Customer Reviews

The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am so, so disappointed with this book.

There are not many books that I will pre-order. But given how smart, timely and successful Nick Denton's family of blogs are, ther was no way I was going to let this book go unread. I wanted my copy ASAP. Pre-ordered and even went for the fast shipping.

Boy, did I learn a lesson. It'll be a long time before I pre-order a book again, no matter who it is by.

(Maybe the fact that even the editorial review had to be written by a dead guy should have tipped me off.)

Granted, it is funny at times, and predictably snarky. But otherwise, it has absolutely no redeeming value. It is merely a (shallow) parody of a business book. Granted, Gawker never promised it would be a book of any substance. What they did do, however, was to promote it in their trademark pithy style in the exact same manner as they would if it *had* been a book of substance.

It is rather like showing up at a pancake dinner, paying, waiting in line, and getting a single pancake for your $9.95.

"But sir, the sign *did* say 'pancake' dinner..." would be the accurate but disingenuous reply.

There is absolutely nothing there that might teach you how the Most Successful Blogger in the World thinks. In fact, this book may very well be an extremely clever joke designed to extract a huge paycheck (as if Denton needed it) from the Gawker readers without in fact revealing anything of substance at all. That would be in line with Denton's history of brilliant thinking, and be a totally in-character respone to the hyperattention placed on him by the blogging world.

As a 50-click+ per day Gawker reader, I feel quite used. The sad thing is, there is a fantastic, must-read book to be written from Gawker's amazing run.

But this ain't it.

Prediction: This book will quickly skyrocket to the top of the biz list, due to the Gawker readers' preorders. But i will fall quickly, because Emperor Denton is quite naked.

Gawker owns the online blog universe. Well-written, off-kilter, intelligent writing about the Media world of New York - it's a website I check several times a day. So you can imagine my frustration with this book of theirs. Substanceless is perhaps the best way to describe it. It's a joke about media but none of the jokes hit. It attempts to give some information as well but almost all of it is advice from the perspective of that thick-rimmed glasses-wearing intern who always seemed to pick fights with everyone at your company. I rather get punched in the face than reread this book.

Gawker=snark, and this book does not disappointed in that department.I originally bought this as a way to superficially explore the industries I would be dealing with (i.e. film, movie, mag) in my new job. Since I am fairly new to media, I knew the book would have something in the way of advice to offer me. After reading the first chapter on the book industry and finding it surprisingly accurate , I was sold. However, as with most books these days, especially in the non-fiction genre, all the good stuff is packed in the front. As I read through the sections on radio and New Media I kind of felt as if they were phoning it in when it came to the snark. Even with the little knowledge i have of these two industries I still can tell filler when i see it. Maybe someone had a blog to write and handed off to an intern.." YOU! SNARK!NOW!" Who knows. Still a good buy with laugh out loud moments,and decent info (especially the book section)... though I'd get it used if I had the chance.

Some great lines and some great ideas! ("Which Mag Should You Be Running?" page 59 ... was fun.)This will be very helpful in my current job search.

I loved this book. It's not a cover to cover read, but skip around for a fun time.

This book is amazing!! Page 128 and 136 will definitely help start and build my medical practice!!!

Don't have a million dollar press, lucky you, many are indebted to such monsters. Why is there a new york times, they have a large building full of people and distribution costs to go with it. Then there are 300 million reporters on the scene with no overhead and free paper and ink, or computer monitors that is. so dive in and start writing, there are plenty of marketing tricks in gaining distribution newspapers have been utilizing for centuries. Borrow from what they do, sample 10 square blocks or your building with a single sheet of tantalizing story headlines and few lines of copy about the article and have at it. You times have arrived. Need some encouragement this book will free up your inhibitions and set you on a creative content blitz on anything from being a sportscaster to an underground gourmet. Even better do a full boat city format to compete with the best of them without the overheads.

The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media was the perfect present.

I recently moved to New York and got the job of my dreams, working in media. I had the enthusiasm, the motivation, and the eagerness to learn. What I didn't have was The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media.

An experienced colleague slid the book across my desk, and told me it
was a top priority read. I read this miracle in one day, and still sleep
with it under my pillow.

Now I pass it forward and recommend circulating it through your offices.
If you're starting out in any facet of media, this work will be your Bible; and if you've been in the business for a while, or are interested in shifting your line of work, it will be refreshing.

It's a witty, quick read, yet substantive, as one would expect from Gawker
writers. Amazing that they actually covered so many aspects of media.

The Guide answers important questions like "Who's More Powerful - Assistant Editor or Editorial Assistant?"

Media is my life. The following quote from the book assures me that I am
not alone:

"If one day you're successful to the point where your pills and personal
staff are the closest friends you have, congrats. This book has served you well, and we've done our job." (xi)

Exactly.