Interview with Nadim Sadek, author of Shimmer, don't Shake: How Publishing Can Embrace AI
Nadim Sadek, author of Shimmer, don't Shake: How Publishing Can Embrace AI recommends a fantastic flurry of books! Before jumping into the interview, please check out Nadim's book:
Description from Blackwells: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
Shimmer, don't Shake: How Publishing Can Embrace AI
Discover the future of publishing in Shimmer, don't Shake: How Publishing can embrace AI by Nadim Sadek. This groundbreaking book explores the evolving landscape of the publishing industry and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the way books are promoted, matched with readers, and valued.
Authors often feel frustrated with the limited promotion of their books by traditional publishers. Marketing departments struggle to effectively connect with readers due to limited resources and the strain of managing exasperated authors. On the other hand, readers yearn for a more effective way to find books that suit their tastes. There is a vast untapped potential for matching willing audiences with suitable books, written by talented authors who seek greater reach.
Shimmer, don't Shake presents AI as the solution to these challenges. By leveraging AI technologies, publishers can optimize product descriptions, create unique marketing copy, and generate personalized book recommendations. Large language models like the GPT-series enable automated generation of high-quality book descriptions, freeing marketers from the time-consuming task of manual crafting. AI systems can be trained to consider the psychological profile of a book and match it to the frame of mind of a specific audience, ensuring a more effective connection between readers and books.
With AI, the publishing industry can enter a new era of innovation and success. Shimmer, don't Shake showcases how AI can help authors, readers, and publishers alike. Authors can gain greater visibility and reach as their books are matched with their target audience, allowing their genius to shimmer in the public's eye. Readers can finally discover books that fulfill their needs and preferences, enhancing their reading experience. Publishers can extract more value from their vast catalog of titles, ensuring that every book has the opportunity to shine.
This book goes beyond theoretical discussions and provides practical insights on integrating AI into the publishing process. It addresses the ethical considerations surrounding AI and emphasizes the need to preserve the artistic merit of writing. With a blend of expertise in publishing, psychology, AI, and marketing, the author presents a comprehensive guide to leveraging AI for successful book promotion and engagement.
Shimmer, don't Shake is a must-read for authors, publishers, and anyone interested in the future of the publishing industry. It offers a compelling vision of how AI can transform publishing, allowing books to embrace new opportunities, connect with readers on a deeper level, and ultimately thrive in the digital age.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org US $18.59
Blackwells £13.55
Waterstones £20.99
Q. Do you have a favourite smart thinking book (and why that book)?
Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It by Scott Kupor. Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ll end up raising funds, at some stage. Understanding the venture capital world is essential, and if you want to do that, essential reading is ‘Secrets of Sand Hill Road’, by Scott Kupor. Amongst other realities, it lays out that VCs really look at three things: the size of your market, the strength of your product, and how good your team is. It’s wonderfully accessible and instructional. And short!
Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It
Every startup needs capital, and ambitious startups seek it on Sand Hill Road – Silicon Valley’s dream street for entrepreneurs. That’s where you’ll find the biggest names in venture capital, including the famed VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, where lawyer-turned-entrepreneur-turned-VC Scott Kupor serves as managing partner.
Whether you’re trying to get a new company off the ground or scale an existing business to the next level, you need to understand how VCs think. Secrets of Sand Hill Road is the first book that shows you exactly how VCs decide where and how much to invest. It will help you get the best possible deal and make the most of your relationships with VCs. You’ll learn, for instance:
-- Why most VCs typically invest in only one startup in a given business category
-- Why the talent you need most when raising venture capital is your storytelling ability
-- How to handle a 'down round', when you have to raise funds at a lower valuation than in your previous round
-- Why bridge financing (reopening your last round to existing investors) is generally a bad idea
-- What to do when VCs get too entangled in the day-to-day operations of your business
-- Why you need to build relationships with potential acquirers long before you decide to sell
Filled with Kupor’s firsthand experiences, insider advice, and practical takeaways, Secrets of Sand Hill Road is the guide you need to turn yourstartup into the next unicorn.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £19.00
