a bestselling book
• Writing book proposals that will reel in the big advances
• Finding—and keeping—the right agent
• Discovering the best promotional possibilities for you and your book
• And much, much more!
"People always ask me for advice on how to get their books published successfully. Now I can refer them to
You Can Make It Big Writing Books—one of the best reference books on this subject."
—Nelson Demille, author of The General's Daughter
"Don't even think about writing a book until you read this.
Jeff Herman tells it like it is in today's publishing world."
—Arielle Ford, publicist and author
"Conveys what it takes to become a bestselling author: the discipline, the perseverance, the knowledge, and the passion."
—John Gray, author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
About the Author
Jeff Herman is the owner of the Jeff Herman Literary Agency, one of New York's leading agencies for writers. He frequently speaks to writer's groups and conferences on the topic of getting published and can be reached at /www.jeffherman.com
Customer Reviews:
How to Make It Big 30 Years Ago.......2002-01-21
This book is a series of questionnaires filled out by successful authors. Many, if not most, have published 10, 20, or 30 bestsellers in the past 10, 20, or 30 years. Over and over the writers say that 30 years ago they did this or they had this bit of luck, which started their career. The Internet, self-publishing, print-on-demand, e-books, etc. are mentioned maybe once in passing, or not at all. What's repeatedly discussed is enduring reams of rejection letters from agents and publishers. I don't know any aspiring writers who worry about that. We're too busy finding ways to sell directly to readers to worry about agents and publishers. This book will give you great insights into what it took to "make it big" in publishing 30 years ago. Don't expect to learn much of use in the 21st century.
--
Review by Thomas David Kehoe, author of "Hearts and Minds: How Our Brains Are Hardwired for Relationships"
Invaluable, as usual.......2001-09-02
I read Jeff Herman, Deborah Herman, and Julia DeViller's book voraciously, and following their advice allowed me to finish a proposal I had been stuck on for a long time. I now feel I have an excellent grasp of what I need to do to develop my nonfiction idea and make it as marketable as possible. All of Herman's books are essential for the aspiring writer, and "You Can Make It Big Writing Books" is no exception. I am confident that it will pay for itself a million times over in future book sales! Thanks Hermans and DeVillers!
Thumbs down.......2001-06-21
This book has a misleading title. It will not tell you how to write a best selling novel or even tell you what the editors are looking for. Jeff Herman [if that who is writing; throughout the book there are personal comments, but which of the three authors is making them is anyone's guess] disses fiction which he refers to as "high art" [sort of like "high episcopalian"?]because his agency doesn't sell fiction and never has. If you write non-fiction, then you will enjoy this book, and it will tell you what you have to do to publicize your book. There are any number of essays from various writers, many of them famous, but they are mostly "this is how I did it" stories and while some of them are inspirational, none will help you fashion a high-concept novel. You'll have to go to Albert Zuckerman's book, "Writing the Blockbuster Novel" to learn all about that [and that is one of the best three, the other two being Dwight Swain's "Techniques of the Selling Writer," and Chris Vogler's "The Writers Journey." This book, however, is parading under false pretenses.
Publishing is a Business.......2000-05-31
This book is wonderful. It combines the professional know-how of 60 celebrated American authors. The topselling American authors all seem to have been asked the same questions, and there is a lot to learn from this group of successful self-promoters in the first 220 pages of the book. And in the final third of the book is devoted to promotional tips from top literary agent Jeff Herman and his colleagues.
Every page of "You Can Make It Big Writing Books" has inspiration. But this book is not about writing fine literature. This is about taking a pretty good idea and positioning it for success. This book for those who wants to make big money writing books -- from the basics of drafting a great idea into a marketable book to the specifics of book publishing.
I recommend: don't even think about writing a book until you read "You Can Make It Big Writing Books". This is one of the best reference books on this subject, maybe the next after "How to Be Your Own Literary Agent: The Business of Getting a Book Published" by Richard Curtis. It is a must-have for anyone trying to break into the world of authorship.
