Naaah I think toddus and BrianH are right, I didn't realize the subsequent books were that successful. I stand corrected. I was probably projecting my view of his success based on how much I personally liked them or whatever. And yeah I think we're basically talking about profit indicators here. Yeah he's not curing cancer with his books, but purely from an ability to move units is the topic.
The topic was moving units and quality of writing, the ability to "evolve with this audience". I don't think he's tried to, yet.
If making $10 million or more in writing isn't success, there aren't many successes. That's definitely in the top 1% of published authors, probably more like 1% of 1%.
Anyone have details on Max's publishing contracts? THAT is interesting. Especially if he is self publishing through a national distributor. The guys that have the core following to do that don't even do that. So if he pulled it off, that is particularly noteworthy. I recall that was one of his goals along with Rudius Media. Most authors make crap. Then again most authors write crap. Typical book deal is 7-10% of each copy sold. Around $1.50 after whatever the advance was (if there was one). There's potential to make a comfortable living, but keep in mind something as popular as Fight Club has only sold 300,000 copies. Update: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tucker-max/book-publishing-tips_b_2127396.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tucker-ma ... 27396.html</a> Found it myself, nevermind. Interesting read.
I would call those folks you know very successful, but I'm a broke ass 20 something. Those aren't low numbers. Most writers are not nearly so well paid. What did Tucker bring to the table? I would never consider those the sorts of books that provoke me to think, but they had meaningful impacts on many readers. A lot of kids in that 16-22 age range benefited from hearing it's more important to be yourself rather than defining by traditional societal perceptions. Realistically he's not the sort of author that's going to be widely read 50 years from now. How relevant is/was Tucker? Perhaps he never attained what we might call A-list celebrity status, but the fact that so many people were talking about him definitely made him relevant. When you publish something that far outside the main stream and garner that kind of attention as a result, it certainly adds to your success as an author. Did he revolutionize the industry? Meh, most of that was Tucker being delusional. However, I will say the way he organized his book tour was very atypical, and I can imagine other writers copying certain aspects of it.
Tucker Max--first he revolutionized the movie industry, now he's doing the same with the publishing industry. He definitely knows what he's doing, just look at how well the..movie...did. Never mind. Bad example. But that's okay! He apparently knows better than everyone on how to market his books. After all, look at how well his marketing went..for...his...movie. Never mind. Bad example. I'm sorry, I don't trust a thing that comes out of Tucker's mouth. I don't know if he's an out-and-out liar, but I think he exaggerates things to make himself sound so awesome. In that article he compares what he made on his books previously ($3.60--no 7-10% for him!) to what he currently makes ($12) before distribution costs. Isn't that comparing apples to oranges? What is he making after all costs are paid? Wouldn't that be more comparable? Unless I missed something in the article. Which is completely possible since I have a hard time reading anything he writes nowadays as he sounds so smarmy. I didn't really have a problem with him until he started calling everyone stupid because they dared to question his ideas/decisions. I will give him credit for sticking to his guns even in the face of his failure. There are a couple of other issues I had with the article, I honestly just don't care enough to take the time to write it all out. This was enough.
More tickets went on sale, for July, if anyone is interested: <a class="postlink" href="https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/923961/1372688555761" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/923961/1372688555761</a>
Well that looks like a waste of time. And I'm sure Tucker is thrilled such a cheesedick looking motherfucker is playing him.
Remember when somebody suggested Ryan Gosling to play him? And somebody else (maybe Tucker?) claimed Gosling wasn't good-looking enough?
Is there anyone else who remembers nothing in any of those stories about carrots, or guys snapping their fingers and bopping around a la West Side Story?
Isn't every Broadway musical just a bunch of carrot chompers prancing around and snapping their fingers? Why change the formula that's worked for decades?
The fuck did I just watch? I was thiiiis close to actually buying a pair of tickets, and that video gave me serious reservations since it's over $50 fucking bucks a ticket.
This would be a lot more intriguing if they turned the book into a musical. I Took a Shit in the Lobby (sung to the tune of America from West Side Story (so shoot me, I don't know the words to too many musicals)) I took a shit in the Lo -o-by! It wouldn't quit in the Lo-o-by! Maid had a fit in the Lo-o-by! But I needed to shit in the Lo-o-by! Or something.