Tuesday Edition

Get the Blog Feed
What is RSS?

dispatches from the new world of work

Re-imagine! Redux

If you've wandered into a bookstore recently you might have seen the new Tom Peters books from Dorling Kindersley. Well, sort of new. What we've done is to take the content from Re-imagine! and create four small-format books: Leadership, Talent, Design, and Trends. They're called the Essentials Series. The publishers are putting on a big push, and at Barnes and Noble bookstores you'll find all four books in their own display case.

But, please be forewarned. The material in these books is the same as in Re-imagine! Mostly. We've updated a few things, and added interviews with Cool Friends from the website. But the biggest difference is that Tom coauthored the Trends book with Marti Barletta, author of Marketing to Women and one of our Cool Friends. She's put new material in Trends about the group of consumers she calls Prime Time women, boomer women who have all the money in the world and aren't afraid to spend it. Even if you already own Re-imagine! we think you'll find purchasing the Trends book worthwhile for the new content.

The one big advantage of these books is their size. About 4 inches by 7.75 inches. Perfect to fit in your coat pocket or to bring along on a flight. Less content to absorb in one sitting. And they are newly designed. Because of the smaller page size, the side bars from Re-imagine! have disappeared and there's a lot of new visual imagery.

The only downside is the cost. Re-imagine! retailed for $30. Each of these four books retails for $15. So, to get all the content from Re-imagine! in the small format will cost $60. Ah, the cost of convenience. I just checked at Amazon.com, though, and the Essentials books are each selling for $10.20. Search at Amazon for "Tom Peters Essentials" and you'll get to the page listing all four.

The long story behind all this is that originally Tom and I approached Dorling Kindersley to do a series of manifestos in this size. We had been thinking about producing 18 books. Dorling Kindersley liked the idea of the small books, as we called them, but since it was their first time working with Tom, they wanted to start with a "big book." And so those 18 manifestos became chapters in Re-imagine! We've taken the long way around to create a series of small books with DK, but here they are. We hope you like them.

Erik Hansen posted this on 06/10/05.

Comments

I was wondering when you'd get around to announcing these here on the site. Actually got my copy of each, and an extra set for my mentee, last week. "Portable Tom" is a truly great idea, especially for those who want to make a quick reference, or those of us who commute here in NY by subway. Keep on getting Tom's word out!!!

Posted by lem at June 3, 2005 2:09 PM

I love the idea. Especially the portability - One thing to be careful of for the future is that one of the re-occuring crits of the TP brand is that much of the work is re-hashing old material. Now I don't think this is always valid but it is a perception that is out there and is probably going to come up again with these.

Posted by PaulH at June 3, 2005 2:43 PM

Paul, yes we are aware of that kind of criticism and for that reason Tom initially was not keen to do this Essentials Series. however, our publishers convinced us that the book in this format would sell in markets where the larger Re-imagine! would not. so we had to balance the risk of "re-hashing" with the benefit of getting Tom's ideas into the hands (and minds) of people who had heretofore not been exposed to them. at the risk of hearing it from the critics, we opted for possibility.

Posted by Erik Hansen at June 3, 2005 2:58 PM

Just ordered the Leadership book yesterday on Amazon.com. I just was surfing around and found it. Can't wait to read it, write maginalia, and quote it.

Keep the good words coming Tom.

Posted by Jeremiah at June 3, 2005 2:58 PM

I think this is a great idea, especially as I'm currently focussed on leadership, so that's the book I'll buy. Incidentally, Amazon are currently offering Leadership + Re-Imagine! for $30! I imagine you might be a bit cross if you bought both and then found you'd got all the Leadership content in Re-Imagine!

Incidentally (2) observing all the ways Amazon devise to sell to you, there's a 'favourite Business Books' list by 'Charles Johnstone, Manager': he certainly has good taste - no less than 5 books by Tom, also Covey, Buckingham, Ernest Shackleton, Collins - and Jesus (as in Jesus CEO)!

I'm fascinated - apart from the duplication point above, they rarely miss a trick, do they?

