Infinite Loops Jimmy Soni — The Publishing System is Broken (EP. 295)
Jimmy Soni, CEO of Infinite Books and author, dives deep into the broken systems of traditional publishing while highlighting his upcoming book on Kobe Bryant. He discusses the importance of A/B testing in cover designs, arguing that authors now hold unprecedented leverage in the industry. Soni emphasizes the shift toward data-driven marketing and the need for long-term strategies rather than a quick promotional push. He also encourages writers to embrace their creativity across genres and aims to transform authors into millionaires.
01:37:14
Author Pays For Better Cover
- Jimmy Soni paid out of his advance to commission illustrated cover art when Getty images excluded women and non-famous subjects.
- A-B testing showed his cover with mixed faces outperformed the publisher's choices by a country mile.
Covers Matter More Online
- Online buyers have a tiny decision window so cover design matters far more than in-store assumptions suggest.
- Rapid digital A-B testing yields clear data to improve cover choice and conversion.
A-B Test Design Decisions
- Run audience A-B tests on titles, subtitles, and covers before finalizing design decisions.
- Use the audience data to guide choices, but reserve editorial veto when tests are unclear.
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Intro
00:00 • 36sec
Why Jimmy wrote The Founders
00:36 • 4min
Cover problems with legacy publishing
04:22 • 3min
A/B testing covers and reader behavior
07:32 • 5min
Why publishers resist simple tests
12:12 • 6min
Authors' new leverage and 'problem authors'
18:03 • 5min
Automate marketing and higher royalties
23:15 • 8min
What Infinite Books offers versus self-publishing
31:01 • 2min
Writer's rooms and AI for drafting
33:21 • 3min
In-person collaboration benefits
36:28 • 4min
Targeted outreach over spray-and-pray
40:34 • 8min
Customized asks and audience-first marketing
49:03 • 5min
Author dashboards and real-time data
54:04 • 1min
The Tao of Kobe — what Jimmy found
55:24 • 7min
Kobe's creative metaphors and voice
01:02:42 • 6min
Authors locked into lanes
01:08:54 • 3min
Long-term marketing versus debut window
01:12:10 • 5min
Reviving overlooked books
01:17:21 • 5min
Agent enthusiasm and finding diamonds
01:22:32 • 6min
Audiobooks, AI, and audio production
01:28:20 • 2min
North stars: author wealth and quality
01:30:40 • 4min
Two final imperatives for creators
01:35:07 • 2min
Outro
01:36:58 • 2sec
#54717
Dispatches from Grief
A Mother's Journey Through the Unthinkable
Danielle Crittenden
On a February morning, Danielle Crittenden received the devastating news that her 32-year-old daughter Miranda had been found dead in her Brooklyn apartment.
In this extraordinary memoir, Crittenden maps the landscape of sudden loss with a journalist's precision and a mother's heart, weaving intimate family moments with meditations on mortality, parenthood, and finding grace amid catastrophe.
Written with luminous prose, dark humor, and raw candor, it offers companionship to those who have loved deeply and lost profoundly, filling a gap in grief literature about losing an adult child.
#72152
The Dao of Kobe
Jimmy Soni
The book delves into Kobe Bryant's deep passion for writing and storytelling after his basketball career, where he aimed to become the next Walt Disney.
Soni uncovers how Kobe obsessively studied narrative craft, authored multiple novels, screenplays, and built his own publishing company to maintain high quality standards, rejecting traditional publishers.
It highlights his meticulous dedication, such as redesigning book barcodes for aesthetic perfection.
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The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
A Guide to Wealth and Happiness
Naval Ravikant
Eric Jorgensen
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a compilation of Naval Ravikant's wisdom and insights on wealth, happiness, and life.
It covers a range of topics, including building wealth, making decisions, learning, and finding happiness.
The book is based on Naval's tweets, essays, and interviews, organized and curated by Eric Jorgenson.
It provides a framework for understanding how to live a fulfilling and successful life, emphasizing the importance of clear thinking, ethical behavior, and long-term perspective.
The almanack is a guide to living a happier, wealthier, and more meaningful life.
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A mind at play
How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age
Jimmy Soni
Rob Goodman
This biography, written by Jimmy Soni and Rob Goodman, reveals the full story of Claude Shannon for the first time.
It chronicles Shannon's life from his small-town Michigan roots to his groundbreaking work at MIT and Bell Labs.
The book highlights his contributions to digital circuit design and information theory, as well as his interactions with notable figures like Alan Turing, John von Neumann, and Albert Einstein.
Shannon's personal life, including his interests in juggling, unicycling, and inventing unusual devices, is also explored.
