If it’s all just a joke, then I admire Dave Egger’s recent self-publication of the followup to his well-received (and rightly so) book A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Publishing only 10,000 copies so that it can’t become “too popular” and having no advertising budget or review copies is a funny comment about those who accuse others of selling out.

On the other hand, if he is serious in this intent, then one has to wonder what happened to his gray-matter since his last book was published. I should hope he would like to leave arguments without reason to his hipster critics.

The issue here is that this action exposes the fundamental lie in those who would accuse him of “selling out.” If they can be appeased by limiting the marketing mechanism, then it clearly shows that their criticism is not about the work at all. If A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius had sold only 1000 copies instead of hundreds of thousands, then the bandana-wearing posse would have shut their mouths, embracing him as one of their own, fighting the system, man!

But since the book sold well, he is a sell-out, despite the fact that the substance of the book is exactly the same? Let
s get real here. Selling out happens, but only in rare circumstances where one has some other kind of fame to capitalize on. When a movie star publishes a book of fiction, it is most likely a sell-out. When he or she publishes many books, then it is likely a real expression of interest and passion, even if the books suck. When a mere mortal published a book that becomes a big-seller, he or she is not selling out. He or she is blessed.

Cries of “selling-out” come from those who are jealous and/or can’t think deeply enough to understand the difference between being popular and being a popularity seeker.