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Blogger Reviews of Our Obama Book
A couple of weeks ago, I made an offer to bloggers. I told them that we would send them a free copy of The Faith of Barack Obama by Stephen Mansfield in exchange for their agreement to write a 200-word review of the book.
I did not require that the reviews be positive. My thinking is that any publicity would helpful, even if it is negative. Interestingly, nearly all of the reviews have been positive.
I initially limited the offer to the first 100 people who applied. However, we blew past that number in a few hours, so I raised the ceiling to the first 200 bloggers. So far, we've had 178 requests for the book. So far, we've had 100 reviews appear. (I am updating this number as new reviews come in.)
I am pleased with the results of this experiment and plan to do it again in the near future. In fact, I plan to make the same offer on the Lynne Spears book, Through the Storm, whose official publication date is September 16.
For your convenience and as a thank you to the bloggers who reviewed The Faith of Barack Obama, I am linking to their posts below. I will update the list as additional reviews come in.
Several other bloggers have mentioned that they plan to write a full review. Some have even written a preliminary review. However, I have not include them here.
If I have missed someone who has written a review, please let me know, and I will add it.
How would you rate this post?
Liza says:
Mike, you sure got a lot of bang for your buck with the book giveaways! It will be interesting to see if you can replicate this success with the Spears book. I wish you well, but my guess is that you will not. I think Obama is such a polarizing figure and the timing near the election was just to, that you found a willing market in bloggers. I'd guess that traditional media is still where the buzz will come from.
That being said I particularly enjoyed Todd Albertson comments (Is Barack Obama a Christian?) and Terry Whalin's thoughts (A Worthy Read in Election Year) and review at Amazon.com.
Good job!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 05:05 PM
bryonm says:
Mr. Hyatt:
Thanks for the opportunity...
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 06:24 PM
Kansas Bob says:
I posted my review at my blogsite.
http://kansasbob.blogspot.com/2008/08/faith-of-barack-obama_19.html
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review.
-Bob
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Kansas Bob says:
I was surprised by the positiveness of the other reviewers.. mine was not positive.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 06:48 PM
Jill O'Neill says:
I'm wondering why you thought it was important to specify 200 words as the length of the review. Was it just to ensure that no one offered too brief a review or was it so that you might use the reviews as back of the book "blurbs" for purposes of marketing? I ask for clarification, not as criticism.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 06:54 PM
Chad Hudson says:
My review was somewhat neutral. I think it was very well written, and surveyed all of the aspects of Obama's life. I think it is an opportunity for those who have read the books by Obama to get an outsider's perspective. I gave it to my Jewish boss today (who is very pro-Obama.) It will be interesting to see the feedback from them.
Full review can be found in the list, or http://christianbeerconnoisseur.wordpress.com
Chad
P.S. @ Kansas Bob - good choice moving to Kansas! I am just east of you in Tiger territory!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 07:40 PM
Michael S. Hyatt says:
@Jill: We didn't need the reviews for endorsements. The book was already printed. I thought that in order to write 200 words, people would actually have to read it. However, I didn't want it to be so long that the task was daunting. Most people wrote well in excess of 200 words. Thanks.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 08:39 PM
Jason says:
Thanks @michaelhyatt for the opportunity... thanks for what you guys are doing.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Danita Meshack-Maden says:
The Faith of Barack Obama offers a candid look at eclectic upbringing, cultural influences, and religious beliefs shaping the life and worldview of Barack Obama. The recollection of Obama’s nomadic rise while seeking to find his place in society is a story that bears witness to the struggle to do good in a society that has yet to fully embrace her own.
Mansfield’s rendering of Obama, when compared to other Commanders in Chief, offers hope that change is on the way. The author casts an inspiring vision that America, with or without Obama, will one day embrace her greatness with a transformational leader whose faith is big enough to embrace the disenchanted and disenfranchised, the Christian Right, and a worldview broader than their own.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Nitin Badjatia says:
Michael,
Slightly off topic question:
Where did you get that graphic, at the top of this post, from?
Just curious, as I'm putting together a slide deck and want to use a similar graphic.
Nitin
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Paul Merrill says:
I enjoyed reading - and reviewing - the book.
It's a great idea to get publicity for the book.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 09:29 AM
Mary says:
I don't think he'll have any problems getting the same success with the Spears book - I have a hunch it will generate a lot of controversy especially since a Christian company is publishing the book. I'm speaking strictly of "worldly success" (said just a bit smugly! In all fairness, I haven't read the book, of course. My jaw did drop when I read that a) she is writing a parenting book and b) that Thomas Nelson was publishing it.)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Nate says:
Mike,
Thanks again for the opportunity. I'm disturbed by some of the reaction from "conservatives" that we see here from fair reviews of a well written book. It seems some had their own reviews ready before even seeing the work.
