Should we have a puzzle and activity book for Gulchers?

Posted by BrettRocketSci 5 years, 8 months ago to Ask the Gulch
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Hi fellow Gulchers. Please allow me this question as a capitalist doing a market survey. (There is your full and honest disclosure up front!)

Thinking about all of the concepts and terms unique to Objectivism, wouldn't it be fun and effective to embed them into puzzles like crosswords, word scrambles, word searches, cryptograms...

Thinking about all of Ayn Rand's captivating novels, how quick do you think you could complete a crossword puzzle about each of those?

To satisfy the kinesthetic people among us, how many of you would enjoy a coloring book with images that are inspired by scenes in Ayn Rand's novels? (We are getting into areas that might be subject to copyright and trademark issues which I have complete respect for. At this point I'm asking the question hypothetically and assuming a legal and ethical product can be made. Run with that assumption please.)

In my independent book publishing business, I have built a design and production pipeline to make puzzle and activity books. For people who want some life-affirming puzzle activities for themselves, or as gifts for their friends and family (especially the younger generations), I think this would be a fun and exciting addition into our world.

What are your thoughts? Whether pro or con or anything else, please share in a discussion. Thanks in advance!

By the way, here's an example - a puzzle book for all things Tesla Motors. The cover for us would (obviously) have a different look and feel. https://www.amazon.com/Tesla-Fan-Puzz...


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  • Posted by $ blarman 5 years, 8 months ago
    Sure. It's called MENSA... ;)

    Seriously. Most of the people here are extremely intelligent - especially when compared to common forums. It takes some real thinking to survive here.
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  • Posted by $ brightwriter 5 years, 8 months ago
    My logic-puzzle book contains problem-solving puzzles, what to do in a real-life situation, among other puzzles. A book of that format would encourage the habit of thinking in John Galt ways if enough such puzzles could be written to constitute an entire book. I’m not sure if I can come up with a bookful, but with others contributing too the book is probably realistic. I won’t put a direct link to my book here (that would be advertising), but see brightwriter.com if you wish.
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  • Posted by ABeautifulMind 5 years, 8 months ago
    Using the concepts and terms of Objectivism, I would prefer more modern examples and we could claim originality of our own ideas. Solving our future problems would generate more utils than an oil crisis or a train wreck.
    I cannot believe that so many peeps are stuck in her old ssshh...it.
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  • Posted by 5 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Thanks for joining the discussion! Definitely interested in talking more. Difficult to tell now how our experience and skills would compliment each other but your quantity of publications is definitely impressive. Can you get in touch with me directly? Curious if we have a connection in another world too. Thanks.
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  • Posted by $ gharkness 5 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I don't know whether this is enough to be included or not, but I am an expert on getting stuff published on Amazon through their KDP program. I currently have over 2,500 publications live. Some are ebooks; some are paperbacks; some are in both formats. Usually puzzle books and activity books - depending on the type of puzzle or activity - are NOT welcome in the ebook realm, simply because in order to complete the puzzles, one must write on them. So it would need to be paperback format.

    Of course that is only true of puzzles that have solutions that one would want to write down IN the book. I can envision some logic-type puzzles that could be presented in an ebook but would basically be answered by the puzzle-taker on his own.

    That could be interesting, and solutions could be presented from an objective viewpoint. But that's not necessarily my realm. MY realm is taking a set of pages/images, etc. formatting them correctly and getting them through the publishing process for Amazon. I have some limited experience with other publishers - the main drawback would be the requirement to purchase an ISBN without which nothing can be published (Amazon provides one for free, but only for publication on their own site).

    Also, I create book covers, but would also be open to someone else doing that - I certainly have no corner on the market and could work with a graphic artist to take their cover art and make sure it passes Amazon's requirements.

    So,.....let me know if this is of any interest at all.

    Editing to add: your mention of "having the production covered" may make my contribution unnecessary. Still, I have interest! Let me know if I can help.

    Second addition: Ha, following your links, BrettRocketSci, we may know each other in "that" world! Stranger things....
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  • Posted by 5 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Thanks for the positive response. Who is a good graphic and visual designer in our Gulch? I've got the production covered. We would benefit from a marketing guru and influencer too. Let's do this.
    One strategy to build interest and demand ahead of time is to invite input and suggestions from people to make it a great product. That's what I started doing here. ;-) What I mean on a more dedicated level is to create a private list or group somewhere (like Facebook) just for discussing and sharing the development of the book. Just throwing out more ideas on the process. I'm going to go into our Store here and look for some potential partners. Open call for anyone reading this to raise your hand and offer how you might want and be able to contribute. Thanks, Brett
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 5 years, 8 months ago
    " I think this would be a fun and exciting addition into our world. "
    I agree. I have no idea whatsoever how to package it and market it to be appealing.

    I find the juxtapositions of the world amazing:
    - People have created an amazingly free world by all historical standards, yet people feel like the world could collapse under the weight of oppression.
    - The percentage of people who are poor is decreasing. Many of the modern poor have access to goods and services better than the rich had in most of human history. But people think it's time to consider socialism.
    - Individuals pursuing their dreams (not pursuing reactions from other people) built all this, yet some of us think a person's accomplishments can be roughly measured by the amount of outrage he generates in other humans.

    The world desperately needs the life-affirming message I took from Ayn Rand. I don't know how to package it for modern audiences.
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