Posted by Stephen Spencer at June 4, 2005 6:31 AM

i am with paulh here, as usually.
still, these take-away books have many advantages. differentiate and focus on specific topic e.g. design (the further away from mainstream thinking the better, i'd say) - the leadership/management brand TP says DESIGN. that is enough - all the message on the cover. it works. and i think your publishing house is adressing the mass-market with this - read it in the kitchen or on the plane.

too much pop?
do not think so... we are living in a pop culture. and people like dan brown influence the way the world looks at leonardo da vinci's work and increases an interest in the louvre for example.
nothing bad about that. and remember the beatles: they were successful because "they never did the same thing once."

personally i also always liked the late works of pablo picasso :) where others said he became to repetitive and lost originality. i like them. they have all the wisdom of an intense life lived well and the power of a child exploring the world with a big laugh.

if TP stays open, accessible and original in his very own way. welcome.

as i said. i love pop. and it's got a lotta power :)

Posted by jens at June 4, 2005 6:55 AM

The Design book is awesome. You can read all about it on my Blog - here: http://www.twistimage.com/blog/archives/000206.html

Thanks Tom!

Posted by Mitch Joel at June 4, 2005 8:45 AM

Mitch, cool link. Have you had a chance to read at article on design in June issue of Fast Company?
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/95/open_design-jones.html

Posted by R.S. at June 5, 2005 6:08 PM

paulh and jens (in particular),
regarding re-hashing, just wanted to let you all know that the U.S. version of the Essentials state on the front cover: "The Essentials Series is adapted from Re-imagine!" We think we're making it pretty clear that this is previously published material in a new form. (On the U.K. version, that statement is on the back cover.)

Posted by Erik Hansen at June 6, 2005 4:17 PM

hi erik.
no irony above.
:)

Posted by jens at June 7, 2005 5:54 AM

Just asking.. will this be available in the Wow!Store ??

Tried to check.. but site ...."The WOW! store is currently shutdown for maintenance til Tuesday May 31st. "

Posted by /pd at June 7, 2005 9:52 AM

/pd,
books will be available in the wowstore once we've made the switch to the new server. i'll see if i can get an update on when it will go live. however, given the small volume of books we sell at the site, we can't offer a discount, so you're better off ordering from amazon or b&n.

Posted by Erik Hansen at June 7, 2005 10:07 AM

I just finished reading "Trends" which is one of the books in Tom's new Essentials Series. First let me say that this is a fabulous idea and I love how little the books are because I can throw them in my pocketbook and take it out wherever I am and read them even if it's just waiting while I'm buying gas for my car. Now about the book. I LOVE "TRENDS"! Tom you sooo get it! If you are selling or marketing anything you better get your a$$ out there and read this book or you will lose out to those men and women who understand that almost 80% of EVERYTHING is bought by women. It's pretty simple---read it and make more money! End of story! Now on to the other 3 books!

Posted by Dini Coffin at June 7, 2005 3:47 PM

80% OF EVERYTHING BOUGHT BY WOMEN IN THE USA Dini?
That must be why the USA is running record savings and investing deficits - 2/3 of the economy is consumer driven [by women] - consume consume obese obese. BOYCOTT ARUBA - consume vacations elsewhere.

Posted by Sean at June 7, 2005 3:59 PM

Sean, did you read the book? If not give it a try. It will brighten your day, make you laugh and expand your thinking. Even if you don't believe it you just might learn a few things about trends, women and men. Gotta go--I am off to run 3 miles and lift some weights so that I do not become obese, obese, obese! Smile Sean--it will lift your spirits!

Posted by Dini Coffin at June 7, 2005 4:15 PM

I think it's a good idea to split it based on subject. The content seems ideal for a portable format and should make it easy to assimilate and carry in a jacket pocket or handbag to read on your way into work.

Posted by Noel Guinane at June 7, 2005 5:41 PM

Speaking of Trends, why aren't they available in digital formats?

Posted by Jeffrey Summers at June 7, 2005 6:04 PM

Tom Peters is quickly critical of this kind of recycling of old innovative ideas except when it applies to his own firm. It's the same stuff in different packaging. Pull it from the shelves and save your soul, or does your publisher already own that as well?

Posted by Dau at June 7, 2005 9:38 PM

Dau, get over it.

I say kudos on the shameless self-promotion, Tom. :) This is, after all, business.

