Hi Kio, regards ePUB and Amazon Kindle - I would like to offer to convert to all eBook formats as part of my backing for this project. I can also assist with distribution to eBook retail channels, and advise on the best approach for the eBook title. (I part own a company that provides these services around the globe to large multinational and medium sized publishers, and I would take personal responsibility for your title :-)

Keep up the great work and updates,
Best regards,
Andrew Crisp
New Zealand

With regard to keeping your index cards off of the living room floor (and keeping your family's good will and support), may I suggest putting up a few cork boards in the garage, then using pushpins to fix the cards to the board? This accomplishes vertically what you are already doing horizontally. It also eliminates the worry that your carefully structured subject groups might be scrambled at any moment by kids, pets, or a stray gust of wind.

You're absolutely right. You can't write a great book in three months. I hear of people who write a book in a few weeks and I can't help but wonder if they've skimped on little things like editing, production, etc.

I'm very excited to see the book, but I would rather wait a little longer to get a good book than have you finish it by May if the quality of the book suffers in the rush. All the best in your efforts to complete the project smoothly. :)

Hi Kio
I don't think it matters when the book comes out - I'm sure all the self-taught people you interviewed took their time. Look forward to the book when it does arrive.
Cheers
Duncan

Hello Kio.

Wonderful to hear things are going great with your project. Even if you do have a delivery date, I'm sure people can understand if it takes a bit longer to get the end result you aim for. Quality does take time. :) Thank you very much for your effort in making this book.

hi Kio, check lulu.com

I used it for a book and I was amazed at the result

When can we expect the book ?

looking forward to the book. i have taught myself enough to launch 2 business, starting from ground ZERO. If you want to do something bad enough which means work hard enough you can find a way.

i think the massive ammount of backup this project has got just show how much are we tired of schools and their learning system. Ir's not just you, there's a world out there advocating for an urgent change in the way we are learning. Thank you so much for making this book!

Hi Kio! This is a wonderful project; just backed it :) I've been out of school for a year and a half, and although I studied art, I decided to "independently learn" all the sciences I missed. Doing my own mycology and botany experiments, now. Thanks for endorsing independent learning, and good luck!

Kio... For interview subjects, I'd suggest Pat Farenga (patfarenga.com) and Manfred Smith (http://mhea.com/aboutus.htm) Both are very approachable/personable and chock full of great ideas on learning.

When will this be available? My nephew needs this now. He is always asking me for advice about what he should go back to school and take.

Kio, so glad to see this project getting traction! I'm self-taught, extending that by homeschooling our 4 kids. Your book is going to be a hit in our homeschooling community, for certain! Go, go, go!

Just pledged, and definitely looking forward to reading what you have to share. I've been a professional self-learner since finishing college, so I'm curious to hear how others tackle this kind of thing.

Please tell Bre I said hello -- James Floyd Kelly

@OliverJanoschka : I totally agree with you! globaleducation.ning.com looks great, thx for sharing !

Hi Kio,

congrats- just discovered your Nonfiction project through the kickstarter newsletter.It really corresponds with my interests to explore how learning pathways can be self-organised and realized (through networks, new media, mentors, experience(s)...), even though I am more keen on to find out where are the institutions providing the frames for this kind of learning.
But for your purpose, it might be interesting to have a look at this group here- who seem to address similar topics, questioning the classic schooling approch:
http://globaleducation.ning.com/forum/topics/be-you-a-quiet-revolution

Anyhow, scrolling quickly through this rich wall of comments which cristallizes the great interest that your project is raising, I feel it would be thrilling if you could not just create a handbook as a final product, but initiate a network-platform (on ning, mixxt, or others) where people could post their stories and where you could on the spot share your learnings, interviews, resources, etc for/from your project.
This way, your idea could grow organically, in co-creation, providing a unique platform for others to get inspiration and empowerment for their own learning-path.
Definitely, I would be ready to support this-also co-committing time and effort- in case that this would fit with your line of priorities.
All the best

Oliver

This books sounds great & fits nicely with a documentary we are working on called Class Dismissed for those who self-learn at a younger age! http://www.indiegogo.com/Class-Dismissed-Fund

