Prof. Philip Parker has developed computer algorithms that collect publicly available information on a given subject, turn them into books that are then printed on demand or delivered digitally. “Mr. Parker has generated more than 200,000 books, as an advanced search on Amazon.com under his publishing company shows, making him, in his own words, “the most published author in the history of the planet.” And he makes money doing it.”

Gene Healy’s attitudinal forebear

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I’m reading my friend Gene Healy’s great new book, The Cult of the Presidency, and it reminds me why I like him so much. In describing founding-era Pennsylvania Senator William Maclay, Gene could be describing himself:

The Maclay that emerges from the journal is a dyspeptic grouch, the sort of personality that too few people properly appreciate. Yet, as doctrinaire and exacting as Maclay could be, he was also funny and irreverent. He didn’t take himself overseriously, and thus found it impossible not to laugh at his self-important colleagues.

You can pre-order the book from Amazon, and stay tuned to Gene’s triumphant return to blogging on his new site designed by yours truly.

Mar 9, 2008 | Comment | Tags: , ,

Jeff Howe writes that he’s finished writing his book on crowdsourcing, which I can’t wait to read given my interests. He passes along a neat tip for would-be authors: “When I started work on the book a friend told me to buy magazine holders for each chapter in the book. Best. Advice. Ever.)”

Today comes news that the new Jackass movie will be released on the web for free and then later sold on DVD. Also today, and unrelated to the Jackass announcement, the NYT runs an article about books and comics that began life as free content on the web (think postsecret, Tucker Max, and the Julie/Julia Project). Most of this content is still available for free on the web, but folks nevertheless want to own the book.

How have I not heard of scribd.com before? It looks like the Napster of books. Here is a full copy of Christopher Hitchens’s God is not Great. Here is Getting Things Done by David Allen.

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