The Knowledge Project Charlie Hoehn: Write Something People Want to Read
In this engaging conversation, Charlie Hoehn, founder of Author.Inc and a three-time New York Times bestselling editor, shares how to transform book ideas into bestsellers. He uncovers the secrets of crafting captivating titles and covers, emphasizing the importance of targeting specific readers. Hoehn discusses the balance between traditional and self-publishing, and the power of community engagement for effective book promotion. He also reflects on navigating the emotional complexities of authorship, including the quest for accolades and redefining success beyond career milestones.
01:44:58
Cover Design Nuances
- Effective book covers encapsulate the book's essence in a compelling image.
- They instantly communicate the book's message and target audience.
Title Testing
- Invest time in crafting a memorable, curiosity-evoking title.
- Test titles with real people to gauge their reactions and ensure memorability.
Structure First
- Don't write a word before finalizing your table of contents.
- Test the table of contents with readers to ensure relevance and engagement.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Writing for One: The Key to Engaging Books
03:27 • 2min
Navigating the Authorial Journey
05:15 • 19min
The Art of Book Design and Self-Publishing
24:10 • 13min
The Power of Structure in Writing
37:20 • 11min
Crafting Captivating Beginnings
47:55 • 7min
The Weight of Numbers and Compliments
55:01 • 4min
The Pursuit of Accolades: Navigating the NYT Bestseller List
58:49 • 26min
Strategies for Effective Book Promotion and Launch
01:24:57 • 4min
Navigating Book Launches and Authenticity
01:28:32 • 14min
Redefining Success Through Family and Reflection
01:42:44 • 2min
#875
• Mentioned in 38 episodes
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing
Violate Them at Your Own Risk
Al Ries
Jack Trout
In this book, Al Ries and Jack Trout present 22 immutable laws of marketing that are essential for understanding and succeeding in the international marketplace.
These laws, such as the Law of Leadership, the Law of the Category, and the Law of Perception, emphasize the importance of being first in the market, creating new categories, and focusing on perceptions rather than products.
The authors argue that violating these laws can lead to marketing failure, regardless of the resources or creativity invested.
The book provides a clear path to successful marketing by adhering to these timeless principles.
#12332
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Psychology of Human Misjudgment
Charlie Munger
This work, originally delivered as a speech at Harvard University in 1995, outlines Charlie Munger's observations on the irrational patterns in human behavior.
Munger identifies 25 standard causes of human misjudgment, including tendencies such as Reward and Punishment Superresponse, Liking/Loving Tendency, Dislike/Hating Tendency, and others.
These insights are crucial for understanding how psychological biases affect decision-making and are particularly relevant in fields like behavioral economics and finance.
#97
• Mentioned in 164 episodes
Poor Charlie's Almanack
The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger
Charles T. Munger
Peter D. Kaufman
Originally published in 2005, Poor Charlie's Almanack is a collection of eleven talks delivered by Charles T. Munger between 1986 and 2007.
Edited by Peter D. Kaufman, this book draws on Munger's extensive knowledge across various fields to provide a framework for rational and rigorous approaches to life, learning, and decision-making.
It is renowned for its sharp wit and rhetorical flair, making it an essential read for investors, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to enhance their wisdom and critical thinking skills.
#170
• Mentioned in 120 episodes
Can't Hurt Me
Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
David Goggins
In 'Can't Hurt Me,' David Goggins shares his astonishing life story, from a childhood marred by poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse to becoming a U.S.
Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes.
The book reveals Goggins' philosophy, known as the '40% Rule,' which suggests that most people only tap into 40% of their capabilities.
He provides a wealth of practical strategies and principles for personal development, emphasizing self-discipline, accountability, and the necessity of embracing discomfort to unlock personal transformation.
Goggins' story and advice serve as a blueprint for readers to push past their perceived limits, confront their fears, and unleash their full potential.
#3359
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
I hope they serve beer in Hell
Tucker Max
This book is a compilation of Tucker Max's blog posts and stories, detailing his experiences during and after his time at Duke Law School.
It includes accounts of excessive drinking, run-ins with police, being kicked out of bars, and numerous sexual encounters.
The book is known for its raw and unapologetic humor, which has both entertained and offended readers.
Max's stories reflect his self-proclaimed status as an 'asshole' and his disregard for conventional social behavior.
#325
• Mentioned in 77 episodes
The Inner Game of Tennis
Timothy Gallwey
This book, first published in 1974, focuses on the 'Inner Game' played within the mind of the player, against obstacles such as self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses in concentration.
Gallwey introduces the concept of two selves: Self 1, the thinking brain that analyzes and judges, and Self 2, the 'feeling and doing' brain that can master skills naturally if not interfered with by Self 1.
The book provides strategies for achieving 'relaxed concentration' and overcoming internal mental and emotional obstacles, making it relevant not only to tennis but also to other areas of life such as music, writing, work, and personal relationships.
#21
• Mentioned in 347 episodes
The Psychology of Money
Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
Morgan Housel
In 'The Psychology of Money,' Morgan Housel delves into the psychological and emotional aspects of financial decisions.
The book consists of 19 short stories that illustrate how personal history, worldview, emotions, and biases influence financial outcomes.
