Tuesday, January 12, 2010

You’ve Got to be Kidding

Mark this one down in the you’ve got to be kidding me category. Thomas Nelson has announced that they are rebranding Book Review Bloggers as BookSneeze. I know Mike Hyatt is a fan of Seth Godin and all of that, but this takes the cake. The name doesn’t fit the image I have of Thomas Nelson. When I think of Thomas Nelson, I think of a old respectable company. I think of Bibles. I think of quality. What I don’t think of is snot coming out of my nose—until now. I joined Book Review Bloggers and review a few books through that program. I have one book that I haven’t had time to review. I was thinking of rushing through it and writing a review, but with the name change, I might just forget it. (Thomas Nelson, you can have the book back, if you want it. I would just as soon never say that I am reviewing a book through the BookSneeze program.) 

17 comments :

Anonymous said...

whinge whinge

Ryan Geiger said...

If you think an old company, maybe that is why they changed it. Old doesn't work anymore.

Anonymous said...

at least your honest. Clever doesn't always translate into practical, eh?

Shea Terry said...

Catchy Name...I like it!

Timothy Fish said...

Old doesn't always translate into behind the times. Thomas Nelson is proud of their history and yet they continue to innovate (which is how companies survive to become old in the first place). Given that their primary customer base consists of Bible believing Christians, age and respectability are good things, but by pulling out this term that Seth Godin dreamed up--a term that isn't even a buzzword and is quite gross--I believe they are hurting the image of their company more than they are helping it.

Anonymous said...

You're being a little silly?

Michael Hyatt said...

Timothy, I appreciate your candid feedback. You might be right. Time will tell.

Anonymous said...

I don't like the name either, again, it speaks of snot.

Anonymous said...

Ditto, I don't like it! They can do better for "heavens" sake.

Anonymous said...

Mike Hyatt is not right all the time--its downgrades the company --again!!

Anonymous said...

What rule book says sneeze=snot? When someone sneezes what do people typically say? God Bless You or Bless You right? Why not think of "BookSneeze" in that sense instead of immediately crying "gross"? You're defining it something disgusting by choice. It's all about perspective really.
Besides that, everyone sneezes, everyone has snot, everyone farts, everyone poops, everyone is human...what difference does it really make in the grand scheme of things? It's all under the sun.

Aaron Reddin said...

Book Sneeze is brilliant!! Send your book to me, I'll review that thing!

Timothy Fish said...

Anonymous 10:00,

I suppose you could be right that I am defining a sneeze as something disgusting by choice. But in the grand scheme of things, does it really matter what I think? I don't think so. If I'm the only one who has images of icky green stuff on the pages of a book, then it doesn't matter. But how many other people will get that same image stuck in their head and what impact will it have when people read the statement, I am reviewing this book for BookSneeze?

Anonymous said...

just bookmarked your blog, Aaron. Excellent most recent post!
same anonymous as above ;)

Anonymous said...

Timothy,

Fair enough, and true, in the grand scheme of things it is simply your viewpoint of the new title. We're all entitled to our own opinion and actually I respect that you are open and bold enough to share yours. It makes for really interesting dialogue to consider all opinions too.
I likely wouldn't have ever found your blog, and have enjoyed reading this morning. :)
I do hope you reconsider reviewing books for Thomas Nelson despite the name change. You are good at it and it's something you obviously enjoy, maybe you can overlook the name? Just a thought and thanks for the respectful discussion!

Todd said...

Bless you.

Anonymous said...

Thats why Michael Hyatt is the head of Thomas Nelson. And you are?