My Next Book: "FREE"

So the word is out. I've sealed the deal on my next book, to be called "FREE". Here's how New York Magazine described it:

Long Tail Author Sells Next: Chris Anderson, author of much-cited paradigm-shifter The Long Tail, sells new book Free to Will Schwalbe at Hyperion. Agent is John Brockman. New title explores "the most radical price of all — zero — in the context of the economics of abundance." Times Magazine editors crack knuckles.

I actually have no idea what that last sentence means.

The book is due to be finished by mid-2008, for publication as soon after that as possible.

Here are some of the subtitles I've been kicking around:

1) FREE: The story of a radical price (zero)

2) FREE: How $0.00 changed the world

3) FREE: How companies get rich by charging nothing

4) FREE: The economics of abundance and the marketplace without money

5) FREE: The past and future of a radical price.

I kind of like #5. What do you think?

Comments

[Bruno]

How about 'The abundance of zero'?

[Jeff]

#3 has two things going for it:

"How companies get rich" (i.e. something readers might want to know about) "by charging nothing" (irony). The only knock on #3 is that it has a populist bent. The bookshelves are littered with people complaining about "rich" people and "rich" corporations.

"Free: the story of a radical price" would be a good second, but whatever you do, don't put "(zero)" in there. Leave a little subtlety for us, no need to hammer it home in the subtitle. Free covers "zero" just fine. And $0.00 didn't exactly change the world yet. A little hyperbole is okay, but don't go over board.

[Sean Ellis]

Fremium is the ultimate defensible business. The opposite is also true: premium only businesses in many categories are in trouble with this trend. This blog post explains why:

http://startup-marketing.com/2008/03/10/fremium-will-squash-premium.aspx

[Walt19]

The well-worn "There's no such thing as a free lunch!" will almost certainly continue to apply. Value systems will change to adjust for apparent increased demand for goods and services offered at ever-lowering prices. A change in individual appreciation of the difference between responsibility and obligation will occur as the idea of FREE begins to percolate through our filter of better judgment. When the DIY movement extends to become a true think-for-yourself trend, a change in human relationships for the better is likely. A book entitled FREE should excite the imagination at whatever price it sells for.

[Tim Zaun]

Hi Chris

Thanks for your excellent Free! article in the March '08 edition of WIRED.

It's a must-read for all!

So much so, that you can view my blog posting today, dedicated to your text.

P.S. Please keep me in mind when FREE is published. I'm a business writer and lead business book discussions in Cleveland, Ohio. Send me an advanced copy and I'll write a review.

Tim

www.timzaun.com.

[Christine Anderson]

I like $0.00 in the subtitle too - what about
FREE: How Companies make money charging $0.00

[Stephen Joyce]

Thanks for the great article in Wired magazine, I'm looking forward to the book. If "FREE" is anything like "Long Tail" then it is sure to be a paradigm shifter. As far as taglines go, how about "FREE: Making something out of nothing?".

[Roberto Battaglia]

Comments
for me the best is #3
i'm using this approach in my company and it's fun!

[Val Pishva]

Suggestion #1: "FREE: The Past and Future Of $0.00."
Reasoning:
*It seems that many people like "$0.00" in the title and i would agree it is visually appealing.
*It seems that many people liked #3 but I see a few issues with it: It's ultra-popiness evokes the lowest common denominator reader, sounds like a "how to start your own MLM or .com bubble startup company", and IMHO both of these facts alienate your existing reader base.
*As it seems your intuition tells you, I would agree #5 works well for your current readership. It is the most "mature" title. But i am afraid that the word "radical" would turn some people off as modern society/marketers are over exposing the concept of extremism in order to capture what they can of our increasing fractured attention spans (a long tailish effect :-p).

Suggestion #2:
"FREE(Take One)![And Turn Me Over]" With the bracketed part in fine print. So the consumer sees "FREE(Take One)!", walks up to the book and picks it up, reads the fine print, and turns it over. Now on the back you put your true sub-title (whatever you want) and since your reader is already there he will probably read some of the quotes on the back as well! Or you could use "[And Flip Me Over]" for the fine print and use the sub-title "How $0.00 Turned The Marketplace Upside-down."

If you or others have comments let me know at vpishva@aol.com. No blog of my own atm but considering it.

[Agustin R. Genobiagon]

I don't have TypeKey or TypePad account, how can I sign up so that I can sign in.

I don't know how to create my URL. HELP is badly needed. THANKS.

