SiteBrazen Careerist kickboxes 4-Hour Workweek
Brazen Careerist
I’ve read the 4-Hour Workweek and had mixed feelings about the book when I put it down. I liked it because helped me figure out a way to do the types of stories I wanted to write.
On the other hand, I rolled my eyes at how Ferriss won his kickboxing world record (he played a loophole in the rules), and after subscribing to his blog for a few months, I decided to drop it from my feed reader. It might have been the fact that he made scrambled eggs in a microwave oven. I’m just not sure I can take food advice from someone who’d cook an egg this way. And besides, I wasn’t reading his blog to get his egg-cooking tips, any more than you’d give a rat’s ass how Linda and I pluck our eyebrows or exfoliate our elbows on our how-to-make-moolah-writing blog.
At first read, I was impressed at how honest Trunk was with her feelings about Ferriss and his book. Then I felt weird about it and uncomfortable for her. I cringed when she wrote what she learned about Ferriss through her book editor; I’d be annoyed if I were her editor for letting that confidence out. Let me rule out right now: it’s not a gender thing. I love reading the rants of angry women. I applaud women who take a stand. Trunk’s a terrific writer and I respect her honesty. But there’s honesty and there’s offering your readers free reign to pick through your dirty laundry basket, and that’s how I felt after reading this post — I saw too much of Trunk’s dirty underwear here.
On the other hand, Trunk and Ferriss, being master marketers and all, are probably giving each other virtual high fives this morning. I bet Ferriss’s amazon.com numbers went up, and so did Trunk’s, and they both got a bunch of new blog subscribers. So what do I know?
What do you think? Would you ever publicly skewer another writer in the way Trunk did, decide to play nice, or say nothing at all and keep your opinions about a professional colleague you dislike to yourself? Why or why not? Add your comments below. [db]
16 Responses to “Brazen Careerist kickboxes 4-Hour Workweek”
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Michelle Rafter
Said this on January 13th, 2009 at 11:40am:In the 1+ years I’ve been reading Penelope Trunk’s blog I’ve come to realize (1) she has and will write about almost any aspect of her career or life (2) she does it for exposure, to push traffic to her blog, to promote her company, to up her speaking fees, etc. (3) it’s working. Last year it was her divorce and then dating a farmer. Last week it how women with senior management jobs get more blow jobs. This week it’s publicly trashing Tim Ferris. It’s her schtick, and she’s done pretty well for herself by it.
Rechtsanwalt Stuttgart
Said this on January 13th, 2009 at 12:08pm:My 2cents:
If you are looking for Momentum-PR it will work in a short-term – people like to read\listen such kind of stories.
But if you have nothing to tell to your readers except “opinions about a professional colleague you dislike” – it’s getting to be boring.
Liz
Said this on January 13th, 2009 at 1:14pm:I think it’s pathetic, shallow, and soul-draining.
Alison Stein Wellner
Said this on January 13th, 2009 at 2:15pm:Interesting, Diana. On the one hand, you walk away from it thinking, wow, that Penelope is a bit of a snarky bitch. On the other hand, while many people are loathe to admit it, we’re all pretty attracted to snark and bitchiness. In fact, the less bitchy and snarky we think we are, the more we’re probably entertained by it. It’s kind of like watching an adventure sport –I might not ever plunge of the side of that bridge with a bungee cord attached to my ankle, but it sure is amazing to peek through my fingers and watch someone else do it.
Besides, you need conflict to have a story, so if you don’t mind being considered a bit of bitch, you get people talking. As we are!
Andy Hayes
Said this on January 13th, 2009 at 3:52pm:Well, just to say I’ve not read through her *196* comments (as of this writing) but did read the post with a greal deal of intrigue, as I’ve just finished the 4 Hour Work Week myself not more than 2 weeks ago.
Yes, Tim Ferriss is a bit of a pretentious a$$. Fine. But I still agree with a lot of his suggestions, and find others a bit draconian/rediciulous/un-implementable/insert-your-favourite-adjective-here.
But as Alison has rightly pointed out, people love a bit of drama and Penelope’s not called the “Brazen” Careerist for no reason. So to answer your question, I’d never do it myself but her blog is her space that she can do with as she sees fit.