The authors provide a detailed and engaging account of Shannon's impact on the information age and his unique blend of playfulness and genius.
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Founders
Jimmy Soni
In this book, Jimmy Soni delves into PayPal’s turbulent early days, drawing from hundreds of interviews and unprecedented access to internal material.
He reveals how the collaboration among a rare assemblage of talent, including figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, and Reid Hoffman, changed the world.
The narrative highlights the challenges faced by the company, such as bruising competition, internal strife, and the dot-com bust, and how these individuals went on to influence leading companies like Tesla, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
#903
• Mentioned in 36 episodes
What works on Wall Street
The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time
James P. O'Shaughnessy
In 'What Works on Wall Street', James P. O'Shaughnessy provides an in-depth analysis of over 90 years of stock market data to identify the most effective investment strategies.
The book examines various factors such as price-to-earnings ratios, price-to-sales, price-to-book value, dividend yields, and more.
It challenges conventional wisdom and offers multifactor strategies that have historically generated the best returns.
The book is designed to help investors of all levels, from conservative to aggressive, in selecting the best strategies for their investment objectives.
#1521
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How to Retire
Christine Benz
Christine Benz's "How to Retire" provides a comprehensive guide to retirement planning, moving beyond simplistic rules of thumb.
The book delves into dynamic spending strategies, emphasizing the need to adapt to changing life circumstances and expenses.
It addresses the psychological challenges of transitioning from saving to spending, offering practical advice on managing finances and maintaining a fulfilling life in retirement.
Benz also explores the importance of purpose and relationships in retirement, highlighting the need for a holistic approach that considers non-financial factors.
The book is a valuable resource for anyone approaching retirement, offering insights and strategies for a successful and enjoyable transition.
#3291
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
Invest Like the Best
How the Best Investors Approach the Market
Patrick O'Shaughnessy
Patrick O'Shaughnessy's "Invest Like the Best" is a compilation of interviews with some of the world's most successful investors.
The book explores a wide range of investment philosophies and strategies, offering insights into the decision-making processes of these experts.
O'Shaughnessy delves into various topics, including value investing, growth investing, and behavioral finance.
The book provides a diverse perspective on the investment world, highlighting the importance of adaptability and continuous learning.
It's a valuable resource for investors seeking to expand their knowledge and refine their investment approach.
#14
• Mentioned in 382 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.
#3231
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
Slow Horses
Mick Herron
#2625
• Mentioned in 15 episodes
The Mamba mentality
How I Play
Kobe Bryant
In this autobiographical book, Kobe Bryant shares his insights on his life and basketball career, highlighting his detailed approach to preparation, both physical and mental.
The book includes Bryant's reflections on his leadership, his techniques on the court, and how he studied and competed against other players.
It is accompanied by photographs from Hall of Fame photographer Andrew D. Bernstein, capturing Bryant's career from his first to his last NBA game.
The book offers a deep dive into the 'Mamba mentality,' which emphasizes the journey over the result and the importance of hard work, dedication, and mental preparation.
#1594
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
Boys in the Boat
Daniel James Brown
The book chronicles the journey of nine working-class American boys from the University of Washington who, despite long odds, won the gold medal in rowing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The story is set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the rise of Nazi Germany.
It focuses on Joe Rantz, a teenager who overcame significant personal hardships to become part of the team.
The narrative also explores the broader historical context, including the political and social climate of both the United States and Germany during that era.
The book highlights the determination, grit, and teamwork of the crew members as they achieved an extraordinary sports achievement.
Jimmy Soni, CEO and editor in chief of Infinite Books, is back on Infinite Loops. We discuss what's broken in traditional publishing and how we're fixing it. We also dig into Jimmy's forthcoming book on Kobe Bryant, why the world needs more "problem authors," and why our goal is to make our authors millionaires.
We explore why most industries optimize for prestige instead of outcomes, how digital distribution has reshaped attention, and why authors — and creators more broadly — have more leverage than they realize.
Important Links:
Infinite Books: https://www.infinitebooks.com/
Jimmy's X: https://x.com/jimmyasoni
Substack: https://newsletter.osv.llc/
Books Mentioned:
The Founders by Jimmy Soni
A Mind at Play by Jimmy Soni
The Dao of Kobe by Jimmy Soni (Upcoming)
What Works on Wall Street by Jim O'Shaughnessy
Invest Like the Best by Jim O'Shaughnessy
How to Retire Rich by Jim O'Shaughnessy
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
The Almanac of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson (transcribed as "Naval Akan")
Dispatches from Grief (Upcoming)
Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant
Slow Horses by Mick Herron
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown