Interview With Ethics Author Travis N. Rieder, Ph.D.

 

1. There are competing sets of ethics circulating out there. Assuming one wants to do “the right thing,” or at least not do “the wrong thing,” How should one go about living an ethical life? 

This is a very big question! Many moral philosophers would recommend that you try to determine the correct moral theory, so that you can apply it to difficult situations in your life. So, for instance, some people think that the right action is the one that produces the most happiness, so all they need to do when they are uncertain is try to calculate how much happiness each action produces (these folks are called utilitarians). However, I don’t think this is a realistic or helpful approach to being a good person. Not only do most people not have the time, interest, or willingness to wade through millennia of moral philosophy, but not even professional philosophers agree on which theories are most plausible. Thus, in my book, I suggest rather that people should develop a moral toolbox, in which they keep lots of different moral concepts and ideas, which can be employed when they seem most appropriate. This toolbox includes not only principles like beneficence, which tells us to promote people’s welfare; but also concepts like respect for autonomy, dignity, fairness, complicity, and much else. In our actual, day-to-day lives, then, I think that the best we can do is to try to reason carefully using all the tools at our disposal, and this effort is helped if we do it with others, who can help us expand our moral insight. It is not an algorithm, and it is not easy. But we shouldn’t expect it to be.  

2. What do you feel are the biggest ethical challenges today? 

There are many, but I think climate change must rank somewhere near the top of any reasonable list. We are at a point in human history where the decisions we make today will determine how many people suffer and die for decades to come. And we do not need to do anything glaringly evil to lock in massive amounts of suffering—we just need to keep living like we are now, extracting every last resource from the planet. 

Living in the United States, I also think a lot about how much preventable suffering we allow, when we have the tools and ability to prevent it. A prime example of this from my own research is the drug overdose crisis, which kills more than 100,000 every year. We have the tools to save those people, but we’ve made policy decisions to allow them.    

3. What is your book, Catastrophe Ethics, about?  

The central puzzle of the book is that we live in an era defined by problems that are so large and complex that no one of us, as an individual, can have a meaningful impact on the outcome; but many of us feel a moral responsibility to do something anyway. So how are we to act? 

The paradigm case here is climate change. Virtually everything I do in my life contributes in a tiny way to climate change, because energy used in a fossil-fuel dependent society results in greenhouse gas emissions. So I, like many people, feel like I should reduce my carbon footprint. But dangerous climate change is the result of trillions of tons of CO2, and my individual actions result in mere grams or kilograms of CO2. So if I can’t make a difference, should I do anything? If so, what? These are the questions I try to address in the book.  

4. When looking at a big issue, such as climate change, does an individual’s actions really mean much, or do we need to get big government institutions and corporations to take action? 

The question here is what we mean by “mean much.” If we simply mean, “does an individual action have a meaningful causal impact on climate change,” then the answer is straightforwardly “no.” For most of us private citizens, nothing we do can have a meaningful impact. But the moral question is precisely whether that lack of causal influence means that one’s action doesn’t morally mean much. And here, I think the question is still open. If you are a flagrant emitter, you might not be making any hurricane or wildfire worse, but you are living a less temperate lifestyle; you may be lacking integrity or moral fortitude; you may be complicit in harms in some sense; and in general, you are choosing to be a part of the problem when you could be part of the solution instead. These seem like moral failings.  

5. Could you use a certain ethical standard to justify death, destruction, and mayhem? 

Of course one could, and many have. Wars have been waged for religious and idealistic reasons. And one could use a utilitarian calculus (remember: utilitarianism is the view that says we must promote the most happiness) to trade off lives, one against another. Consider the United States dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII: the justification was allegedly about saving lives—yes, tens of thousands were killed by the bombs, but millions would have died in a land invasion of Japan. In general, my own view is that if one is justifying death, destruction, or mayhem, we should be very suspicious that their reasoning has gone awry at some point. Yes, there are likely real, very tragic cases in which lives must be traded off against one another. But in general, if we are appealing to an “ends justify the means” or a retributivist justification, we are likely letting careful moral reasoning give way to something else.  