Ok, off to read the comments
Iain Broome
Said this on January 13th, 2009 at 5:41pm:I’ve never really understood these online blog spats. I suppose as a blogging newcomer, that’s probably me being rather naive.
I got taken aback when someone got a bit irritated by my first (first!) blog post a couple of weeks ago. My initial reaction was to get a bit irritated right back. But then I thought, I don’t actually know this person, it doesn’t really matter, I’ll just try and explain my point of view again and see what happens. So, I did.
The person didn’t reply.
Ginny
Said this on January 13th, 2009 at 8:29pm:What’s wrong with cooking scrambled eggs in the microwave?
Erin
Said this on January 13th, 2009 at 9:10pm:Like it or hate, it, you have to admit that “Penelope’s” schtick (I put quotation marks around it because the name is fake and the persona is just that…a persona) works. It raises eyebrows, riles people up, and creates monster traffic. There’s a reason “Brazen” is in her name. I feel the same discomfort when I read her stuff, because it is so unfiltered. She really doesn’t seem to care how she is seen or who she alienates. Which…seems to be working out great for her.
Gwynneth
Said this on January 13th, 2009 at 11:02pm:There’s a reason Trunk is no longer a columnist on Yahoo’s business section and it looks like you all have found it.
Frankly, I’ve never cared for trashing other people’s work as a marketing ploy. I find it completely unprofessional. There’s nothing wrong with having a disagreement but it’s quite another to use snarkiness as an excuse to throw other writers under the bus just for a few more ticks on the ol’ blog statistic meter.
But here’s a news flash. Snarks don’t win Pulitizer prizes.
Sara Aase
Said this on January 14th, 2009 at 12:18am:It was funny, but her reasons for hating him seem slim, and it was interesting how she trashed him for not being a “good” person, when it seems like there are few people who would not be expendable on her own personal road to fame and fortune. Pot to kettle?
Mary
Said this on January 14th, 2009 at 12:51am:I suppose it would depend on the depth of my loathing. But generally I try to remain publicly professional. Not that I shy away from expressing my opinion simply to avoid conflict. I simply see no need for nastiness. But I’m not making Trunk’s money.
Jenny Cromie
Said this on January 14th, 2009 at 1:15am:I don’t respect snarkiness, but it seems to sell. And it gets the attention of readers (witness all of our comments).
I glanced through Penelope’s post after a friend of mine referenced it in something she wrote and sent to me today. After noticing the tone, I stopped reading. Ever been around someone who tears other people down to build themselves up? Those types make me feel uncomfortable—not only in person, but also in print.
Rebecca
Said this on January 14th, 2009 at 1:29am:I was in PR for a long time before I stopped and just focused on writing so believe me, I believe in PR. I just don’t personally think this is the best way to go — just worry that it would bite you in the *ss somewhere down the line. The world is all too interconnected if you know what I mean.
AravisGirl
Said this on January 14th, 2009 at 9:46am:I haven’t read the book, but most people favor money over ethics. At least when it comes to personal confidences and such. It’s wrong, but the meaning of that word has rotted away somehow.
DianaBurrell
Said this on January 15th, 2009 at 8:59pm:Ginny, I’m an unapologetic food snob, that’s why.
wordwych
Said this on January 16th, 2009 at 10:41am:I haven’t read the 4-Hour Workweek, and yesterday was the first time I’ve given Trunk’s blog any real attention. Although I might be really tempted (really, reeeeeeeally tempted, in some cases) to snark all over another author’s book, I’d definitely refrain from disclosing a source within the publishing industry. I might say “a source within the industry” but no way would I give any more information than that. People would just have to wonder if my source was an editor, a receptionist, or the mail clerk. The poll about oral sex cheapens the whole page, IMO. Unprofessional, and, as we say here in the South: TACKY. Stupid polls are one of my pet peeves anyway; the oral sex poll rates high on my list of the stupidest I’ve ever seen.
I’m siding with Diana on the eggs in the microwave thing. I don’t know if I qualify as a food snob (as I have been known to eat Cap’n Crunch for supper while watching the Food Network), but microwaved eggs are gross!