Housel emphasizes the importance of behavior over knowledge in managing money, highlighting the power of compounding, the dangers of greed, and the pursuit of happiness beyond mere wealth accumulation.
He advocates for a frugal lifestyle, long-term perspective, and a balanced approach to investing, stressing that financial success is more about mindset and discipline than about technical financial knowledge.
#13947
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
It's Not All About Me
The Top Ten Techniques for Building Quick Rapport with Anyone
Robin Dreeke
In 'It's Not All About Me,' Robin Dreeke shares his research and expertise on building relationships by focusing on others rather than oneself.
The book outlines ten techniques, including establishing artificial time constraints, accommodating nonverbals, slowing down speech, using sympathy or assistance themes, and validating others.
These methods are designed to help readers build strong rapport by understanding and responding to the needs and behaviors of others.
Dreeke emphasizes the importance of ego suspension, active listening, and reciprocal altruism in creating meaningful connections.
The book is applicable to various professionals and individuals looking to improve their interpersonal skills.
#255
• Mentioned in 90 episodes
The Miracle Morning
The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM)
Hal Elrod
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod provides a step-by-step process to transform your life by starting your day with six powerful practices: Silence (meditation), Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing (journaling).
This updated and expanded edition includes new content such as The Miracle Evening and The Miracle Life, helping readers optimize their bedtime and sleep, and begin their path to inner freedom.
The book has helped millions of people become the person they need to be to create the life they’ve always wanted.
#371
• Mentioned in 70 episodes
Jurassic Park
Michael Crichton
In 'Jurassic Park', Michael Crichton tells the story of John Hammond, the owner of InGen, who creates a theme park on the fictional island of Isla Nublar featuring dinosaurs cloned from DNA found in amber.
The park's safety is questioned by a group of experts, including paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler, and mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm.
When a power outage caused by a greedy computer technician disables the park's security systems, the dinosaurs escape, leading to a desperate struggle for survival.
The novel delves into themes of genetic engineering, chaos theory, and the ethical implications of scientific advancements.
#469
• Mentioned in 59 episodes
Clear Thinking
Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results
Shane Parrish
In 'Clear Thinking', Shane Parrish provides a comprehensive manual for improving decision-making and personal growth.
The book highlights how most people operate on autopilot, driven by behavioral defaults shaped by biology, evolution, and culture.
Parrish offers strategies to recognize and capitalize on pivotal moments between stimulus and response, using stories, mental models, and a 4-stage decision process (define, explore, evaluate, execute).
The book aims to help readers build self-knowledge, self-control, and self-confidence, and to make better decisions by balancing emotions with rational thinking and gathering high-quality information.
#2
• Mentioned in 1,254 episodes
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones.
The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying.
It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results.
Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation.
The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth.
#57
• Mentioned in 222 episodes
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Mark Manson
In this book, Mark Manson argues against the typical self-help advice of constant positivity, instead suggesting that life's struggles give it meaning.
He emphasizes the need to focus on what truly matters and to accept and confront painful truths.
The book is divided into nine chapters and uses blunt honesty and profanity to illustrate its ideas, encouraging readers to find meaning through values they can control and to replace uncontrollable values with more meaningful ones.
#15
• Mentioned in 397 episodes
The 4 Hour Workweek
Tim Ferriss
In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth.
The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results.
The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.
#8486
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Meetings Suck
Cameron Herold
In this episode, Charlie Hoehn explains the secrets behind why some books are unforgettable, and others no one seems to remember. He shares his journey of helping authors transform their ideas into best-selling books and provides actionable advice on structuring, writing, and marketing a book. You'll learn how to craft titles that make people want to read your book, design compelling covers that stand out on the shelves, and use certain strategies to engage readers effectively depending on the ideas you communicate. Hoehn also shares the psychology behind book promotion, how to leverage feedback, and the dynamics of traditional versus self-publishing. Whether tackling a novel or email, this episode will transform how you write and communicate.
Charlie Hoehn is the founder of Author.Inc and a 3-time New York Times bestselling editor. He's the mind behind some of the influential books from Tim Ferriss, Ramit Sethi, Codie Sanchez, and Noah Kagan. Charlie's expertise has helped sell over 10 million books.
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(00:00) Intro
(03:04) Helping Authors Succeed
(03:38) Writing for a Specific Audience
(07:14) The Importance of Real Feedback
(10:18) Traditional vs. Self-Publishing
(20:50) The Economics of Self-Publishing
(24:42) The Art of Book Cover Design
(30:29) Crafting a Compelling Title
(36:42) The Importance of Book Structure
(47:22) Editing: The Final Touch
(51:35) Book Sales Percentiles
(52:32) The Harsh Reality of Book Sales
(54:20) The Emotional Impact of Writing
(55:12) Dealing with Compliments and Criticism
(58:24) The Quest for Bestseller Lists
(1:00:04) The Complexities of Hitting the New York Times List
(1:12:25) Leveraging AI in Writing
(1:20:21) Effective Marketing Strategies for Authors
(1:28:14) Creating Evergreen Content
(1:35:30) The Importance of Authenticity in Writing
(1:40:54) Final Thoughts
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