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Launching a "book bomb" for Steve Halbrook
Steve has just brought out his latest book, "The Founders’ Second Amendment." It's getting great reviews -- National Review calls it highly readable and interesting, "Every American who cares about this provision of the Constitution can now arm himself against the sophistries and oversimplifications that have permeated much of the popular and professional discourse..." The distinguished historian Forrest McDonald says it's "first-rate work, utterly convincing."
So here's the plan. Monday, Dec. 15, is Bill of Rights Day. We can launch a "book bomb" on that day. A book bomb consists of lots of people ordering a book on the same day or within a few days. Amazon, for example, has a ranking system which (while details are secret) ... well, it's something like this: a book's rankings on Day X are very heavily influenced by the number of orders received the day before X, influences by orders within, say, 3 days before X, and orders on days 4-10 before day X get only a modest role. The idea is to let Amazon readers know what book is hot right now, not what book was hot two weeks ago. New York Times rankings are somewhat longer-term, and based on reports of sales from mostly brick-and-mortar stores (the identity of the stores surveyed is kept secret).
The long and short of it is that even a modest surge of orders, if concentrated in time, can greatly shoot up a book's Amazon rankings and even its NYT rank.
So on Monday, Bill of Rights day, let's see if we can shoot Steve's book to the front, which will mean exposing it to people who aren't yet 2A devotees, but might be brought in.
Here's the webpage where you can order via Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, etc.. You can enter a pledge (there are already 188 as I type) and be redirected to the online seller that will do the most good. But remember to hold off until Monday!
Comments
I'm on board
Posted by: David McCleary at December 13, 2008 11:28 AM
Couldn't we have done something like this to get someone else elected president?
Sorry. I hate to sound like a party pooper.
(But I too am on board--already bought 3 or 4 via pre-order before it was released--but I will buy another on Monday.)
Posted by: Tarn Helm at December 13, 2008 03:15 PM
Count me in, as well. I have a copy of David E. Young's "The Founders' View of the Right to Bear Arms."
It will be interesting to have these two references for comparison.
People, Halbrook's book is $20 or so. Get one!
Posted by: Carl in Chicago at December 14, 2008 06:55 AM
David: Thanks for the heads up. I will order my copy tomorrow. Be advised that, while the posted links [for reviews and places to buy] worked yesterday, neither would work for me a few minutes ago. You might want to check that out.
Posted by: John Frogge at December 14, 2008 09:52 AM
I waited until afternoon (Iraq time) to order mine. Just checked back at Amazon and they are sold out! Plus:
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #403 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#1 in Books > Nonfiction > Current Events > Civil Rights & Liberties
#1 in Books > Nonfiction > Law > Constitutional Law
#1 in Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Political Science > United States > Constitutional History
Posted by: Chris Pugrud at December 15, 2008 10:26 AM
Yep, just went to amazon before I read the comment above and their sold out and don't have any information as to when they might be back in stoke. Does anyone know if we order it anyway if it will help the book bomb? I guess I have to look around for another vender.
Posted by: Chuck at December 15, 2008 11:51 AM
Found one at barns and noble as of 1400 est.
Posted by: Chuck at December 15, 2008 12:01 PM
My book finally shipped -- the price is right:
Amazon.com items (Sold by Amazon.com, LLC):
1 The Founders' Second Amend... $19.11 1 $19.11
Shipped via USPS
Posted by: Jerod Tufte at December 29, 2008 02:27 PM