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I have a book coming out at the end of the week that starts from 2+2 and goes all the way up to calculus and linear algebra. My private tutoring experience lea

by ivan_ah 15y ago

I have a book coming out at the end of the week that starts from 2+2 and goes all the way up to calculus and linear algebra. My private tutoring experience leads me to believe, that there is a market for "math explained simply" material for adults. Do you guys think there is a market for printed textbooks? I hope to earn a living from selling print-on-demand copies at lulu dot com. When people ask me "what is your startup" and I tell them that it is a math and physics textbook they laugh at me, but I think it is actually a pretty good business idea. Am-I on brain crack? Oh I forgot to say -- the book is really kicks ass and targeted to low-attention-span youth. I do a coherent rendition of high school math in 90 pages, calculus in 60 pages, mechanics in 50 pages, etc. The page format is half-of-letter. email me if you want to see.

rorrr 15y ago
Business wise, I wouldn't invest a dime. How do you even market something like that? Textbooks is a cutthroat business, there are thousands of textbooks on math, many of them with decades of history, improvements, fans, recommendations, teachers who use them. You could've picked a fresh subject, like a niche of bioinformatics, or cutting edge solar technologies, but you picked one of the most generic topics with books that don't really age. Basic math doesn't really change, you could pick up a math book from 100 years ago and use it just fine.
- ivan_ah 15y ago
  > How do you even market something like that? I was hoping to give away (part of) the content for free (http access) to attract people. Then try to push visitors to order the printed version like: http://betterexplained.com/articles/math-betterexplained-ebook-available/ http://betterexplained.com/articles/math-betterexplained-ebo... > Textbooks is a cutthroat business, > there are thousands of textbooks on math I know. That is why I don't want to enter the "course textbook" market -- I am not versed in the steaks and bitches selling tactics ;) I am trying to position myself as an add-on book, kind of like the Schaum's outlines or the "for dummies" series, but without treating my readers as retards. > math book from 100 years ago and use it just fine Correct, and in fact the older the book you pick, the better it will be: more concise. It seems the current bloat of Stewart (300+ pages) is due to the publisher's desire to sell a more expensive product.
graeme 15y ago
Why would a low attention span youth buy a math textbook? And is it for adults or youth? Will people of all levels like it? I once thought about buying a math text, as I noticed my Math skills were atrophying. Nothing seemed excellent, in terms of being aimed directly at adults wanting to learn math for no particular purpose. But khan academy is excellent for that purpose. Your book could sell, but you'd need to be clear in who it's for and how they'll benefit. Book marketing is a whole other Challenge, even if your book is good and does meet an unfilled need. An meeting a need isn't easy. As the other commenter said, there are math books to be had by the hundred. There are free math exercises online. Most people don't care, and are busy. Start by testing/marketing your book with students. Have them write reviews. Find out what they seem to like about it, an try to work that into your message if it's a need you hadn't considered. Good luck.
- Tichy 15y ago
  Serious question: is watching Khan Academy really learning, or is it just the illusion of learning? After watching the Algebra lectures, can you say "I learned Algebra" (meaning I spent time in a process that could be called learning) or can you say "I learned Algebra" (meaning you now actually understand Algebra and can use it in your daily work)? I am really trying to understand, because my brain seems to be wired differently than the modern generation. I find it harder to learn from videos than from books (although most books are too verbose, too).
  - adestefan 15y ago
    Isn't that the same as asking is someone really learned something by just reading a book? Do you know how many programming language books I've read and can't program a lick in the language? Too many to count. Learning is an active process no matter which medium is doing the delivery (book, video, in person, etc.) You need to work problems, do examples, prove things, and review to really learn something.
    - Tichy 15y ago
      True, but watching videos can be done entirely in passive mode. It is also very clumsy to flick forward and backward to rewatch a fact you didn't catch the first time you watched it. Actually come to think of it, that might be really interesting data the Khan Academy is sitting on: how often people try to rewatch a part of the video. Could be an indicator if they are really learning, or pseudo learning. Or maybe it is only me who sometimes needs to rewatch parts.
Tichy 15y ago
Personally I am saddened by this trend to do all online teaching with videos, so I am glad to hear people still write textbooks. I hope you can be successful. Learning by video is so incredibly ineffective, I really don't get why people like it so much. Even coders learn Ruby by video??? I am doing the Stanford AI course and ML Course and it is OK to be kept on track with the weekly scheduled exercises. But I wish I could just read up the stuff (which I occasionally do, but it is not always easy to find the same information in written form). For example, the linear algebra section on Wikipedia seemed to be not that much help.
Jach 15y ago
Have you done market testing to see how many people out there actually need to start from 2+2? One of my peeves about many programming books is their half-assed attempts at assuming you know nothing and wasting the first 100 or so pages covering introductory material. I appreciate hierarchal approaches, but even in math they don't work so well. Math knowledge is organized in a graph, not a tree. Do you think a student could pass the AP Calculus BC exam, using only your 60 pages of Calculus as a reference? Would a student be able to go through 1st grade to 12th grade using nothing but your book? If not, why would I buy your book? I still want to see "The Simple Math of Everything" http://lesswrong.com/lw/l7/the_simple_math_of_everything/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/l7/the_simple_math_of_everything/
- ivan_ah 15y ago
  > how many people need to start from 2+2 The basic math sections in the book are quite fast. The intent was not so much to teach/drill/annoy the reader with the high school stuff, but to have a self-contained book, instead of saying "complete the square which you should know from high school". > you think a student could pass the Calculus using only your 60 pages of Calculus as a reference? Honestly, yes. But my belief is unimportant here -- I have to test things out with real students and real exams. > 1st grade to 12th grade A student no, but an adult who doesn't remember that stuff yes.

