Richard Wiseman's skeptical bestseller can't find US publisher, goes self-published

[AdMan]

Richard Wiseman's latest UK bestseller, Paranormality (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00572B4BK/), can't find a US publisher, so the author decides to self-publish.

Says Wiseman:

The book has done well in the UK and has been bought by publishers in lots of other countries. However, the major American publishers were reluctant to support a skeptical book, with some suggesting that I re-write it to suggest that ghosts were real and psychic powers actually existed! We didn’t get any serious offers and so it looked like the American public (around 75% of whom believe in the paranormal) wouldn’t get the opportunity to read about skepticism. Then I had an idea.

I am going to self-publish an unashamedly skeptical book in America and see what happens. Today the book launches on Kindle and my UK publisher will ship physical editions into America (and it will appear as an iBook very soon). It all feels like a scary but exciting experiment.


https://richardwiseman.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/paranormality-launches-in-the-usa-and-the-friday-puzzle/

I've just bought mine, and I urge other skeptics in America to do the same. :)

[paiute]

Unless your book has vampires or dysfunctional families, publishers do not want to see it.

[JohnG]

Richard Wiseman's latest UK bestseller, Paranormality (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00572B4BK/), can't find a US publisher, so the author decides to self-publish.

Says Wiseman:




https://richardwiseman.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/paranormality-launches-in-the-usa-and-the-friday-puzzle/

I've just bought mine, and I urge other skeptics in America to do the same. :)


Thanks for the heads up! This American just ordered a copy.

Unless your book has vampires or dysfunctional families, publishers do not want to see it.


And if you wrote about a dysfunctional family of vampires, well that's a license to print money right there.

[AdMan]

I've just bought mine, and I urge other skeptics in America to do the same. :)


And James Randi agrees (http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/component/content/article/16-james-randi/1352-lets-get-behind-richard-wiseman-on-this.html).

This refusal of U.S. publishers to accept a book – they were “reluctant to support a skeptical book, with some suggesting that I re-write it to suggest that ghosts were real and psychic powers actually existed!” – offends me, and I hope that it strikes you the same way. Now that we know Paranormality is available, and how to purchase it, please do so – either in solid form (available next week at TAM), or on Kindle. The only way that publishers can be reached in through their income, and I want this book to show them that the American public really does have an interest in the skeptical viewpoint!

Please, let’s support Richard’s book!

[Lisa Simpson]

I bought it on Kindle a few days ago.

[Soapy Sam]

Richard is no mean self publicist. It will probably sell bigtime.
I bought it a month or so ago- ironically in Kazakhstan.
Which raises an issue.
Why am I , as a Brit, required to pay UK VAT on a Kindle e-book, when I'm not in the UK when I buy it?
Why is the Kindle store not the same price everywhere?

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Nice to see it will be available in Canada.

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Paranormality-Why-We-See-What-Richard-Wiseman/9780230752986-item.html?ikwid=paranormality%3a+why+we+see+what+i sn%27t+there&ikwsec=Home

I'll head to the local Chapters store and see if I can pre-order a copy.

[Quinn]

Just waiting for the iBook...

[Marduk]

And if you wrote about a dysfunctional family of vampires, well that's a license to print money right there.

its been done already
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_Dark
;)

[AdMan]

PZ Myers chimes in: I think we've been insulted by American book publishers (http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/07/i_think_weve_been_insulted_by.php):

It's a self-perpetuating cycle, isn't it? Since so many of us are gullible cretins, books and TV are tailored to pander to error rather than to challenge and criticize, so the population becomes increasingly more gullible. I guess that makes sense if your goal is to educate a public to buy more soap and toasters.

[JohnG]

its been done already
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_Dark
;)


That was a movie but fair enough. Let me clarify: if you wrote about a dysfunctional family of sexy vampires...

[rambaldi]

That was a movie but fair enough. Let me clarify: if you wrote about a dysfunctional family of sexy vampires...

... involved in some secret conspiracy going back at least to the templars.

[EHocking]

That was a movie but fair enough. Let me clarify: if you wrote about a dysfunctional family of sexy vampires...Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett.

[Robin]

Unless your book has vampires or dysfunctional families, publishers do not want to see it.
Or better still, vampires and dysfunctional families.

(thinks: should have read the rest of the thread before posting).

[Brown]

Nice to see it will be available in Canada.

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Paranormality-Why-We-See-What-Richard-Wiseman/9780230752986-item.html?ikwid=paranormality%3a+why+we+see+what+i sn%27t+there&ikwsec=Home

I'll head to the local Chapters store and see if I can pre-order a copy.

Me, too! I bought my first Wiseman book at a Chapters in Ottawa, just a few blocks from Parliament; but I suspect I'll get Paranormality at a store closer to home.

[fls]

I got a sample sent to my Kindle. I like the added touch of QR codes to scan in order to watch videos along the way. But I have to admit that after reading the sample, I haven't yet learned anything new. Not that I'm opposed to a light read which presents stuff I already know in an entertaining manner...but can anyone tell me whether it covers more than what we talk about here?

Linda

[AdMan]

I got a sample sent to my Kindle. I like the added touch of QR codes to scan in order to watch videos along the way. But I have to admit that after reading the sample, I haven't yet learned anything new. Not that I'm opposed to a light read which presents stuff I already know in an entertaining manner...but can anyone tell me whether it covers more than what we talk about here?