6. What challenges confronted you in writing your book — and how did you navigate them? 

I’d say the biggest challenge is that the problem is deeply, deeply difficult, and people (understandably) want a simple solution. They want to know: so what should I do? And how do we stop climate change? But the answer is both harder and darker than that. We aren’t stopping climate change, and so whatever we do will not be enough. Part of the answer, then, is coming to terms with how we can live justifiable lives in a time where we have all, already failed in our collective duties. And while that doesn’t sound like a good time, it is, I think, very important. Because if we just give up on the standard of moral justifiability as soon as we have failed in some of our duties, then we start to embrace a kind of moral nihilism: the world is on fire, so we should just eat, drink, and be merry. But here’s the thing: it can always be worse. Climate change isn’t linear, it is scalar: the longer we go without meaningful action the worse things will get. So allowing the earth to warm by 2.5 degrees Celsius is a massive moral failure; but it’s vastly better than allowing it to warm by 3 degrees Celsius. This means that we cannot give up, and we must continue to wrestle with the morality of living amidst catastrophe. 

7. You fret heavily in your book about one’s choice to have kids, due to fears the planet won’t be able to sustain the raping of its resources due to overpopulation. Do you think people should not have kids and let humanity die out? 

Absolutely not. I’ve written on procreative ethics for years, and have never argued for “antinatalism,” or the view that having kids is bad or wrong. In fact, I have a daughter, and she’s the center of my world. I’m a big fan of kids. That does not mean, however, that there is no moral cost to having kids. And so one of the things I discuss is the environmental cost of procreating, and whether that means that people like me—a middle class American—should limit our family size, since our children will likely be very environmentally expensive. And while the argument of that chapter is quite nuanced, with no simple, pithy answer, I do believe that it’s a serious moral consideration.  

8.  What was your TED Talk that garnered 2.5 million views about? 

In 2015, I was in a serious motorcycle accident and nearly lost my foot. While undergoing weeks of reconstruction surgeries, I was on lots of opioids, and I was then sent home with no advice or follow-up about my pain management. After two months, I was told to stop taking the pills and went into severe opioid withdrawal. The TED Talk describes the four weeks of withdrawal, and what I learned from it. The result of this experience is that I went on to become an expert on the ethics and policy questions surrounding pain, opioids, addiction, and North America’s drug overdose crisis. These questions (and my story) were the foundation of my first book, In Pain: A Bioethicist’s Personal Struggle with Opioids (2019).  

9. You direct the Master of Bioethics program at Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. Tell the truth (a good ethic): Did all that happened during the pandemic, from the disease’s origination and masking, to lockdowns and vaccines make you nuts? Did it expose to you how conflicted, ignorant, and angry people can get, from professionals to lay people, when both life and quality of life are on the line? 

The pandemic was a really hard time to be a bioethicist. Being at Johns Hopkins, working at one of the premier bioethics institutes in the country, a lot of my colleagues and I felt a lot of responsibility to drop everything we were working on and focus on the public health issues that were causing so much chaos. So I, and we, did. I worked with several teams, and we published lots of papers. We offered guidance to governors and other policymakers. And my own view of that experience is that most of our work mattered…not at all. Something about the level of public health crisis and the politicization of everything led to a sense that policy and politics were suddenly immune from careful public health ethics reasoning. I did learn a lot from the experience, however, and some of those lessons made it into Catastrophe Ethics. One of the most important things I learned is that people, in general, seem to be getting less willing and able to do careful moral reasoning; but I don’t think we’re past the point of no return. And that’s part of why I write ethics for the general public and not just for my colleagues.

For more information about Travis N. Rieder, PhD, Director of Education Initiatives and Associate Research Professor at Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, please consult:  www.travisrieder.com

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

Interview with Author Donald T. Iannone, Ph.D.

 

1.      What inspired you to write this book?

The inspiration to write America's Dream at the Crossroads: The 2024 Presidential Election and Beyond emerged from my growing concern about the state of American democracy and the increasing polarization that threatens the nation's future. Reflecting back, the motivation came from witnessing years of gridlock in Washington, the erosion of trust in government, and the decline of civil discourse. As these tensions have intensified, it became clear to me that the 2024 presidential election is a pivotal moment, representing a turning point for America's leaders and citizens to address its most pressing issues. The book was born out of a desire to offer a deeper analysis of these systemic problems and propose a path forward, blending my longstanding passion for public policy with a personal sense of urgency to rekindle hope in the American dream. After writing the book, my personal view is that because of his desire to stand above the law, his inflammatory style, and great tendency to spread misinformation, Donald Trump is a serious threat to our democracy and is unfit to serve as president. While Kamala Harris has sizable shortcomings, she stands head and shoulders above Donald Trump to serve as our next president. I would encourage Harris to strike a more meaningful balance between America’s social and economic priorities and explain how she will provide sound fiscal management of the federal government without engaging in deficit economics.

