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I wrote a book for O'Reilly (https://buildingtoolswithgithub.teddyhyde.io/ https://buildingtoolswithgithub.teddyhyde.io/) and I only say that because what I'll

by xrd 7y ago

I wrote a book for O'Reilly (https://buildingtoolswithgithub.teddyhyde.io/ https://buildingtoolswithgithub.teddyhyde.io/) and I only say that because what I'll say next is controversial. First, there must be a huge market for technical books that don't appeal to Lisp fanatics. There are people coming from nontraditional backgrounds into technical roles, and they, I assert, probably want a different book than the types of books O'Reilly generally publishes, which are very technical, like those dealing with Lisp. Two, and this is what is controversial: O'Reilly as a publisher is unable to offer those types of books and misses out on those types of customers. I don't know how they marketed my book, honestly. I intended that it would speak to the beginner programmer by offering up chapters that introduced a new programming language in each chapter. I hoped people who weren't technology experts would find a gentle path into technology with my book. But I don't think it resonated, maybe that speaks to the quality of the book, but maybe not. Less than 1% of the people in the world are software developers. Are the people fascinated by Lisp less than 1% of that? But, excluding say the Luddite population, let's say 90% of the rest of the people in the modern world do want to learn about technology and how to play with it, and I'm not sure O'Reilly knows how to reach them. O'Reilly is full of some of the smartest people in the tech community, but I'm not sure the empathy for beginners is there and that's hindering them as a publisher.

srean 7y ago
> There are people coming from nontraditional backgrounds into technical roles, and they, I assert, probably want a different book than the types of books O'Reilly generally publishes. ... and "the for Dummies" does not cater to them ? Or are you saying that O'Reilly should become somewhat more like the "Dummies" Series. Regardless of the name some of those books dont speak to the reader as if the reader is a dummy. Then there are those "21 days", "Unleashed". I like it that O'Reilly speaks to me more than the "21 days" variety. Each to his own. I have been happy with Apress (other than Practical Ocaml) and Manning too. Packt is mostly an abomination.
- xrd 7y ago
  I hate the dummies books too. People that consider themselves intelligent don't want to buy a book that forces you to call yourself a dummy. I'm saying there is another space for people that feel they are intelligent and don't yet have the knowledge about programming and could do it given the right introductions. O'Reilly speaks to me too, but I think there is entire population of people that aren't familiar with Tim O'Reilly and buy books from his publisher to join that community of thinkers. And that's a shame.
  - eddieh 7y ago
    I think you're right about this. I'd much rather read LISP for Poets or LISP for Future Presidents than something with a title that is insulting or degrading. There's probably a considerable market for books that educate and respect the reader.
    - xrd 7y ago
      That's a great theme. Programmers have a different set of aspirations than most people, so making books that speak to both a different aspiration and teach tech seems like a winner of an idea for the rest of the people out there who don't identify as a nerd.
    - p_l 7y ago
      The old "For Dummies" books were very respectful if used self-deprecating humour on authors side often. The polish term used to translate "For Dummies" was a bit better IMO, though not exactly translateable.
  - srean 7y ago
    Oh I did not mean to say I hate the Dummies series. I had picked one up, something on personal finance if I remember correctly. I was quite pleasantly surprised that the author did not speak to me as if I am a dummy.
    - xrd 7y ago
      That's my experience with them as well. But, I've resisted looking at them even knowing that because I resisted calling myself a dummy. They are huge sellers, so I'm in the no minority with that opinion obviously.

by xrd 7y ago

srean 7y ago

> There are people coming from nontraditional backgrounds into technical roles, and they, I assert, probably want a different book than the types of books O'Reilly generally publishes. ... and "the for Dummies" does not cater to them ? Or are you saying that O'Reilly should become somewhat more like the "Dummies" Series. Regardless of the name some of those books dont speak to the reader as if the reader is a dummy. Then there are those "21 days", "Unleashed". I like it that O'Reilly speaks to me more than the "21 days" variety. Each to his own. I have been happy with Apress (other than Practical Ocaml) and Manning too. Packt is mostly an abomination.

xrd 7y ago
I hate the dummies books too. People that consider themselves intelligent don't want to buy a book that forces you to call yourself a dummy. I'm saying there is another space for people that feel they are intelligent and don't yet have the knowledge about programming and could do it given the right introductions. O'Reilly speaks to me too, but I think there is entire population of people that aren't familiar with Tim O'Reilly and buy books from his publisher to join that community of thinkers. And that's a shame.
- eddieh 7y ago
  I think you're right about this. I'd much rather read LISP for Poets or LISP for Future Presidents than something with a title that is insulting or degrading. There's probably a considerable market for books that educate and respect the reader.
  - xrd 7y ago
    That's a great theme. Programmers have a different set of aspirations than most people, so making books that speak to both a different aspiration and teach tech seems like a winner of an idea for the rest of the people out there who don't identify as a nerd.
  - p_l 7y ago
    The old "For Dummies" books were very respectful if used self-deprecating humour on authors side often. The polish term used to translate "For Dummies" was a bit better IMO, though not exactly translateable.
- srean 7y ago
  Oh I did not mean to say I hate the Dummies series. I had picked one up, something on personal finance if I remember correctly. I was quite pleasantly surprised that the author did not speak to me as if I am a dummy.
  - xrd 7y ago
    That's my experience with them as well. But, I've resisted looking at them even knowing that because I resisted calling myself a dummy. They are huge sellers, so I'm in the no minority with that opinion obviously.