Free Prize Inside

Ok, so as I stated in my previous post, I got my pre-release copy of Free Prize Inside by Seth Godin yesterday when I got home from work. I started reading it at about 7:00PM (had to put it down for The Apprentice) and finished it around 11:45PM.

This is simply an awesome book! I've said this before, but order a copy of this book now because you will not want to miss out on the cereal box packaging and Wall street Journal spoof that comes in the limited production, first-round printing.

So what's this book about? Well, what does the title make you think about? It made me immediately think about Cracker Jacks. Remember, the not-that-good caramel corn with peanuts that you really ate your way through (or if your parents weren't watching, dumped out on the counter) to get to the free prize, which was always a temporary tattoo or some other extremely low-cost free prize -- IT WAS THE FREE PRIZE THAT MADE YOU BUY THE PRODUCT!

So what, that doesn't answer the question above. Well then, here's your free prize for reading my blog. Ok, the book teaches you several things:

Number 1: Learn to sell before you learn to create. Nothing more to say about it. Seth teaches you how -- buy the book.

Number 2: Edgecraft. What is edgecraft? From the book:

"Edgecraft is a methodical, measurable process that allows individuals and teams to inexorably identify the soft innovations that live on the edges of what already exists."

What's the Edgecraft process?

"1. Find an edge -- a free prize that has been shown to make a product or service remarkable.
2. Go all the way to that edge -- as far from center as the consumers you are trying to reach dare you to go."

So you've got some valuable tools from the book. Why did I give away so much of this book? Seems like a lot of "free" information from the book, doesn't it? You could walk away from my blog and talk to people telling them that you know all about that book. I've given you just enough information to sound intelligent and pretend like you read the book. It's a little short of those business book summaries, but you could certainly have a high-level conversation.

If you want, go buy an executive book summary, although that seems like a waste of money because Seth has already written a free summary for you. But I will warn you/plead with you: THIS BOOK IS WORTHWHILE READING COVER-TO-COVER (several times). In fact, there's a great summary of the book in the book (yes, you could go read the summary of the book in the bookstore and not expend an y money, but we want Seth to continue writing amazing books, so support him, think of the rest of the book as a detailed reference manual for the summary). Or just buy the book for the cool packaging -- leave it on your desk, bring it to meetings with you, use it as inspiration.

Read the book.

E-Mail me free prizes that you've created, seen, dreamt about and I'll be happy to post all of them for everyone to read (I will ran you that you may get some editorial comments from me, but I promise that any criticism will only be constructive).