Copy-Cat-Copywriting

So you write a best selling book. You get invited on the Today show. And you end up with an experience that's a waste of time. That's what happened to Timothy Ferriss.

If you haven't heard of the 4-Day Workweek by now, you are probably living on another planet. Instead of asking author Tim Ferriss about the book - why did you write it, what are the premises, how are you handling the fame - Matt Lauer invited Donnie Deutsch to debate the premise.

Deutsch immediately took over. He patronized Ferriss with pseudo-compliments ("handsome young man")and dismissed the idea without bothering to understand it. "Americans like to work," he claimed. "Happy people love their work."

Ferriss responded with good grace. He calmly stated one element of his system - an hour of concentrated thought is better than a month of hard work - but he was clearly out-shouted. Most people listen to the Today Show in spurts. They'll get more Deutsch and less Ferriss.

A lesson in how even the best media attention can kill you. I usually like Matt Lauer but he (or his producers)blew this one.

Labels: best-seller, media, public relations, publicity, writer