 

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for?

My book delves into the critical juncture at which the United States finds itself, examining the deep-seated divisions and systemic challenges that threaten to derail the nation’s future. At its heart, the book casts the American dream as the central character—a powerful yet fragile ideal that has inspired generations but now struggles under the weight of political polarization, economic inequality, and cultural upheaval. Through a comprehensive analysis of these forces, it explores how the dream has evolved, what it means in today’s society, and why it appears increasingly out of reach for many Americans.

 

Written for policymakers, civic leaders, students, and concerned citizens, the book aims to spark meaningful conversations about the state of the nation and the urgent need to rebuild a shared vision for the future. It discusses the factors contributing to the erosion of trust in government and institutions, the growing sense of disconnection felt by everyday Americans, and the policy decisions that have shaped, and often limited, opportunities for progress. By exploring both the history and the present struggles, it challenges readers to reflect on how to not only protect but also redefine the American dream, turning it into a realistic and unifying aspiration for the coming decades.

 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?

I hope readers will come away from my book with a renewed belief in the importance of not giving up on our government and political system as foundational institutions that shape our collective future. The book aims to encourage people to carefully weigh the complex issues at stake, understand the root causes of division, and recognize the urgent need for thoughtful, informed engagement in the democratic process. While the challenges may seem daunting, I want readers to feel empowered to participate actively, to see that their voices matter, and to use their votes as tools for positive change. By voting in an informed way and demanding accountability from leaders, we can begin to repair and strengthen the fabric of our democracy, ensuring that the American dream remains a viable aspiration for generations to come.

 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?

 The title was chosen to capture the critical moment the country is facing, where major decisions will shape the future of the American dream. It reflects the idea that we are at a turning point, with the upcoming election serving as a crossroads for addressing the deep challenges we face. The cover design was carefully crafted to symbolize this pivotal moment, featuring imagery that evokes both hope and uncertainty. The visual elements aim to inspire reflection on where the nation is headed while emphasizing the power of informed choices in shaping that direction. Together, the title and cover create a sense of urgency and possibility, encouraging readers to engage with the issues at hand.

 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?

 To fellow writers, I’d say, yes, sometimes you may feel like running for the hills, but resist the urge! Embrace the ups and downs of the writing journey because every word you struggle with is a step closer to finding your voice. There will be days when the blank page stares at you like a stubborn mule, refusing to budge—on those days, write anyway, even if it’s nonsense. Remember that writing is not about perfection but persistence; it’s about showing up and letting the process take you somewhere unexpected. Most importantly, don’t forget to laugh along the way. Writing is hard work, but if you approach it with curiosity and humor, you’ll find that the stories you need to tell have a way of coming to life, sometimes when you least expect it. So, keep going—you're not alone in the struggle, and the world needs your words.

 

6. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?

The experiences in my personal life and career have profoundly shaped the writing of this book, which delves into politics and public policy. Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s in a family that placed little value on education or civic understanding, I faced early challenges in gaining insight into the political, economic, and social issues confronting our nation. My family's fundamentalist church often hindered the pursuit of education and critical engagement with society. However, during my high school years, I embarked on a journey of self-education, reading widely and actively participating in meaningful discussions to foster my intellectual growth. This quest continued through college, where I deepened my appreciation for civic engagement and critical thinking. My four-decade career in economic development and public policy further provided a grounded understanding of the American dream and how economic development can empower people, communities, and businesses to pursue it. Throughout my life, I have valued a thoughtful understanding of the issues shaping our world, and at my core, I am both a teacher and a writer, driven to share these insights through my writing.

 

7. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing like?

 I would describe my writing style as clear, thoughtful, and aimed at making complex ideas accessible, encouraging readers to reflect on deeper issues in their own lives. I focus on taking intricate, multifaceted topics and presenting them in a way that invites exploration and insight. My nonfiction work shares some similarities with writers like the New York Times journalist David Brooks, who delves into cultural and societal trends, often examining how modern life shapes human experiences and values. His book The Road to Character is an excellent example, exploring the development of moral character through humility and self-reflection. Another writer I resonate with is Atul Gawande, whose works challenge readers to think critically about everyday topics, like aging and healthcare, as seen in Being Mortal.

