My friend Tsungyi took me to a book publisher today. They are bringing out a Chinese version of my blogging book. Great fun. I always wanted to be translated — and into Chinese too! Now 1.5 billion people can read my book! Unfortunately, however, they won’t. In Taiwan the only books that sell are self-help books and porn for middle-management — “Make Money the Google Way.” Unfortunately my book is helping no selves and it contains no money-making advice.
The business idea of the publisher seems to be to live off “translation awards” granted by the government to publishers who bring out foreign books in Chinese translation. I guess they want to encourage the translation of works in foreign languages (I think there is a similar government-run program in Sweden). They already sent 800 pounds to Anthem Press, the book’s publisher in London. And Tsungyi, who is translating it, gets paid per word. Funnily enough, nothing I write ever makes me any money.
In related developments, my friend Tim McCarthy reports that he’ll once again be using my book for the course he teaches at the Kennedy School at Harvard. “The students really like it.” Great.