The Critical Path: The First Year by Horace Dediu » What I've learned so far

What I've learned so far

Update #1 · May 15, 2012 · 10 comments

One week into this project and the response has been phenomenal. We are at nearly 500% funded. There are 414 backers so far and the average pledge is nearly $34. This means that the vast majority of people (328 so far) opted for the $35 pledge. Many pledged even more than $35.

Perhaps it's only symbolic but the interest in the hard copy version was something I did not expect. It's gratifying that people would prefer to have a physical representation of the work. It also means that I have to think carefully about the production of a good quality paper book.

The abundance of support allows me to invest in design, editing and perhaps illustration as well as the text. I will also have to do a lot of signing.

Thanks again to all who have contributed. I'm completely humbled by the level of support and can only promise to keep doing that which has been so resolutely defended by you all.

Next update

Comments

Leave a comment (for backers only)

1. Creator Ryan Armstrong on May 24, 2012
  
  Horace - What if you considered using the clean aesthetic of your website for your book?
2. Creator darius4242 on May 19, 2012
  
  You can pledge a higher amount and choose a lower reward. Click "Manage your pledge" and see if you can't figure it out. :)
3. Creator gustavo fontana on May 16, 2012
  
  done. Thanks!
4. Creator ivanhoe1982 on May 16, 2012
  
  I would like a book. I'm treating this one as a collectible :)
5. Creator Horace Dediu on May 15, 2012
  
  If you prefer not to receive the book, I can make sure that one won't be printed.
6. Creator gustavo fontana on May 15, 2012
  
  Horace, from your own book: do not confuse correlation and causality :)
  
  Are you sure people want the dead-tree version? Or they just want to support you more? I'd love to pledge more than $25, but only if you can make sure no trees will be killed in the process. Also personally I'd love to see more of the resources devoted to content and illustration than to ink/paper/glue.
7. Creator Ernest Prabhakar on May 15, 2012
  
  Horace, it would be awesome if your book had illustrations as cool as those in ReWork by Mike Rohde:
  
  http://37signals.com/svn/posts/2180-illustrating-rework-part-1-of-2
  
  It seems like his style might work well for you.
8. Creator Colin Denzel on May 15, 2012
  
  Horace:
  
  I think that many of us would like to see you actually profit somewhat from this endeavour. Please don't feel that you need to invest all of the proceeds into making a beautiful hardbound book :)
  
  Keep a little for yourself.
9. Creator Lipos on May 15, 2012
  
  Horace,
  
  Because I know you value our process of decision I want to share why I pick the $35 version.
  
  I just pledge the printed version to remember me how much I learn with you. I will not read this printed version, and I will not borrow to someone else. It's just to have something that I know it's unique and represent how much I have to learn. I think a letter, or a post it won't be good enough for me, if the printed version is still available.
  
  Honestly, I were hoping you do the e-book with iBook Author, with a lot of dynamic graphs, hypothesis, and models. This is how I want to read your book, because is the way I think I must read your thoughts.
  
  Another point that is has weight on my decision to back u up, it's the confidence and the certainly that wherever you do, it will be value for me. It was a trust decision.
  
  Best regards!
10. Creator Eric Platon on May 15, 2012
  
  Horace,
  
  Congratulations for the success of your initiative so far.
  
  I joined the $35+ pledge group as I believe in the value and quality of the outcome. I however do not really need a printed version of the book, honestly. A postcard with a word from you would be perfect as a "signed edition"! Perhaps some other backers share the same opinion?
  
  I wonder if a nice IBook Author kind of format would not be more interesting instead, with perhaps some interactive data and other contents. This might be even more work than a printed edition, and I just wanted to mention the idea.
  
  I wish you all the best in your enterprise, and looking forward to the next Critical Path.

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