Bill Conrad's Blog - Posts Tagged "titles"
My Favorite Books
My recent blogs have concentrated on the writing process, and while my four blog readers find such topics interesting, the goal of this blog is to hook readers and get them to click BUY IT NOW.
What do readers what to see in a blog? They want to read about reading. Game on! Let’s discuss my favorite books. I lightly touched on this topic in the past, but I did not provide a formal list. However, there is a problem. I read often and have nearly 300 book reviews on Goodreads. Listing them all would be overwhelming, so I only selected the tip of the iceberg.
I need to start with the brilliant authors. Douglas Adams, Tom Clancy, Ken Follett, Alex Berenson, Jack London, and Neil Gaiman. All their books were fantastic, and most of my storytelling style came from reading their works.
There are a few other books that stand out:
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
The Coalwood series by Homer Hickam
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale
A Bell for Adano by John Hersey
Mars and Venus series by John Gray
Digital Apollo by David Mindell
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
All the Trouble in the World by P.J. O'Rourke
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty
700 Sundays by Billy Crystal
Wow, that is probably not the list you were expecting. The Mars and Venus series? That book changed my life, and I think schools should make this series required reading.
Should my four blog readers go out and download all these titles? Allow me to reveal a secret to selecting the best movie or book to read. If somebody shares a list of titles they like, compare the list to your own favorites. If you have already enjoyed a few of these titles, take a closer look at the titles you have not experienced. If an overlap is not present, I will pass on the recommendations.
What does this list say about me? I like stories that make readers think. None of the titles are lighthearted (except for Douglas Adams.) However, we can see some missing categories: romance, western, drama, political, religious/spiritual, and fantasy.
Do I have a must-read book? The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman comes to mind. Will this book change your life? Not really, but it is still a good read.
It is good to think about our lives from a high-level perspective, and developing a list of favorites is a good idea. I also think sharing certain lists of things with others. However, it is also essential to remain lighthearted. If my above books are not to your liking, that is fine. We all have differences, and life would be boring without them.
What do readers what to see in a blog? They want to read about reading. Game on! Let’s discuss my favorite books. I lightly touched on this topic in the past, but I did not provide a formal list. However, there is a problem. I read often and have nearly 300 book reviews on Goodreads. Listing them all would be overwhelming, so I only selected the tip of the iceberg.
I need to start with the brilliant authors. Douglas Adams, Tom Clancy, Ken Follett, Alex Berenson, Jack London, and Neil Gaiman. All their books were fantastic, and most of my storytelling style came from reading their works.
There are a few other books that stand out:
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
The Coalwood series by Homer Hickam
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale
A Bell for Adano by John Hersey
Mars and Venus series by John Gray
Digital Apollo by David Mindell
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
All the Trouble in the World by P.J. O'Rourke
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty
700 Sundays by Billy Crystal
Wow, that is probably not the list you were expecting. The Mars and Venus series? That book changed my life, and I think schools should make this series required reading.
Should my four blog readers go out and download all these titles? Allow me to reveal a secret to selecting the best movie or book to read. If somebody shares a list of titles they like, compare the list to your own favorites. If you have already enjoyed a few of these titles, take a closer look at the titles you have not experienced. If an overlap is not present, I will pass on the recommendations.
What does this list say about me? I like stories that make readers think. None of the titles are lighthearted (except for Douglas Adams.) However, we can see some missing categories: romance, western, drama, political, religious/spiritual, and fantasy.
Do I have a must-read book? The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman comes to mind. Will this book change your life? Not really, but it is still a good read.
It is good to think about our lives from a high-level perspective, and developing a list of favorites is a good idea. I also think sharing certain lists of things with others. However, it is also essential to remain lighthearted. If my above books are not to your liking, that is fine. We all have differences, and life would be boring without them.
ALL CAPITAL TITLES
Book titles capture what a book is about. Their purpose is to break down potential reader’s resistance so they will open their wallets and hand over hard-earned money. This means that, at the core, the title is an advertisement.
How does this work? Depending on the book, titles can be clever, friendly, outrageous, or welcoming. However, their overall goal is to entice a sale. “Dear reader. You are going to love my book. Sit down and take a load off. Now, flip to the first page and enjoy my story.”
Well… Some authors have not received the friendly title message. There is a new trend of using all capital letters in a title. What is the purpose of writing in capital letters? It is to emphasize words as if they were being shouted. I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THIS!!! I suppose in a limited instance, having all capital letters does have merit for shocking titles. “AIRPLANE DISASTERS” “ROMANTIC FAILURES” “WORST MISTAKES IN HISTORY”
Note: An unwritten rule is that the title should have all capital letters on the cover. This makes a bold statement to entice readers. This is the time for an author to be confident.
The problem occurs in websites that sell books and search engines. Authors capitalize their titles to distinguish themselves. They even capitalize their names. The result reads too heavy-handed. It is like those annoying television commercials where the car dealer yells at the top of their lungs to buy a used car. Our reaction is to change the channel quickly.