THIS BOOK IS EXCELLENT!.......2000-03-24
I bought this book after reading the great review from Midwest Book Review and I have to agree, this book is well worth the read. Whether you are an aspiring writer or someone who has already been published, this book seems to have something for everyone. I enjoyed reading about successful authors' experiences and about the inside secrets to geting a book published and then how to make it sell. INSPIRING, INSIGHTFUL, AND A FUN READ!
Customer Reviews:
A Look at the Grit Behind the Glamour Moves.......2007-01-09
The Mets have experienced a few great seasons among the 45 in franchise history: 1969, 1973, 1986, 1999 and a few others that could be argued. The 2005 season wouldn't make a lot of people's lists on the surface, but dig underneath, like Adam Rubin has, and you'll see that 2005--starting with the most successful offseason in 20 years--was the year that the building blocks moved into place. Willie Randolph's hiring, the wooing of Pedro Martinez, the signing of Carlos Beltran, created, in Beltran's words, the "New Mets." In one fell swoop the Art Howe Era was shovelled it into the trash can. Just as important was the hiring of Omar Minaya to put all these changes in motion and the realization by the Wilpons that owning a team for a quarter century doesn't mean you essentially know what's best. Adam Rubin, who wrote about all these things deftly removes these facts from the constraints of the daily newspaper and creates a cohensive storyline in a year that may well stand with 1968, 1984, and 1997 as years that signaled sea changes in the club's fortunes. Of course, we all may be wrong about this--Mets fans are, after all, a pessimistic lot--but Adam Rubin's solid book shows what it's like to start from scratch in a town where baseball means so much.
Not All-Star Material.......2006-11-04
The story of how Omar Minaya refashioned the Mets - from perennial bottom feeders into genuine contenders, in two short seasons - is indeed an appropiately Amazin' tale. In fact, Minaya is not finished yet, and there is still work to be done. However, Adam Rubin has taken the first two of Minaya's moves - the enlistment of Pedro and Carlos Beltran in the winter of 2004/5 - as the basis for his book. Alas, his writing neither matches nor illuminates any of the very distinctive characters involved, nor does it shed any particular light on the sea-change that Minaya has instituted within the Mets organization. The book is enjoyable enough, at least for most Mets fans, simply because it replays two very enjoyable events - but it lacks depth. I know - it's only baseball - but still, more is required. The best of sports books have it - but this one doesn't.
Pedro, Carlos, Omar, Willie, Marlon Anderson and Mike DeJean.......2006-09-22
"Pedro, Carlos and Omar" is essentially an extended compilation of Daily News articles about the 2005 Mets. The book is edited well and tells a coherent story about how Omar Minaya was lured back into the Mets' fold by an ownership group tired of three straight losing season, with the promise of complete autonomy over the roster. The Wilpons fired two managers, Bobby Valentine and Art Howe -- each of whom had recent playoff experience, Valentine in the World Series -- and replaced him with Willie Randolph, who'd never managed in the big leagues before but who did have four Series rings as a Yankees coach. What contributions could Minaya and Randolph bring to the team?
Plenty, as it turns out. The Mets went out and did something they'd never done before -- signed a high-profile slugger under the age of 30 to a long-term, multi-million dollar contract. Say farewell to the shameful days of George Foster and Mo Vaughn. Along with Carlos Beltran came Pedro Martinez, fresh off his shutout in Game 3 of the World Series, with the hopes of getting Manny Ramirez right behind. Could Beltran bear up under big-market pressure? Could Pedro keep his sometimes whimsical, sometimes antagonistic attitude in check for a full year? Could he beat the Yankees?
The Mets don't make the playoffs in 2005. That has to wait for a thus-far glorious 2006 campaign that will probably be summarized in an afterword to the paperback edition of this book. However, they did finish third, at four games over .500 -- their best finish since the 2000 World Series season. They re-energized the fan base, capitalized on Fred Wilpon's promise to play "meaningful games in September", and gave a full year's experience to two youngsters who'd energize Queens in '06: David Wright and Jose Reyes. Best of all, they got rid of Braden Looper.