Linda

There is another sample here (http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/11-07-06/#feature).

I expect that as this is a broad look at skepticism aimed at the general public, there likely won't be a whole lot that's very new to many here. Still probably a fun, interesting read.

[Jr1985]

I accidentally stumbled upon this book the other day. Despite having heard all of the same things before, I still find it interesting, especially with the "do-it-yourself" experiments (like how to induce an OBE!).

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Why won't Prometheus Books publish it?

~~ Paul

[cj.23]

Conville and Walsh is taking professor Richard Wiseman’s Supernormality, a book just sold to Macmillan in the UK in a “big” six-figure deal. Supernormality deals with the way that scientific research into the apparent fringes of psychology—mediums, lucid dreaming and telepathy—has led to serious breakthroughs which can be applied to everyday life. His previous book, 59 Seconds, has sold to 31 foreign-language publishers.

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/agents-head-frankfurt-new-amis-david-bowie-series-and-new-colfer.html

US publishers must be very dim then, especially given the number of weeks it was an Amazon top ten bestseller over here, or something is not right

cj x

[DarthAqueous]

Bought mine for the Kindle. Now, how exactly am I going to get it signed at TAM? :)

Chad Walker

[cj.23]

Excellent fun book. Do buy it! (I wrote a critical review, but still hugely enjoyed it).

cj x

[AdMan]

Excellent fun book. Do buy it! (I wrote a critical review, but still hugely enjoyed it).

cj x


Where is your review?

[cj.23]

Where is your review?

Sorry: it's on Amazon - I gave it 5 stars. It is easier to find on my blog here --
http://jerome23.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/richard-wisemans-paranormality-a-good-but-fundamentally-limited-book/


I saw Wiseman at Cheltenham Science Festival - I have not writtten part 2 of that yet, but part 1 is here
http://jerome23.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/cheltenham-science-festival-richard-wiseman-seance-review-part-one/

Hope of use.

cj x

[Horatius]

I'm seeing this as "Not currently available" on the Amazon Kindle page. Is it only available for Kindle in the US?

[John Jackson]

can anyone tell me whether it covers more than what we talk about here?


It's a good read but it's written for a lay audience. It's quite wide in scope but there's not a great deal of depth in any of it. Skeptics who've been around the block, so to speak, won't learn anything new.

Those who are newer to skepticism and want to gain a better understanding of the reasons why paranormal claims aren't accepted by skeptics (i.e. what the alternative explanations are) will gain from it however.

Either way, it's a good read. Well written and entertaining.

[Lothian]

Why am I , as a Brit, required to pay UK VAT on a Kindle e-book, when I'm not in the UK when I buy it?
The 'place of supply' is deemed to be where the supplier is.

The supply is subject to VAT because it is seen as electronic services not a book. Electronic services are difficult to tax. From a practical point of view is it easier to work out where the suppliers are than the customers. Therefore the EU has taken the pragmatic view that for sales to the public the place of supply shall be where the supplier is. This makes sense for Amazon UK who can stick it all on one vat return rather than do a return for every country where they sold an e-book. It also means Amazon UK can give a fixed price, which they wouldn't if the VAT followed the rate where the purchaser was based.

For business to business it works the other way and is deemed to be where the customer is. This also makes sense as it is an 'in and out' for the purchaser on their VAT return. Otherwise they would have to write to every government where they bought goods and request a refund. An administrative nightmare.

Why is the Kindle store not the same price everywhere? Exchange rates, local costs, profiteering…….

[Almo]

Richard is no mean self publicist. It will probably sell bigtime.
I bought it a month or so ago- ironically in Kazakhstan.
Which raises an issue.
Why am I , as a Brit, required to pay UK VAT on a Kindle e-book, when I'm not in the UK when I buy it?
Why is the Kindle store not the same price everywhere?

They don't want brits avoiding the high VAT by using proxies to pretend to be in countries where it's cheaper.

[AdMan]

Sorry: it's on Amazon - I gave it 5 stars. It is easier to find on my blog here --
http://jerome23.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/richard-wisemans-paranormality-a-good-but-fundamentally-limited-book/


I saw Wiseman at Cheltenham Science Festival - I have not writtten part 2 of that yet, but part 1 is here
http://jerome23.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/cheltenham-science-festival-richard-wiseman-seance-review-part-one/

Hope of use.

cj x


Thanks for the links. I've read your first article (still have to go through all the links) and found it very interesting, even though I now realize that I may actually be in the target audience for Wiseman's book, given how much of what you wrote went way over my head. :D

[Lothian]

They don't want brits avoiding the high VAT by using proxies to pretend to be in countries where it's cheaper.or for the same reason people pretending to be in Britian.

cv Europe the UK has 12 higher 7 lower 7 the same. link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_added_tax#Tax_rates)

Note: Soapy would have only paid 12% in Kazakhstan

[mutile]

Not available in Australia, what rubbish!

[JM85]

Ah, this is why I can't buy it directly from amazon. I have Richard's other books; they're fun reads. They're advertised as self help books, but he writes more about scientific studies that were done. Didn't he say something that gave some credence to remote viewing, like it was technically proven?