This is amazing! I get asked all the time, 'how did school help you get to where you are' and I keep saying 'it didn't!'. The key is learning how to continue to keep yourself open to learning on your own. I hope this project helps open people's eyes to other ways of learning how to become what they want to become.. and that it's well within their grasps! Nice work Kio!

hey hey! I'm a passionate advocate of alternative education - I used to run EducateDeviate (http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com) gearing towards young Malaysians. Feel free to get in touch and share ideas :D

I'm a stained glass artist with a fledgling business. I learned most of what I know by working in a wonderful stained glass supply and studio establishment. I was able to learn the basics of how to create a variety of pieces on the job, something like an apprenticeship. I learned more advanced design concepts from the resident artist.

I've also done some research into the history of stained glass, and I plan on taking classes through local museums to improve my drawing and design skills further. Doing this without actually going back to school for an art degree takes some of the pressure off my business because I don't have that debt hanging over my head.

Looking forward to this. I, too, am a grad school dropout (I migrated before I could write my thesis, and then I lost interest...) and while I have a bit of regret, I valued what I learned more than any degree.

I'm also teaching myself to write poetry. And I love the idea of homeschooling for the graduate level. I've scanned through some homeschooling resources, and really think we need something for people already in their twenties or older who still want to learn new things everyday.

I am a self-taught web designer/ developer/ digital strategist. Currently trying to switch over to a more brand strategy stuff. if you ever need to interview anyone in those topics, let me know.

Congrats on reaching your goal!!!

This is such a perfectly great idea...
Congrats Kio. This book is going to be fabulous!

Let me echo requests for ePub over PDF. PDF only works well on large display devices (like a laptop, desktop, or tablet PC). For those of us reading on phones, kindles, nooks, etc. something that supports text reflow, such as ePub (and/or mobi) format is ideal.

Congratulations! If you want to talk to me about quitting school to become a violin maker...let me know :-)

yah! congrats on getting funded Kio! - addie

I think Im hanging out with a combination of too many DIY hackers and too many new parents, all of whom are tired of the institutional learning options for themselves and for their children (I know i know, this is not about K-12). So now Ive become all-in when it comes to learning in any way outside of the conventional. Plus you are just the person to put this all together... gooo Kio! Now back to doing my Arabic homework.

Love this idea, Kio. I'm teaching myself how to start a business (after a background and career in elementary education and non-profit management) and am part of book club we call Faux-MBA. :) We read business books and meet to discuss them and apply the principles we learn into our own lives and jobs (we are 2 anthropologists, a tech entrepreneur, a programmer/electrician, a saavy marketer, a tech game producer). We're having a blast and learning a lot! Good luck with your project!

Great idea, Kio. I'm interested in seeing if the same principles for 'learning anything' apply to self paced learning in a K-12 environment. Home schoolers and alt ed environments would greatly benefit.

Kio, I'm stoked to see someone doing a book like this. The best things that have ever happened to my career are NOT getting into 2 different schools. The first was an undergrad school that would have taken down a path towards traditional business mgmt and not allowed me to find my first passion - programming. And the second came when I didn't get into a grad school and ended up finding my second passion - creative work. Without these 2 "failures", I wouldn't have been able to find the work I love doing everyday and never have been able to work/live abroad. I can't wait to see the insights in the book that will hopefully inspire others to not worry about traditional education and go and find their passion.

Kio, it's good to hear that someone is compiling this information into a useable form. I'm a programmer, mostly self-taught. About 2.5 years ago I left school in Wisconsin and moved to Brooklyn. I found a programming job 3 weeks later... I should say "I've never looked back," but that would be dishonest. The truth is that I still have to tell myself, nearly everyday, that my decision to leave school was the right choice. I feel that programming is something that translates well to self-tutelage, and I've always been curious as to how other disciplines compare; hopefully your book will help with that! If you think an interview would help with your book, I'd love to participate.

Sounds like a cool book! I've always been a proponent of self-learning and proud of my own ability and drive to teach myself what I need to know. I am a professional software programmer with a BFA in Film Production. I taught myself the skills I needed to succeed in a different field than the one I studied in school. I'm still pretty inexperienced but I would be happy to talk to you!