How to Get a Book Deal with World’s Largest Publisher… and Beat Harry Potter?! 18 Comments

Written by Tim Ferriss Topics: The Book - 4HWW

Wow — what a day! The 4-Hour Workweek ended up at Amazon #10, as well as around #20 in Canada and #88 in the UK! In celebration, I decided to answer one of the most common questions I get these days: How on earth did you sell a book to Random House?

It’s not as straight-forward as you might think. Most assume that you should write a book and then pitch it to a publisher, which — especially with non-fiction — is total suicide. I created a mock-up cover for my book when we sent out my proposal to publishers, and one came back and asked point-blank: “Why is there a UPC code on this? Is it self-published or already written? We never buy either.”

So how did I get signed with the hottest imprint at the world’s largest publisher (Crown within Random House) as a first-time author? I followed a few simple steps that I explain on my friend Noah Kagan’s blog.

The New Challenge: Beat Harry Potter!

If I can break the top 5, huge things happen like foreign rights worldwide. The book will become an unstoppable force! The price has been reduced to $11.97 for unknown reasons, and I need a cluster of orders tomorrow and Thursday to make it all happen.

Please check out the book and consider it if you haven’t! Ignore “available May 1″, as they’ve temporarily sold out (!) but will receive more stock tomorrow.

Here’s what I suspect I’ll sound like if I beat Harry Potter

Posted on April 25th, 2007

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18 Responses to “How to Get a Book Deal with World’s Largest Publisher… and Beat Harry Potter?!”

Paul Cooper
April 25th, 2007
7:53 am

Well Amazon UK seem to be doing the best to ruin your stats. I pre-ordered the book a couple of weeks ago, then on Sunday night checked to see when it would be delivered – according to them, not until end of June, beginning of July. I then double check and found that they had discounted it some more (so it was new less than the my pre-order) so I cancelled and reordered only to have it say estimated delivery on 5th May. Weird.
Ross Hill
April 25th, 2007
8:39 am

Here’s to beating Harry Potter! I just picked up a copy from Amazon, heard a few of your podcasts and they are really interesting. Cheers.
Adam Brucker
April 25th, 2007
11:58 am

Just ordered the book… I’m already doing much of what you advocate but I was intrigued with this statement:

“How to cultivate selective ignoranceâ€”and create timeâ€”with a low-information diet.”

My guess is that not only can you “create time” by doing this but you will avoid a lot of the nay-sayers along the way and actually take on (and accomplish) more.
Brian Keith
April 25th, 2007
1:58 pm

I picked it up at B&N yesterday, 2/3 done now- I’ll review it on my blog later this week.

Brian
Mike: blog
April 25th, 2007
2:41 pm

A Four Hour Workweek?…

…
Tim Ferriss
April 25th, 2007
2:50 pm

Paul, the UK is a puzzle to me (for book distribution, I mean). I still haven’t been able to figure out why the book seems to take longer to come out in London than it does in Tokyo or Moscow! The translation from Yank to POM shouldn’t take that long! I expect that turnaround will speed up a lot after distributors in the UK see the results of this launch, 48 hours in. No offline PR or advertising has even started!

Adam, the low-information diet has been a huge factor for me in terms of not just increasing output, but also hugely decreasing unnecessary (di)stress caused by the overflow of irrelevant and inactionable “news”. Once you identify your sphere of influence and cut accordingly, the results are a thing of beauty.

Thanks again to all!
Mayo
April 25th, 2007
4:25 pm

#9 and counting, good luck (uhum … you don’t need luck ;) )
Elizabeth
April 25th, 2007
4:39 pm

Tim,
Thanks for writing this book. I just ordered my copy from Amazon.com and am eagerly awaiting its arrival. As an entrepeneur and writer myself, I am thrilled for your success. There IS hope for the rest of us. Congratulations. I can’t wait to start getting more done in less time.
*Elizabeth
Lisa
April 25th, 2007
9:00 pm

I’ve long thought the idea of waiting to travel and retire until you’re in your sixties is ridiculous. Why not enjoy some life while you’re still young? Can’t wait to read the book.
Tonya
April 26th, 2007
12:52 am

Hello Tim
I saw this book at Borders last Friday and immediately picked it up! I rarely pay full price for books, but I grabbed it and knew it contained GOLD!!! I jsut reserved my domain names and am ready to live my life by my rules. i”m not even half way through but want to sincerely thank you for the motivation and realization that I’m NOT the only one who believes LIFE IS SUPPOSED TO BE EASY & FUN!
I hope to cross your path in Chicago or maybe soem exotic beach in the near future. Thanks a MILLION. (**)
Jerri Gillean
April 26th, 2007
1:01 am

Way to go Tim. Who would have known I was rubbing with elbows with someone so famous? I ordered my copy and can’t wait to read it.
David A.
April 26th, 2007
3:16 am

Hey Tim,

I downloaded the book from Audible.com knowing nothing about you or the book. It just sounded interesting.

About an hour into it I realized my life would never be the same and just had to order a copy of the book from Amazon.com as well.

Now I have finished listening to the book and need to order a few more copies to give to friends and family.

Thank you so much. Your ideas have done more to improve my attitude than the Lexipro that I have been taking for the last couple of years just to get through the day.
Steve Nguyen
April 26th, 2007
4:06 am

Tim: I just read your interview with Darren Rowse over at ProBlogger.Net. That was such an interesting interview. You mentioned in that interview that one of your next big project is “trying to get every teacher in every public school in the US access to private investors for better materials, trips, etc.” As a Behavior Specialist working for a public school system on a low SES-island in the Pacific Ocean, I applaud your efforts and hope that you will succeed. Have a nice day. :)
Mandy
April 26th, 2007
9:09 am

Tim, congratulations! I hope you can reach top 5 or even beat the 5. Good luck…:-)
Wolf Stone
April 26th, 2007
5:57 pm

Hey Tim
Just discovered your blog and the book sounds so interesting that I’ve jsut sent out a request to all the libraries i know to stock it. Am not entirely sure about this next part…but did i see you on Regis and Kelly trying to break a world record in Tango?? Besta Luck…
Tim Ferriss
April 26th, 2007
11:18 pm

Hi Wolf,

Indeed, that was me on Regis and Kelly. The video can be found under “multimedia” on the main site: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com Too funny ;)

Tim
Brian Keith
May 1st, 2007
9:13 am

Tim, I posted my overly long review of your book here.

Thanks for the great read- I am going to start outsourcing some market research tasks later in May.
The People's Chemist
June 5th, 2009
9:51 am

Thanks for this post. I put your steps into action a year and a half ago. Worked like a charm. Blockbuster to hit stores in October. The actionable advice was invaluable.