by ivan_ah 15y ago

rorrr 15y ago

Business wise, I wouldn't invest a dime. How do you even market something like that? Textbooks is a cutthroat business, there are thousands of textbooks on math, many of them with decades of history, improvements, fans, recommendations, teachers who use them. You could've picked a fresh subject, like a niche of bioinformatics, or cutting edge solar technologies, but you picked one of the most generic topics with books that don't really age. Basic math doesn't really change, you could pick up a math book from 100 years ago and use it just fine.

ivan_ah 15y ago
> How do you even market something like that? I was hoping to give away (part of) the content for free (http access) to attract people. Then try to push visitors to order the printed version like: http://betterexplained.com/articles/math-betterexplained-ebook-available/ http://betterexplained.com/articles/math-betterexplained-ebo... > Textbooks is a cutthroat business, > there are thousands of textbooks on math I know. That is why I don't want to enter the "course textbook" market -- I am not versed in the steaks and bitches selling tactics ;) I am trying to position myself as an add-on book, kind of like the Schaum's outlines or the "for dummies" series, but without treating my readers as retards. > math book from 100 years ago and use it just fine Correct, and in fact the older the book you pick, the better it will be: more concise. It seems the current bloat of Stewart (300+ pages) is due to the publisher's desire to sell a more expensive product.

graeme 15y ago

Why would a low attention span youth buy a math textbook? And is it for adults or youth? Will people of all levels like it? I once thought about buying a math text, as I noticed my Math skills were atrophying. Nothing seemed excellent, in terms of being aimed directly at adults wanting to learn math for no particular purpose. But khan academy is excellent for that purpose. Your book could sell, but you'd need to be clear in who it's for and how they'll benefit. Book marketing is a whole other Challenge, even if your book is good and does meet an unfilled need. An meeting a need isn't easy. As the other commenter said, there are math books to be had by the hundred. There are free math exercises online. Most people don't care, and are busy. Start by testing/marketing your book with students. Have them write reviews. Find out what they seem to like about it, an try to work that into your message if it's a need you hadn't considered. Good luck.

Tichy 15y ago
Serious question: is watching Khan Academy really learning, or is it just the illusion of learning? After watching the Algebra lectures, can you say "I learned Algebra" (meaning I spent time in a process that could be called learning) or can you say "I learned Algebra" (meaning you now actually understand Algebra and can use it in your daily work)? I am really trying to understand, because my brain seems to be wired differently than the modern generation. I find it harder to learn from videos than from books (although most books are too verbose, too).
- adestefan 15y ago
  Isn't that the same as asking is someone really learned something by just reading a book? Do you know how many programming language books I've read and can't program a lick in the language? Too many to count. Learning is an active process no matter which medium is doing the delivery (book, video, in person, etc.) You need to work problems, do examples, prove things, and review to really learn something.
  - Tichy 15y ago
    True, but watching videos can be done entirely in passive mode. It is also very clumsy to flick forward and backward to rewatch a fact you didn't catch the first time you watched it. Actually come to think of it, that might be really interesting data the Khan Academy is sitting on: how often people try to rewatch a part of the video. Could be an indicator if they are really learning, or pseudo learning. Or maybe it is only me who sometimes needs to rewatch parts.

Tichy 15y ago

Personally I am saddened by this trend to do all online teaching with videos, so I am glad to hear people still write textbooks. I hope you can be successful. Learning by video is so incredibly ineffective, I really don't get why people like it so much. Even coders learn Ruby by video??? I am doing the Stanford AI course and ML Course and it is OK to be kept on track with the weekly scheduled exercises. But I wish I could just read up the stuff (which I occasionally do, but it is not always easy to find the same information in written form). For example, the linear algebra section on Wikipedia seemed to be not that much help.

Jach 15y ago

Have you done market testing to see how many people out there actually need to start from 2+2? One of my peeves about many programming books is their half-assed attempts at assuming you know nothing and wasting the first 100 or so pages covering introductory material. I appreciate hierarchal approaches, but even in math they don't work so well. Math knowledge is organized in a graph, not a tree. Do you think a student could pass the AP Calculus BC exam, using only your 60 pages of Calculus as a reference? Would a student be able to go through 1st grade to 12th grade using nothing but your book? If not, why would I buy your book? I still want to see "The Simple Math of Everything" http://lesswrong.com/lw/l7/the_simple_math_of_everything/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/l7/the_simple_math_of_everything/

ivan_ah 15y ago
> how many people need to start from 2+2 The basic math sections in the book are quite fast. The intent was not so much to teach/drill/annoy the reader with the high school stuff, but to have a self-contained book, instead of saying "complete the square which you should know from high school". > you think a student could pass the Calculus using only your 60 pages of Calculus as a reference? Honestly, yes. But my belief is unimportant here -- I have to test things out with real students and real exams. > 1st grade to 12th grade A student no, but an adult who doesn't remember that stuff yes.