Posted by Tony May / Mayday Media at June 7, 2005 10:12 PM

Dini - yes I read it - and 3-4 mi. / wts / 7% bodyfat is a lucky routine for me. Tony/Noel - I'd put this "ad" blog in the right column now though ... and give away the digital format FREE ... add a chapter on investments ...

Posted by Sean at June 8, 2005 5:05 AM

It appears that incrementalism has its place. I read an was prodded into action by Imagine! If the market is extended until the next book. I don't see a problem.

Posted by Mark at June 8, 2005 10:02 AM

Dau, you are missing the point. I have Re-imagine on my shelf but it is too big to carry around. The Essentials are compact and easy to carry so that you can pick them up and read them anywhere at anytime. It's the difference between my make-up bag and my purse compact---you need them both and this way you can have them both. It's not regurgitation--- it's functionality.

Posted by Dini Coffin at June 8, 2005 10:47 AM

Dau

the real viagra for sale

I agree with you. Where's the creativity and fresh ideas? This type of thing gives critics of Tom Peters fuel for their fire. You could have at least fleshed the books out with your latest thinking.

Disappointing.

Jay

Posted by Jay at June 9, 2005 8:43 AM viagra canada mastercard

I see nothing 'disappointing' with Tom having convinced his publisher to finally publish the book the way he originally intended, subject by subject. It's not as though he's been trying to mislead us into thinking this is new material.

Posted by Noel Guinane at June 9, 2005 11:55 AM

Rearding this lot it never ceases to amaze me - people love to focus on trivia don't they! Buy the books - or not! Read them - or not! Either way - do something! Don't just sit on the sidelines nitpicking! For example, Jens gives us his (cool)perspective on design, and of course he's introducing us to his business too - that's how it works! Same with these books of Tom's - it's another route to market/another way of broadening the audience for some powerful & important messages. 'There's more than one way to skin a cat' as we say here in Blighty. So as for the debate about rehashing/recycling - is there a single business book in print that doesn't recycle a heap of ideas? And whose ideas are most often recycled??!! Someone who has a right to revisit and refurbish his own ideas I'd say!

Posted by Stephen Spencer at June 10, 2005 4:36 AM

Over the years, there have been a number of themes that have recurred in Tom's work. And yet many, many of them have still not been taken seriously by people in business. Just take the women and geezers issue highlighted in the Trends booklet as an example of this. It's probably almost 10 years since Tom first started banging on about this subject, and yet precious little has changed - certainly in my world!

Until these ideas are much more commonly seen in practice I see every justification for alternative ways of getting these same ideas into the hands of a new audience that MIGHT take them seriously to do something with them! And besides, DK make such beautiful books, who could not want to own them!

Posted by Madeleine McGrath at June 10, 2005 11:33 AM

PLEASE PULL THIS FROM THE CENTER COLUMN - PERHAPS A TAB PLACEMENT IN THE RIGHT COLUMN FOR EASY ORDERING - AND MAKE it the subject of a new This Week's Poll. Something like: The 4 new books by Dr. Tom prove to all:
*He is a genius who should be adored/worshiped and made a "Sir" by UK royalty.
*His publisher is ripping him off man - this proves they make him dance like a puppet on a string.
*"New books"?! This is a 3rd rate plagerized rehash - Tom is a total sellout to the almighty dollar - this proves he is probably the real "Deep Throat", who knows what he'll do next!
*The books make an adequate Frisbee - especially if you have a jumping Whippet dog that you can entertain friends with.
*Egads - Tom must be channelling Hunter Thompson - too bad - he used to be such a nice Maryland boy.

buy canadian pfizer viagra Posted by Sean at June 10, 2005 12:00 PM

Sean, we also need an "all the above" option!

Posted by tom peters at June 10, 2005 3:44 PM

Why is Sean so insecure and so unfunny?
The books are very good, the comments are welcome,
but the snide remarks are unnecessary.
Heaven forbid he would feature anything he wrote on his blog, if he had (written anything that is).
God bless freedom of speech - now he'll question my
bringing religion into this!

Ciaran McCabe

Posted by ciaran McCabe at June 13, 2005 5:24 PM

Tom thinks it is funny cirian - he is a superstar - maybe try to feel secure and less snide, more heaven oriented - any/all of the above.

Posted by Sean at June 14, 2005 7:03 AM