The formulation of passive income the author talks about is specifically addressed to the crowd that wants(or is being instructed by "self-help gurus") to turn

The formulation of passive income the author talks about is specifically addressed to the crowd that wants(or is being instructed by "self-help gurus") to turn around a product of minimal or transient value. Although that sector makes an undeserved amount of noise, it's not representative of all the possible ways in which one could make a low-maintenance product, and the reasons for doing so.