One caution: this is not hard-hitting investigative journalism. Apart from a few glimpses into the future, "Pedro, Carlos and Omar" is told one day at a time, in straight chronological order, and only with quotes taken from game-day articles. No-one is interviewed after the end of the season to provide perspective or commentary. This is not so much the untold story of the 2005 Mets, as a retelling of what we already knew from Rubin's Daily News articles from that year.
However, read in the run-up to the '06 playoffs, this book is a nice training montage showing how the Mets started to put it all together a year ago.
A Quick and "Amazin" read.......2006-08-21
I am a huge Mets fan, have been since I was old enough to understand baseball. I got this book from the library to read while I was on vacation this summer. I am not an avid book reader by any stretch. The most I read is either SI or the newspaper. But I read this book in just two nights. I couldn't put it down.
Rubin really takes you behind the scenes of what was going on from the Winter of 2003 until the Spring of 2005. I was stunned to learn some of the things in this book. For example, the Mets thought they had a 0% chance of landing Pedro, so they were content with going after Ramon Ortiz and Odalis Perez.
This book is a must-read for any NY Mets fan, or baseball fan for that matter.
Pedro,Carlos and Omar * * * Great Book* * *.......2006-08-03
I was very impressed with Adam Rubin's portrayal of the NY Mets in his new book, "Pedro, Carlos and Omar". Although his newspaper writing is excellent, he takes a different approach and gives a superb accounting of the behind the scenes look at the team. This book is packed with information that cannot be gotten from any other type of publication. You do not have to be a Mets fan to enjoy this book. I highly recommend "Pedro, Carlos and Omar" not only to all Mets fans, but to all fans of baseball.
Book Description
Both a great American adventure and a rare entry into asheltered world, Under the Big Top describes one man's pursuit of every child's fantasy: running away to join the circus. Bruce Feiler's unforgettable year as a clown will forever change your view of one of the world's oldest art forms and remind you of how dreams can go horribly wrong -- and then miraculously come true.
Customer Reviews:
Colourful, humorous, and fascinating glimpse of the secret lives of the circus..........2006-01-26
I first discovered Bruce Feiler from reading his "Learning to Bow: Inside the Heart of Japan" in preparation for the JET Program. Being a longtime fan of the circus, when I saw "Under the Big Top," I couldn't resist. Bruce's humorous writing style (think an overeducated Dave Barry - Feiler has degrees from Yale and Cambridge) chronicles a season spent with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus, the largest tented circus in the world. He cleverly works in the fact that most circus novels (he makes thinly veiled references to Angela Carter's "Nights at the Circus" and Katherine Dunn's "Geek Love") deal with the fantastic (half-swan half-woman) and horrific (circus freaks seeking revenge), but not the day-to-day lives of the performers and crew (one notable exception is the excellent "The Circus In Winter" by Cathy Day).
Bruce acts on his lifelong desire to be a clown (he had a previous history of theatre at Yale and of miming), and is tossed into the testosterone-fuelled world of the circus's Clown Alley, where he meets an assortment of lively characters (most with criminal records) and some sexual deviants. He quickly becomes acquainted with his circus "family": the performers (acrobats, lion tamers, human cannonball), and brings the reader along on a fascinating journey into a vanishing world (confrontations with animal rights groups become more and more frequent as the season progresses). The narrative is slightly choppy, due to the present description of action in the ring that dissolves into a past narrative, then back, but "Under the Big Top" is sure to please young-at-heart fans of the circus with its menagerie of unique personalities and talents that would be out of place in the "real world."
Vicarious Escape.......2004-09-21
You don't have to run away to join the circus; Bruce Feiler's done it for you, and has written a wonderful account of what the inner life of the circus is all about. He discovers a unique subculture and lives the adventure by participating as a clown. I've enjoyed Feiler's Walking The Bible and Abraham; here is lighter fare that is pure pleasure reading.
An Exciting, Well-Written, and Often Dramatic Read.......2003-04-06
Whatever your opinions are of American circuses, whether or not you wince at the spectacle or get angry at the use of animals for entertainment, chances are you have a treasured childhood memory of being there in the stands. Whether it was a kind and jovial clown, a dazzling trapeze act or the courage of a lion tamer, you were probably amazed by the magic and mystery of the big top.
