[youtube]http://youtu.be/c9mKSXK_EF8[/youtube]
My book, The 32 Building Blocks of Happiness is being redesigned. We’ve been working with a great designer to make the book more valuable and user friendly. Some of what he’s done I’ve loved and some of the things I’m not too sure about. But the most important view isn’t ours, but of the people who are reading it. So I thought you would be the person who’s opinion is most useful.
I’ve made a short video of the book and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. Please add any comments you have in the comments box below the images.
What Do You Think Of The Mini Book Boxset Idea?
What Are Your Thoughts On The Dustcover?
How About The Image For Volume 1?
Chapter Image and Text?
Fonts?
Bullet Points?
Brandi says
May 10 at 10:22 pm[Mini Book Boxset Idea]
For a new published author, I don’t think people would be open to buy a complete boxed set, even though it’s mini. I think they’d be more open to a single, large book of about 300 max pages that presents all the happiness principles. Or, I think they’d be intrigued to read a small/mini book of about 200 pages (i.e. like the book “Live What You Love” by Bob and Melinda Blanchard. I <3 this book because of the inspiring stories/lessons, and it's always with me due to the portable size). Title of boxset- I prefer "A Box Full of Happy" instead of the "Think, Happy, Now" title. The Happy Thoughts = Happy Emotions idea has been done to death, and I might feel compelled to karate chop the boxed set to pieces if I saw it in the bookstore…for frustration of having previously purchased books with similar titles that did little for my happiness.
[Dustcover]
I'm in the US, so not sure if books in the UK typically come with a smaller dustcover combined with a book image. But to have a bright colored dustcover and an image on the book seems distracting. My eyes don't know what to look at- the colorful dustcover or the illustrative book image. If a dustcover and image is used, I think i'd be great to keep the current bright yellow dustcover, and have as the image a bright sun with the rays shooting out in all directions. That way, when the reader sees the book he/she will see the dustcover clearly. But they'll see the sun rays shooting out from behind and think "What's that?" and will remove the dustcover to see a beautiful sun 🙂
As is Dustcover- I do love the color yellow, the simple title, simple color scheme, and your/the author's name simply printed on the front, in black and in that rounded font.
[Image/Volume 1]
I don't like it. It makes me feel a deep sense of longing, gazing off into the distance as the birds leave me behind. The colors are also gloomy. I love nature scenes, but the message this image seems to communicate makes me feel sad.
[Chapter Image/Text]
Love it!! Easy to read, compells me to read due to chunky, rounded font = Easy to see. Love the left-side alignment, love the story. Needs less space between story title and paragraph though. Hate the image- difficult to see what it is. I'd love to see an image of the same size, but with a clearer picture that ties to story.
[Font]
Love- Story font (left-side); Hate- other font (bolded, right-side)….I'd prefer to see a sans serif font to further differentiate it from the story, but it should be about the same size as the story font (and the bold is good). Or perhaps, keep the serif font but increase the size the match the left-side font.
[Bullet points]
It should have some sort of heading for that page, to identify the common gender fallacies or what have you. Then I'd like to see med-sized (14pt) square bullets.
**Aside from all this, I love your site and your work. It's a happy moment whenever I read your articles, and I'm so thrilled to know of someone like you spreading genuine, insightful, intelligent, thoughtful, & not-at-all trite or superficial happiness in the world.** <:D
Rob McPhillips says
May 10 at 10:33 pmGreat comments Brandi. Thank you so much, I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
Brandi says
May 13 at 4:52 amNo prob! 😀
Lillian says
May 11 at 4:53 amHi Rob,
I have to agree with most comments made by Brandi. One thing I disagree with in Brandi’s comments is in regards to the box set. I like the idea of having small books to read, as apposed to one large book.
I do not like the look of the box itself, it’s very uninviting. It requires something to draw in readers.
The title for the box set, I would recommend something like “Unlock or untie the chest to Happiness now”. Maybe have a small lock or ribbons, something to that effect holding the books within the box.
These are the things I would change if it were me.
