I think the cover is very good. It has a pleasant look and feel and is not too busy.

I have reservations about the title but I assume you have editors and PR type book people that advise you on that. So leaning towards what the professionals advise is probably the way to go. Can't think of anything better off the top of my head at the moment.

I like it but don't know anything about book covers. Will buy.

I like the title more than the cover tbh. Everything except the Alps looks too cartoonish. Just my 2c.

i like the pic, don't like the main font

Zeno,

Nobody helping - it's just little old me.

Goose,

Thumbs up.

Rich,

Sadface.

Yeti,

I'm also leaning towards the font that we used on the first book.

ads,

I liked your '28 traits of modern man' post.

Wanted to share re: civilizing one's children.

Civilizing the little buggers is a never-ending task but well worth the effort.

I have a girl 12 and boy 9. One of my standard 'dad lines' is, "I know it sucks to be you, because your dad won't tolerate that kind of behavior".

"I ask that you respect yourself. I demand that you respect the rights of others."

Their mom and I consistently get reports from other adults about what nice polite helpful kids they are. Which sometimes seems odd because y'know, kids can occasionally seem like real brats when they're yours and you're in the trenches every day.

It makes me feel good to hear these things in part because pat on my own and their mom's back, yea, we did it... but mostly because I feel they're on a good footing for dealing with the world on their own.

Keep up the good work and best of luck with the new book!

Chip,

Sounds like you're doing a bang-up job. The 28 traits are going to form the basis for my third book. But more on that later ...

Honestly, I find it to be pretty placid with no sense of action and adventure. Combined with the weak title and soft subtitle, it puts me in the mindset that I would be reading about the "adventures" of some middle-aged couples floating about and sunning on a raft while drinking good Italian wine and snacking on olives.

In contrast, the cover for Pushing Rubber Downhill has it all: sense of adventure, action, danger and yes, even humour.

If I'm in a bookstore and see that cover and title I wouldn't even pick it up and would just pass it by without a second though.

donotwant.jpeg

a wat?

meh... same holds true for online browsing imo, just trying to make a point

99,

I'm onto it.

a suggestion based on your image and the info in the link

I quite like that idea

Veratc,

Pretty sweet effort. I've passed it on.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this thread and at some level your story has likely impacted life decisions that I've made. I feel that your strength is disseminating life lessons through your adventures but honestly looking at your 28 traits posts has made me think your success is turning you into a bit of a self-aggrandizing douche. Granted I haven't read them all but a few start by providing hyperbolic anecdotes and then applying some absurd ideal written in a pretentious manner. Quite a bit of the advice is hypocritical. The simple idea of someone changing themselves to incorporate this arbitrary list of traits is itself contradictory to becoming a "modern man". As you wrote yourself:

It's fine as a series of blogs because it's your blog and there's nothing wrong with broadcasting your opinion. However by turning it into a book it feels to me that you are trying to transition yourself into a self proclaimed "Alpha" guru (i.e. hack) like Tim Ferris or Tony Robbins or any number of other marketers that exploit the insecurities of people for financial gain.

JB,

I don't know if I'd call myself a self-aggrandizing douche but I certainly have a habit for getting up people's noses. I've done so all my life because I call it as I see it and I don't back down unless presented with a credible alternative. That's how I got into so many adventures in the first place. There's a long line of people who hate my guts and it's not getting any shorter.

Writing stuff helps me to formulate my ideas. I've had a pretty awesome response to my 28 traits piece and it's got me a lot of new readers. It's also something that I want to explore in more depth. You're free to read it or not. You're also free to like it or not.

Hacks like Ferris and Robbins peddle pretty lies. Robbins has been doing it for 30 years. People like lies because they're comforting and they make then feel good. I prefer peddling reality as I see it and screw the feel goods. But people tend to hate you when you do that.

But I'd rather fail than suck. That's how it's always been and I've failed a few times.

You should listen to some Tim Ferriss Podcasts. Naming him a Charlatan is quite inaccurate.

EC,

You're right, I misunderstood who Ferriss was. I'm actually not familiar with him at all so I can't comment on his work.

Would you be able to link me some decent ones. I kind of wrote him off years ago after he claimed to have put on 34lbs of muscle in 28 days. http://fourhourworkweek.com/2007/04/...le-in-4-weeks/

Granted I haven't read his books but I'd rather look into the work of experts particularly when it comes to nutrition and exercise (backed by proper scientific research) than to follow the advice of someone who is willing to deceive their audience. From the little bit of investigating I've done after seeing your post I have to admit his business stuff seems fairly legit.

the arnie one is good, i have heard the jamie foxx ones are really good but haven't listened. just listen to any where the guests interest you. i don't think ecgrinder is saying 'listen to his podcasts and you'll think he's the most incredible person on earth'. he's probably saying listen to them in the way you would listen to a joe rogan one, i.e. by the guest.

http://freakonomics.com/podcast/tim-ferriss/ - this makes me laugh because it points out quite bluntly that he is acknowledged as a charlatan in some circles. tbh i think that is just as a result of the 'four hour x' marketing.

The 34lb muscle thing and marketing for the books does seem absurd.

The show is certainly made by the guests, but I find Ferriss to be smarter than Rogan. He's able to contribute to the conversation more and ask better questions, etc. The result is that the podcasts are deeper and more information dense, but perhaps less relaxed-and free-flowing than what you'd get from an expert conversationalist like Rogan.

The freakonimics and malcolm gladwell interview podcasts were the worst works I've listened to, I'd just choose anything else by title that interests you. #144 is all Ferriss if you're interested in what his thinking is all about.

Okay, so I've bowed to pressure and I've changed the title.

"The River Guides Paddling Club."

Also known as RGPC. There is a sneaky secondary meaning to that acronym which readers will discover in the book.

I like it. I think it is much better than the first go.

*yawn*

Let's compare:

1. Pushing Rubber Downhill
Interesting, exciting, what does this even mean? Hell... I better find out!

2. The River Guides Paddling Club
Perfect! If you were looking for a way to describe a bunch of middle-aged weekend river enthusiasts. But then again, you are getting on in age so yeah, sounds legit.

Not what I'm looking for in a book—but thanks anyway. I'll pass on what sounds to be a milquetoast snoozefest.

99,

Would you prefer the secondary meaning of the title?

(Run Guts, Pull Cones).