Bruce Feiler, acclaimed author of ABRAHAM and WALKING THE BIBLE, was also fascinated. And, like the old saying goes, "he ran away with the circus." For one season Feiler traveled with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus, recording both his experience as a writer and performing as a clown. The result is UNDER THE BIG TOP, an informative and very readable look at circus life, culture and history.
Feiler's status in the circus was unique. All the circus employees knew he was writing a book about them, but he was also allowed to travel as a performer. Thus the perspective of this book is unique, both insider and outsider. As an outsider (which on most levels, he always remains), Feiler explains the historical development of the circus and its acts, divulges the reality behind the seemingly miraculous feats of daring and discusses the circus as a business --- its marketing strategies and day-to- day operations. Here the narrative is interesting and enlightening: who knew how many phrases in American English such as "hold your horses" and "get this show on the road" originated with the circus? This view of the circus reveals the lives and talents of hard-working professionals, generations of performers and those misfits and adventurers who join the circus for various reasons, all working together to put on a grueling and dangerous show several times a day, day after day, for months on end.
As an insider, a performing clown called "Ruff Draft," Feiler came to understand the hierarchy of the circus, its code of conduct and the nature of its tiring work and demanding schedule. He also learned what happens after the show, when the big top is dark and gained insight into the personal lives of those people who make the circus possible. Those Feiler met and came to know during his season traveling with them are real people behind the spangles and stereotypes. Feiler contends the circus is a microcosm of America, a diverse group of 200 people representing several ethnicities, religions and nationalities. This, he suggests, is helpful to keep in mind when trying to understand how a group often seen as marginal to the American mainstream is so important to American culture. The circus workers and performers are not so marginal after all because, despite all the glitter and spectacle, they reflect the diversity of American culture --- they understand the audience much better than the audience understands them. Furthermore, the circus itself is often a defining childhood moment and those who create it, despite their career and mobile lifestyle, share much with Americans who work traditional jobs and don't live in trailers and fifth wheels.
At all times, Feiler is respectful of his subject and is careful to present their normality in the midst of the fantastic work they do. Feiler doesn't neglect to mention the issue of animal rights, but he refrains from taking sides on the issue. Instead, he presents the treatment of animals in the circus he traveled with as well as the opposition they faced in several towns and cities, leaving readers free to draw their own conclusions.
The big top, as experienced by Feiler seems to be a wonderful and dramatic place of old world values and close-knit ranks. In turn, UNDER THE BIG TOP is an exciting, often dramatic, read. It is a special glimpse into a subculture few understand but many derive pleasure from. This book is a well-written and very honest portrayal of the circus and those who compose and orchestrate it, yet it is still a fun read. The author's season with the circus was a whirlwind of excitement and devastation. With UNDER THE BIG TOP, Feiler brings the reader one step closer to life under the tent, in the spotlight and behind the scenes.
--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
Great Book.......2003-04-02
A wonderful book. The review a few down about the author being "bitter" and mocking of circus people is just bizarre, to say the least. He is incredibly warm in how he depicts these people and its clear that he has tremendous respect for them. The idea that he's a bitter wanna be is so far off the mark as to hardly merit a response. He's made me exciting to see this circus this Summer, which I've never done before. Bravo, Bruce. Great book.
What an amazing life!.......2003-03-09
I really loved this book. If the circus life has always fascinated you, you can live in it for a while through this book. It was short and easy to read and really satisfied my yearning to run away with the big top. Here is a man who certainly followed an unlikely dream. His style is conversational and likeable. Unexpected books that take you into other peoples lives like this are why I love to read so much.
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- Caesar: Life of a Colossus
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Master of the Clow, Book 1
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- Chain of Command : The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib
- Chemical Principles: The Quest for Insight
- Civilization and Its Discontents
- Communicating Change: Winning Employee Support for New Business Goals
- Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels
- Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man
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