Thank you for all the good reading… best of luck on your books 🙂
Brandi says
May 13 at 4:56 amOooh yes yes!! I like this themed boxed set idea- the treasure set sounds fun. Maybe the mini books could even be printed with a gold coin print, antique key print, and other happiness/treasure themed prints. I would buy anything like that, with a themed boxed set b/c it’s clear what I’m buying, why, and it’s whimsical & unique. 🙂
Osh says
May 12 at 2:31 amHmmmmm. There are a lot of issues here in my opinion. Most of the issues are in presentation I think. I’m going to write you an email with my thoughts.
Johanna says
May 16 at 12:49 pmBrandi & Lillian has very good ideas – I agree about the cover page and dustcover that Brandi commented on; and Lillian’s idea with the box-set seems perfect. Inside the book you could maybe use colourful pictures displaying different images that will come to mind when a person thinks of happiness. Maybe research by asking numerous people what they think of as soon as they hear the word happiness.. and have that displayed within the book parallel to that what you would like to bring over in theory, with all your valueable tips in finding true happiness.
Rob McPhillips says
Jun 12 at 10:07 amThanks for your ideas, Johanna. They are very helpful.
Mari Perron says
May 24 at 9:44 pmHi Rob,
I am very exciting for you getting ready to publish your book. I know how tough all of these decisions are and wonder if you’re regretting getting opinions — not they’re not all wonderful — it’s just that sometimes you can get too many ideas.
Some of the decisions you’re making are so individual to you, to these books, and to where they’re going. My first books were in a boxed set, and this was back before people were doing much buying on-line. A boxed set, believe it or not, is murder in a bookstore. They get all hung up on where to put it! But if you’re not going to do much bookstore selling, I find it a fine idea. It’s expensive though, isn’t it? I remember when they did mine (it was a three box set) one of the books had to be cut quite a bit so they’d fit in the box! If cost is material to you at all, I might suggest rethinking it.
I found it hard to see most of the images very clearly. It’s an interesting thing to have happen though. You can’t see the cover image clearly but you can see the bold title on the simple slip cover. I kind of like the cover/jacket. It’s something new, and when’s the last time you saw anything new on a book. You mentioned the tactile value of it, and I agree, but it would have to have a good feel and not be annoyingly flimsy or too strong to bend. This would be another thing that might be costly and could possibly be avoided by having a simpler cover, which I mostly prefer.
I like the title change.
It looks like you’re pretty far along in the design process. The inside is probably fine as is. I would always go for the more subtle rather than the bold approach. But I’m wondering if, if you do some major redesigns, you might want to make your book more compact. Pick a nice neat looking font (which you may already have, I’m not sure), keep standard borders, nix the pictures unless they’re absolutely necessary, and maybe have a leaner, tighter product. I don’t know if other people are this way but I’m very attentive to space if it’s “off.” I don’t like a book with the margins too close to the edges, and I don’t like a book where there’s more space on one page than the next. Consistency makes me so comfortable that I forget about space entirely and can focus more on the words.
I hope this is a little helpful as I’d love to give back some of the support you’ve given me. Drop me a note if there’s anything else I can help with.
Rob McPhillips says
Jun 12 at 10:17 amHi Mari,
There’s so much to consider. I think the books will be available individually and the box set will be a premium. It does work out expensive, but it provides a better User experience.
That title was already used we found subsequently and that’s what we are working on at the moment.
Thanks for your suggestions and support, I may be in touch as we go forward. I’m lucky as Ruth and Pat have experience in this before and so understand the process better than I do.
marianne "mica" says
Jun 2 at 1:22 amHi Rob,
I am glad that you wanted to hear what i think about the book.
What i think of the interior is that its good when you look at the choice of font style – its comfortable for the eyes. It’s easy to read. The spacing are equal and margins are consistent. You might want to enhance the pictures on the interior with its color or quality. You don’t want to stretch the picture too much. You can add more inspiring, fun, colorful pictures to add meaning or value to your book’s content that your readers will feel surprised that for a 200 page book they seen and felt so much.
Book Set Idea – is a marketing strategy – you would like to make it more inviting by adding more life to it – change the color or make a collage for its back ground, to this effect it will be more presentable.
Image for the cover – it looks like the message is being care free and light. You want to improve the color this will intensify the feel or the impression of those who would check out your book.
Rob McPhillips says
Jun 12 at 10:20 amThanks Mica for your ideas and support. I appreciate it and have passed all the feedback back to the Designer to incorporate into the next stage.