The Book Haven and other duties keep me pretty busy, but even overworked writers need to catch a break. What better opportunity than a new vice? Ladbrokes has nothing on Amazon when it comes to the addictive power of chasing the ratings.
We’ve been hooked for days and weeks now, watching Evolution of Desire: A Life of René Girard climb and fall in the ratings. In particular, it’s fun to chase Amazon’s featured rankings in the realms of “social philosophy” and “memoirs.” We climbed to the top ten in “social philosophy” books over the weekend, and we’re still chuffed about that. But we haven’t dug deeper and checked out the competition.
A colleague sent me the screenshot below yesterday, however, and it gave me pause. Jordan Peterson? Steven Pinker? Michel Foucault? Evolution of Desire has hit the big-time, at last.
Stay tuned.
Postscript: From Ted Gioia: “I am not surprised. From the start, this book was destined for success—it’s the right time, the right subject, the right author, the right stuff. I expect to sell well for years to come.” From your lips to God’s ears, Ted!
Postscript on June 7: Whoops! We’re out of books! The first printing is sold out! Numbers drift downwards until new books arrive!
Thrilled for you.
ae
Well-deserved success. Congrats, Cynthia!
wow, Congratulations on all your hard work, and I know you worked hard, Cynthia.
I like your headline, BTW.
Cynthia Haven–You are pretty much the last author I would ever think would “sell out,” but this recent development for your brilliant biography proves me wrong in the best sense. I can virtually hear those presses rolling (if indeed presses still “roll”) and I look forward to many such sell-outs in the near future. Have you thought about Hollywood?
Cythnia:
Is it possible to get signed copy?
Absolutely, Gordon!
Awww shucks, James. Thanks! My screen test is on youtube (the “Evolution of Desire” launch video), and I think I flunked!
Thanks, Eren!