Nate
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Michael S. Hyatt says:
@Mary: Just for the record, Lynne's book is NOT a parenting book. I've probably clarified this for the media a hundred times, but the tabloids keep on misrepresenting it. I guess because it makes for a more dramatic story.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Marvin Nelson says:
Michael,
Thanks again for the opportunity. I was glad to have read this book and glad to offer a review. I didn't know we could go over the allotted 200 words, but if I get to do it again, I will definitely write more. This book was excellent.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Michael S. Hyatt says:
@Nitin: I get 95% of my graphics from iStockPhoto. I highly recommend this site.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Angela Hart says:
I love this experiment and would like to be considered for Lynn's book.
I'm enjoying the thoughtfulness of your blog and look forward to reading more.
I think we met at one of Randy Elrod's wine tastings?
Again, enjoying your blog.
Angela
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Mary says:
Thanks for the clarification! Hopefully the misrepresentation will work in your favor from the increased publicity.
Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 10:57 AM
J. J. Hebert says:
This is a GREAT idea!
[Please visit my blog at www.jjhebertblog.com and feel free to comment.]
Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 08:56 PM
James E. Robinson, III says:
Thank you for the opportunity!
My review of the book.
Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Calee Lee says:
My review is up at http://sacredandtheprofane.com
We're still trying to decide how (and if) to review it for Icon New Media Network.
It was an interesting read and I enjoyed the thought process and conversations that followed its completion.
Friday, August 22, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Ramona says:
Not that I'm a gossip girl or anything, but I was delighted to see the book and Mr. Mansfield so prominently touted on Entertainment Tonight yesterday (8/21). Given the media play the Rick Warren CNN discussion has received, it's obvious that this is going to be a vital issue people are going to take into consideration as they decide. I'm glad TN published this.
Friday, August 22, 2008 at 04:50 PM
Amy says:
Thanks again for the opportunity. I loved the book. My review is here:
http://thefriendlybooknook.com/2008/08/24/the-faith-of-barack-obama-by-stephen-mansfield/
Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 02:36 AM
Stacy Harp says:
Mike -
Active Christian Media has been doing these type of reviews for about 3.5 years now and if you get back 1/3 of the reviews you sent out books for, I will be shocked. It has been my experience that most bloggers don't keep their word, which is why I only use a few now.
But congrats on the success. I think being the Prez. of a publishing house helps and maybe bloggers will be more inclined to keep their word. :)
Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 06:17 PM
David Carter says:
My comments on the book can be found here:
The Faith of Barack Obama
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review the book.
David
Monday, August 25, 2008 at 09:28 AM
Omar Hamada says:
Michael,
I just posted my review on Stephen's book. You can find it at http://www.omarhamada.blogspot.com.
Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this. I had a great time reading and analyzing this book and took a slightly different approach in my assessment than most.
Omar
Friday, August 29, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Stephen Windwalker says:
Michael, at long last, I've just posted my review of "The Faith of Barack Obama" on my several blogs including hppress.blogspot.com and www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3OTNCU58DS95B
Comments are welcome, of course.
Cheers,
Windwalker
Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Michael S. Hyatt says:
Thanks @Stephen, and, of course, to everyone else as well.
Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 07:25 PM
Victoria Gaines says:
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review the book on Obama, and for posting my link here.
Thursday, September 04, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Aaron says:
Michael,
My review is posted here:
http://livingthedash.tv/2008/09/08/the-faith-of-barack-obama-a-book-review/
Thanks for the opportunity to participate in the book review.
Thanks,
Aaron
Monday, September 08, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Michael E. Waddell says:
"The Faith of Barack Obama" book review is available now at:
michaelewaddell.com
Michael E. Waddell
co-author of Toy Box Leadership: Leadership Lessons From The Toys You Loved As A Child
Monday, September 08, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Sabrina Bailey says:
My review of The Faith of Barack Obama can be found at
http://briaswain03.blogspot.com/
Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Gavin Knight says:
my review is here: www.gavinknight.com/2008/09/review-faith-of-barack-obama.html
this is a great book, and a worthy contribution to the discussion about faith and politics
Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 06:10 AM
Mike Cane says:
I linked to you here:
http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/writer-gives-away-his-printed-book/
There you will also learn of Mini Book Expo for Bloggers which you might find both interesting and helpful.
Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Tracy Ruckman says:
My review has finally been posted at www.pixnpens.com.
Thanks for the book.
Monday, September 15, 2008 at 03:50 PM
tjr-soc-14 says:
Obama Lashes Out::
http://www.judiciaryreport.com/obama_lashes_out.htm
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Penis-Enlargement says:
Nice thinking and different aspect of the topic. Liked it.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 10:41 AM
professional says:
Hello. I think you are eactly thinking like Sukrat. I really loved the post.
Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Marv Nelson says:
Following, my review of the book, I did some more research and wrote a post about Obama and 20 somethings. Mike, I would love it if you could check it out (everyone else for that matter as well)
Wednesday, October 08, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Penis Enlargement says:
Well I can just say that Marvelous Job. Thinking beyond my limits :)
Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 11:11 AM