(SGD.) AGUSTIN R. GENOBIAGON
0003 - Binlod National Road
6021 - Argao, Cebu, Philippines

[Agustin R. Genobiagon]

I don't understand TypeKey or TypePad account. Please elucidate, and teach me how to get one as well as having my URL.

(SGD.) AGUSTIN R. GENOBIAGON
6021 - Argao, Cebu, Philippines

[grippo]

I like #2 very much. It's so strong reading "$0.00" in the cover.

[The Writer Mama]

#3 if it's true.

#5 if #3 is not really accurate.

Thanks for asking!

[Peter Rock]

How about...

Free: Sharing Makes Cents

Do you still read comments that come in a year after the original post goes up? :)

[Peter Rock]

Oh, I guess you probably want the "How" in there...

Free: How Sharing Makes Cents

That way the book appears more like something that can help the reader rather than a declaration.

[Simon]

I'm giving you this one even though I'm writing an essay on it ATM :

- VIRTUAL GOODS : the asian and soon-to-be-mainstream-in-the-west way to distribute free content & services online

[Nini Velez]

It's no. 3 for me. It sounds stimulating, wanting us to pick up a copy and read.

[Jose Cuello]

I think #3 sounds good, but something more radical like
FREE: The new digital economy.

[Joe Chiang]

How about doing all five versions? That way, we can all find out which sells best.

[Sandra]

we just entered the market with a company where the core business is FREE as in free beer AND freedom using a CC license and no payments for MP3's.

I would say if the content of your book is along the same lines as our way of thinking your book should be called:

FREE: the revolution of indirect business models

[Alana]

I like number two. When I read the article in Wired I found the $0.00 very eye catching. Three is pretty catchy too if you read it.

[Francesco De feudis]

FREE. A new business model

Do you like?

[Dan Shust]

I'd go with #4. I love "the marketplace without money"

[Eric]

FREE: How nothing has changed everything

[Eric]

FREE: How nothing has changed everything

[Justin]

Chris: Will your book be free? How will you make money if it is? If not, why not?

[Chris Anderson]

@Justin. Of course. The electronic versions will be free, and there may be a free sponsored paperback as well. We'll charge for the hardcover (the "superior version") and I also charge for speeches.

[Nick]

I like eric's

[Jeff Swanson]

I like #3 best. #4 is too long.

[Jeff Swanson]

I like #3 best. #4 is too long.

[Jeff Swanson]

I like #3 best. #4 is too long.

[Daniel Alonso]

What about:

- FREE: This is not! hahaha!

Now seriously, the #3 is the most appealing one. And I liked Eric's idea too.

"FREE: How nothing changed everything",

or maybe a variation:

"FREE: How charging nothing changed everything!"

Just please do not use any "businnesish" on the title, since it will only attract boring people. :)

[Paul]

Wonder how much your publisher will charge for this book, or will it be free?

[A. Al Qayed]

:) I will go for 3, but anyway the book is on printing...

[Caesar Indra]

#3 is concise, yet very attractive. I vote for #3.

Congratulations on the new book!

[Peter Koning]

Hey it's the 2 year anniversary of your book announcement.

How's it coming along?

I'm very interested in exploring how affiliate marketing works with this model so I hope you can touch on that (ref: ITR model in your post http://www.longtail.com/the_long_tail/2009/03/terrific-survey-of-free-business-models-online.html).

[kabin]

thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner

[trumanto]

It seems that you are the new Baudrillard in web economics! Congratulations.

[barbara]

I guess Chris thought the content was "FREE" to take, (not) for the asking.

That is the problem with the Internet.
Build it and they will come... and take and use whatever they want... wrangle it for free.

My concern is the contradiction of terms here.
When intellectual property and mindpower is ALL that we have to "sell" ... Giving away a nice taste of an excerpt doesn't necessarily make people come back for more, for a price. I am concerned most about writers being forced to give away free content or write for embarrassingly low rates...
due to over-saturation and the devaluing of their content and their brainpower in the Internet age.
Perhaps the distinction is the words versus the musicians' performance of their music... that keeps the $ stream... Not as easily replicated for writers or consultants who give away free content.

Why did dot coms and other companies spend so much $$$ to protect their intellectual property? Just look at what is happening with newspapers to understand what giving away free content means to profitability and longevity.

So, if Chris really believes in FREE why doesn't he just give away Free (book) for FREE? Guess you can't make enough money doing that?! (Which blows his whole argument.)

[Sara Morgan]

I liked # 3 best. :-)