 

In poetry, my style is akin to James Wright, who captures the struggles and beauty of ordinary life through vivid free verse. His work often reflects the human condition and life's harsh realities with a profound, meditative quality, as is found in his Above the River: The Complete Poems. Similarly, Billy Collins' poetry turns everyday moments into insightful reflections, as shown in his collection Aimless Love, where he finds depth and humor in the mundane. Mary Oliver, known for her deep connection to nature, writes with clarity and grace, inviting readers to see the extraordinary in the natural world. Her book Devotions is a great entry point, offering poems that celebrate the beauty of life and explore life's defining moments with both simplicity and depth. Together, these influences shape my approach to writing, as I strive to communicate ideas in a way that engages and resonates with readers.

 

8. What challenges did you overcome in writing this book?

 Writing this book presented several challenges, starting with the need to transform the original draft, which was more of a rant, into a balanced and thoughtful examination. It went through six edits to ensure that it remained factual and fair, especially in discussing America’s challenges and the two presidential candidates. Striking that balance often wasn't easy, as it required constant effort to avoid bias and give each side a fair representation. Another challenge was keeping the American dream as a central character throughout the narrative, ensuring that it wasn't just a background theme but an active, guiding force in the story. This required weaving the concept into various aspects of the discussion while still addressing the hard realities facing the country. Despite the difficulties, I’m happy with how the book turned out and feel that the effort paid off in creating a work that encourages readers to think critically and deeply about America's future.

 

9. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?

If you're going to buy or read one book this week or month, mine should be at the top of your list because it offers a well-researched and accessible look at the key issues shaping America's future. It goes beyond being just another opinionated political book by providing a balanced and understandable portrayal of the two candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, along with the primary challenges the country faces. The book serves as a primer on the pressing matters at hand, outlining practical actions needed to address them, while also examining what makes a president truly qualified to lead. Although it’s particularly relevant to the 2024 election, its insights extend well beyond the campaign, offering an action agenda that any future president can adopt to steer the nation in the right direction. It’s a timely and timeless guide for anyone who cares about America's future.

 

About The Author: Don Iannone is a highly respected author and expert in economic development and public policy. His bestselling book, “America’s Dream at a Crossroads: The 2024 Presidential Election and Beyond,” has gained widespread attention. His forthcoming book, “The Civil War Yesterday and Today, A Poetic Journey,” uses poetry to creatively explore America’s history of systemic racism, political extremism, and social and economic disparity since the mid-19th century. Don has worked in economic development and public policy for four decades as a nonprofit executive, university administrator and professor, and strategy and policy consultant. He has served over 100 public and private sector clients in 32 states and internationally. His clients included federal agencies, state development agencies, and local and regional economic development organizations. He has testified before Congress and state legislatures and spoken widely on economic and public policy issues. Don served as a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute for many years and now teaches graduate business students at European Union-based Transcontinental University. As a writer, he has authored five nonfiction books, ten poetry collections, and ten photographic essays. Don actively participates in various literary and civic organizations and serves on several boards, including Seeds of Literacy, a Greater Cleveland nonprofit advancing adult literacy. He holds a doctorate in philosophy. Don and his wife, Mary, live in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. For more info, please see: https://www.donaldiannone.com/

 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

Do You Need To Drop More F-Bombs?

 

 

 

Have you ever wondered why certain language offends us, while sometimes curse and swear words seem undeniably necessary to get a point across? A new book examines the psychology, law, and lifestyle associated with taboo words, raising many provocative points. For Fucks Sake: Why Swearing Is Shocking, Rude, & Fun, by Rebecca Roache, shows how by being able to cause offense by swearing is an important way of being accepted and respected as equals by others.

 

Roache, a philosophy lecturer in London, seems to enjoy pushing the leader into giving deeper thought to something people just seem to do – or avoid – without deep thought attached to it.

 

When we look at how swearing can be formally prohibited, censored, punished, or frowned upon, we come to see many contradictions. Swear words can be magical, hysterical, and quite appropriate in certain situations. “Sometimes, the author notes,” there is no better way to make the point you are making – emphasize, insult, or just plain offend – than to use a swear.”