Bookshop.org US $27.90
Blackwells £12.99
Waterstones £20.00
Q. What's the most recent smart thinking book you've read (and how would you rate it)?
The Times Lives Less Ordinary: obituaries of the eccentric, unique and undefinable by Nigel Farndale. Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
I’m going to push the boundaries a bit (surprise!). I read ‘Lives Less Ordinary’, a collection of obituaries of ‘eccentric’ people, assembled by Nigel Farndale. I wish I’d read obituaries earlier. They show you the arcs of life that people traverse, and how key decisions you make really do affect outcomes throughout your time on earth. It was mesmerising to read and I’ve encouraged my children to read these summaries of journeys and accomplishments while they still have time shape theirs in a knowing, informed way.
The Times Lives Less Ordinary: obituaries of the eccentric, unique and undefinable
Discover the lives of some of the most fascinating and unconventional characters of recent times, with 85 obituaries carefully curated from The Times archive. Be they dons, pop stars, vicars, MPs, rugby players or aristocrats, each has marched to the beat of their own drum and led a life far from ordinary.
The Times obituaries have given readers throughout the world an instant picture of a life for more than 150 years. Meet the mavericks, rogues and eccentrics from recent history, including:
Baroness Trumpington, the codebreaking, chainsmoking, two-finger-flicking grande dame of British politics
‘Magic Alex’ Mardas, inventor who was the Beatles’ ‘scientific guru’
Zsa Zsa Gábor, Hungarian socialite and actress who made a success out of celebrity and was best known for having married nine times
John Lucas, influential philosopher who argued against determinism and had a reputation for being the most eccentric don in Oxford
Brigadier Jack Thomas, military police commander who survived a landmine, bullet, rhino and faulty parachute and liked to watch TV with an owl on his head
April Ashley, model, socialite and transgender rights campaigner whose reassignment surgery was part of a rollercoaster life of lovers and high drama
Jordan Mooney, punk muse known as ‘the original Sex Pistol’ who appeared on stage with them, guided their ‘look’ and then became a veterinary nurse
Authoritative, insightful and endlessly engaging, this book is a must for anyone with an interest in the eccentrics and unique characters of recent times.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £9.49
Bookshop.org US $15.80
Blackwells £8.99
Waterstones £9.99
Q. Do you have a favourite childhood book?
The Source by James A. Michener. Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
Perhaps weirdly, it was ‘The Source’ by James A Michener. It’s so long! But I loved the immersion it gave me, in a region, in a history, in a multi-layered story. It was so engaging and I remember it as one of those moments of insight that I would always love reading and that books can truly transport your mind to another place.
The Source
In his signature style of grand storytelling, James A. Michener transports us back thousands of years to the Holy Land. Through the discoveries of modern archaeologists excavating the site of Tell Makor, Michener vividly re-creates life in an ancient city and traces the profound history of the Jewish people--from the persecution of the early Hebrews, the rise of Christianity, and the Crusades to the founding of Israel and the modern conflict in the Middle East.
An epic tale of love, strength, and faith, The Source is a richly written saga that encompasses the history of Western civilization and the great religious and cultural ideas that have shaped our world.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £18.99
Bookshop.org US $22.32
Blackwells £45.00
Waterstones £19.99
Q. Do you prefer reading on paper, Kindle or listening to an audiobook?
It’s pretty well Kindle-only for me. I like how I can read on multiple devices and control font and contrast. I just don’t want the aggravation of not quite seeing the written word and it’s always a risk with a printed book, no matter how much I miss its wonderful look and feel.
Q. Do you have a favourite bookshop (and why that shop)?
John Sandoe Books
John Sandoe, in Blacklands Terrace, Chelsea. It’s a brave curation of really special titles, in a great environment, with a true sense of the owner’s love of literature and dedication to ensuring books have a chance to speak to you.
Many thanks to Nadim for recommending a fantastic flurry of books! Please don't forget to check out Shimmer, don't Shake: How Publishing Can Embrace AI.
Daryl
Image Copyrights: (Shimmer, don't Shake: How Publishing Can Embrace AI), Ebury Publishing (Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It), HarperCollins Publishers (The Times Lives Less Ordinary: obituaries of the eccentric, unique and undefinable), Random House USA Inc (The Source).
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