To show you what I am referring to, I copied several titles with their authors listed on Amazon:
THE ULTIMATE PERSONAL FINANCE GUIDE FOR TEENS: LEARN THE SECRETS OF MONEY MANAGEMENT TO BECOME WEALTHY AND LIVE A STRESS - FREE LIFE by CARLOS A. DAVILA
WE ARE NOT IMPOSTORS!: HOW TO IDENTIFY, MANAGE, AND OVERCOME IMPOSTOR SYNDROME AS PROFESSIONAL WOMEN by JT BLACKWELL
JUST FIREWORKS : A Child’s memories of a war-torn Lebanon by Nader Barrak
HOW TO TALK TO ANYONE: Unlock Conversational Excellence: Transform Your Communication, Speak with Confidence, Connect Effortlessly, and Navigate Social Landscapes with Charismatic Grace by Rowan Becket
SEPARATION AND DIVORCE: SURVIVING WITH YOUR CHILDREN by Bridget Michaels
SCREWED-UP: BREAKING CHAINS FROM NARCISSISM: Know your Worth and break the toxic bond from a narcissist!! by Hayde Miller
VAGABOND by ATHANG RATHOD
FAYTHE OF NORTH HINKAPEE: The Saga of a Young Woman’s Quest for Justice and Love in Colonial America by James T. Hogg
INTERESTING FACTS For GENIUS MINDS: 1492 Entertaining Trivia & Facts For All Ages 8+ by Natalie Larsen
THE LITTLE BRAZILLIAN COOKBOOK by Cristina Ripley
Why is a cookbook yelling at me? Why are interesting facts shouting? Did they lose a bet?
Authors capitalizing their names? We are supposed to be a friendly bunch. “Hey, there. You seem like a great person. Why don’t you read one of my books.” The last thing a reader wants is an arrogant JERK of an author screeching at the top of their lungs, “DON’T YOU DARE READ MY BOOK! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!”
I suppose my rant about capital letters will not turn too many heads. So… What am I hoping to accomplish? If an author reads this article, please keep your readers in mind. I know it isn’t easy to stand out, but capitalizing your title is a step too far. THANKS FOR READING THIS.
You’re the best -Bill
June 05, 2024
How does this work? Depending on the book, titles can be clever, friendly, outrageous, or welcoming. However, their overall goal is to entice a sale. “Dear reader. You are going to love my book. Sit down and take a load off. Now, flip to the first page and enjoy my story.”
Well… Some authors have not received the friendly title message. There is a new trend of using all capital letters in a title. What is the purpose of writing in capital letters? It is to emphasize words as if they were being shouted. I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THIS!!! I suppose in a limited instance, having all capital letters does have merit for shocking titles. “AIRPLANE DISASTERS” “ROMANTIC FAILURES” “WORST MISTAKES IN HISTORY”
Note: An unwritten rule is that the title should have all capital letters on the cover. This makes a bold statement to entice readers. This is the time for an author to be confident.
The problem occurs in websites that sell books and search engines. Authors capitalize their titles to distinguish themselves. They even capitalize their names. The result reads too heavy-handed. It is like those annoying television commercials where the car dealer yells at the top of their lungs to buy a used car. Our reaction is to change the channel quickly.
To show you what I am referring to, I copied several titles with their authors listed on Amazon:
THE ULTIMATE PERSONAL FINANCE GUIDE FOR TEENS: LEARN THE SECRETS OF MONEY MANAGEMENT TO BECOME WEALTHY AND LIVE A STRESS - FREE LIFE by CARLOS A. DAVILA
WE ARE NOT IMPOSTORS!: HOW TO IDENTIFY, MANAGE, AND OVERCOME IMPOSTOR SYNDROME AS PROFESSIONAL WOMEN by JT BLACKWELL
JUST FIREWORKS : A Child’s memories of a war-torn Lebanon by Nader Barrak
HOW TO TALK TO ANYONE: Unlock Conversational Excellence: Transform Your Communication, Speak with Confidence, Connect Effortlessly, and Navigate Social Landscapes with Charismatic Grace by Rowan Becket
SEPARATION AND DIVORCE: SURVIVING WITH YOUR CHILDREN by Bridget Michaels
SCREWED-UP: BREAKING CHAINS FROM NARCISSISM: Know your Worth and break the toxic bond from a narcissist!! by Hayde Miller
VAGABOND by ATHANG RATHOD
FAYTHE OF NORTH HINKAPEE: The Saga of a Young Woman’s Quest for Justice and Love in Colonial America by James T. Hogg
INTERESTING FACTS For GENIUS MINDS: 1492 Entertaining Trivia & Facts For All Ages 8+ by Natalie Larsen
THE LITTLE BRAZILLIAN COOKBOOK by Cristina Ripley
Why is a cookbook yelling at me? Why are interesting facts shouting? Did they lose a bet?
Authors capitalizing their names? We are supposed to be a friendly bunch. “Hey, there. You seem like a great person. Why don’t you read one of my books.” The last thing a reader wants is an arrogant JERK of an author screeching at the top of their lungs, “DON’T YOU DARE READ MY BOOK! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!”
I suppose my rant about capital letters will not turn too many heads. So… What am I hoping to accomplish? If an author reads this article, please keep your readers in mind. I know it isn’t easy to stand out, but capitalizing your title is a step too far. THANKS FOR READING THIS.
You’re the best -Bill
June 05, 2024