 

Indeed. Swearing can lead to fighting, understanding, jail, lawsuits, laughter, resentment, agreement, and a variety of feelings and responses.

 

Below are some selected excerpts from the book:

1. Swearing's unique role in expressing emotion, and the unique way in which our brains process swearing, make it unsurprising that sometimes only a swear word will do. A common objection to swearing is that it is unnecessary; that we always have the alternative of finding a more decorous way of expressing ourselves. Aside from being an odd reason to object to swearing-how much of anything we say is necessary, really? —it is also mistaken. When we swear, we are not choosing one of many available, equally satisfactory expressions, as we do when we choose to say, Lovely weather, isn't it'? rather than 'Nice day, isn't it'? Swearing enables us to express what cannot be expressed using inoffensive words. As such, far from being unnecessary in such cases, swearing is absolutely necessary. As Mark Twain reportedly commented, 'The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.

 

2. There's another sense, too, in which we sometimes talk of swearing being appropriate. This sense has to do with a recognition that swearing is sometimes the best way to express some-thing. Someone who, with dawning horror, exclaims 'Oh, fuck!' on arriving home to find their house ablaze might be thought to be swearing appropriately-because isn't this speaker likely to be experiencing exactly the sort of intense emotion that swearing is uniquely placed to express? Judging this sort of swearing to be appropriate has nothing to do with etiquette or other norms; rather, the thought is that the swearing is psychologically or linguistically appropriate.?

There are, then, various ways in which swearing can be appropriate, not all of which involve its being demanded by etiquette. This is a pretty intuitive, commonsensical point, and doesn't need much explanation. Things are more complex (and interesting) when we try to account for what makes the difference between inappropriate and not inappropriate swearing.

 

3. While the quick and harsh sound of swear words doesn't alone explain their offensiveness, it is certainly a factor in determining which words catch on and go through the offence escalation process to end up as swear words. This has to do with the way swear words are used. We've already noted that, often but not always, we use swear words to vent emotion, and that some sounds are more suited to this purpose than others. This point is not unique to the language we use: just as some sounds are more suited than others to enabling us to vent our anger, some general behaviors are more suited than others to this purpose. It is easier to vent anger, frustration, and other strong emotions if we can shout, frown, stand up, throw our arms about, and point an accusing finger than if we must whisper, smile, lie down, and gently cradle a sleeping kitten. We tend towards making quick, harsh sounds when expressing our anger for the same reasons that we tend to shout and point.

 

4. Body language, too, makes a difference to the offensiveness of swearing. Pairing swearing with aggressive body language-jabbing a finger at the person were speaking to, standing very close to them, shaking a fist, and so on— makes swearing a more serious matter. Our body language can reduce the offensiveness of what we say, too. This is something that's explicitly recognized in US law: the judgement in Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire includes the remark that, to count as 'fighting words, our provocative speech needs to be delivered without a disarming smile.

 

5. You might not agree with some of my conclusions; indeed, I'd be astonished if you were to find my entire argument-which is, in a nutshell, that the offensiveness of swearing isn't about the words at all— uncontroversial. My hope is that I might inspire you to reflect on these issues, discuss them with others, draw your own conclusions, and gain some insight into how and why you and others use and respond to swearing in the way that you do. But disentangling these issues is about more than merely satisfying intellectual curiosity. It has important practical implications too.Our attitudes and responses to swearing shape society and culture in ways that run deep—and this happens despite the difficulties in articulating exactly why we have these attitudes and responses in the first place. In fact, despite it being somewhat mysterious why swearing bothers us so much, inappropriate swearing tends to be dealt with confidently and firmly, And sometimes, this results in injustice.

 

6. Finally-at least, the final aggravating factor that we will consider in this incomplete list-repetition can increase the offensiveness of swearing. Perhaps this is because repeated swearing strikes us as more likely to be deliberate, and more likely to indicate that the swearer is working really hard to offend.

 

7. Who is doing the swearing can make a difference to its offensive-ness. If you're the sort of person who is (expected to be) a model of politeness and decorum, you have greater capacity to shock and offend by swearing.

 

8. What about swearing in front of other people's children? This, too, is viewed as objectionable, yet we are not responsible for parenting other people’s children.

 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Must Authors Answer These Book Marketing Questions?

 

A book, even a well-written, award-worthy book, will only succeed with solid marketing behind it. As the author, it is up to you to drive your book marketing bus. Here is how to confront any obstacles standing in your way.

You may have certain fears, weaknesses, insecurities, challenges, and shortcomings when it comes to marketing. Rather than avoid, ignore, or fail to acknowledge your pitfalls and shortcomings, confront them. Start by answering the questions below.

1. What are your beliefs about book marketing? Operate on a foundation of facts and accurate information, not ignorance, fear, lies, or misinformation. What is your relationship with marketing – do you value it? Do you think it is something others do, but not you? Do you believe it works but don’t feel comfortable doing it? Adopt a healthy, productive attitude towards your book marketing. 

2. What are your marketing strengths and weaknesses? Identify what needs to be done and see how you stack up against that list. Can you do social media? Are you a good public speaker? Can you go after news media coverage? What skills and ideas do you have – and what do you lack? Assess and then act. 

3. Who do you believe is responsible for the successful marketing of your book? The buck stops with you. Yes, you. Whether you are published by Harper Collins, self-published with Amazon, with a small Midwest press or a hybrid published like She Writes Press or Greenleaf Book Group, you must take ownership of the marketing of your book. 

4. Did you craft a book marketing game plan? You need to figure out what you are doing and by when/how. If you hire help, map out what they will do and coordinate things. Have a plan that starts way before your book is published and that continues for 6-12 months after it is released. The plan should center around traditional media coverage, book reviews, book awards, public speaking engagements, web site, select advertising, social media, and direct marketing to your pool of targeted readers.

5. Do you have a defined budget of time and money to execute this plan? Estimate how much money you can afford to pour into your book and determine how much time each day or week can be dedicated to marketing your book.

6. Who or what informs you of what needs to be done? Do you have a coach/consultant? Did you hire a book marketing, PR, or advertising firm? It helps when someone who knows something can tell you what to do.

7. Will you learn how to market your book and acquire the necessary skills to promote it? Are you self-educating via online or courses, conferences, books, blogs, trade magazine articles, writer association seminars/ workshops, or social media groups? 

8. Will you outsource what you don’t know how to do —or lack the time or desire to do? If you can do something, and save money, do it yourself. If you don’t have the skill (and don’t desire to learn), knowledge, and/or time to do things, start writing checks.

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Full-Time Book Publishing Jobs Declined By 44% Over 27 Years - But Revenue & Book Launches Are Up!

 

The number of people working in the book publishing industry rose in 2023 to nearly 55,000 up by 3,700, from 2021’s 51,200. But 2021 was a low point. In 1990 that number was 85,800 and in 1997 it peaked at 91,100. Where did everyone go - and how is it that the 30-billion-dollar book publishing industry is at an all- time high of 2.7 million annual published books, with a record 400,000 from traditional publishers?  

Maybe it’s the way the US Bureau of Labor Statistics accounts for these jobs that can explain the significant numbers discrepancy. Or, it can be a matter of industry changes, including:   

Massive Consolidation -- this removes duplication and typically yields pink slips 

Technology--from editing and graphic design, to a move to online selling and the use of A.I, technology, these things may be doing away with some jobs. 

Outsourcing -- by using foreign-based workers and companies to fulfill certain publishing functions, US jobs took a hit. 

Print-On-Demand --The world of book printers has been shrinking greatly. 

PR Drop - Many book publishers have shrunken PR teams, as publishers rely upon or expect authors to do publicity.  

Literary Agent Squeezer – The size of book advances are way down and author earnings have shrunk over the years, meaning fewer literary agents can make a living on this.  

By 2012, a few years after the Great Recession, which overlapped the rise of the e-book and the destruction of Borders employment dropped to 70,000. In time for Trump’s first election in 2016, the number dropped to 60,000. In 2021, it bottomed out, 44% from its peak. 

What’s also interesting is there’s been a shift away from New York City. Only 17% of the publishing workforce in 2023 works in New York City.  

Another factor is the type of designation we give these workers. The government is looking at full-time positions. There are many part-time job, shared gigs, freelance work, and temp workers in the industry - all of whom may not be accounted for here. 

One thing is clear, the book industry is growing in revenue, number of published books, and number of bookstores - but it is doing so slowly and perhaps at the expense of full-time worker positions. It’s an industry of the self-published and the freelancer. How it impacts the quality of books published will be something for future generations to evaluate.  

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.