Nat Bodian is a genius -- glad you mentioned him.

I'm promoting a book now that is crippled by a bad title. Worked on one some years ago by a Princeton physicist called, "The Way Things Are" -- a dreadful title. The most common title, I believe, is "My Life."

I used to title books as part of my job at a publishing company. The best title I ever came up with was for a book on how to be a private detective.

After some hours working at titles such as "Practical Private Investigating" and "Kitchen-Table Columbo" I walked into the boss's office with my favorite suggestion:

BE YOUR OWN DICK:
Private Investigating Made Easy

We sold tens of thousands of that book, mostly direct mail, mostly as gag gifts, I assume. With an 80-page glorified pamphlet selling for $14.95, I'm convinced people bought the title, not the book.

All Best,
STEVE O'KEEFE
Steve O'Keefe | Homepage | 12.12.07 - 6:43 pm | #

Steve,
Not quite as "organic," but Maxwell Sackheim sold half a million copies of a book by changing only the title. It was originally "Five Acres." He renamed it "Five Acres and Independence."
Morty
Mordechai (Morty) Schiller | Homepage | 12.12.07 - 6:55 pm | #

You inspired me to look up some famous title changes. This would make a great trivia quiz: match the old title with the more well-known title:

CURRENT TITLES:
How To Find And Fascinate A Mistress
The Great Gatsby
Emotional Intelligence
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

ORIGINAL TITLES:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Trimalchio in West Egg
How To Be Good To A Woman
The Mutes
Emotional Literacy

STEVE O'KEEFE
Anonymous | 12.12.07 - 10:21 pm | #

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn originally had the subtitle "Tom Sawyer's Comrade"!

I wonder if people thought your detective book was a sequel to Moby Dick!
Mordechai (Morty) Schiller | Homepage | 12.12.07 - 11:21 pm | #

I am an author of four young adult books. My books are doing very well. Come and visit.
Art Rodriguez | Homepage | 12.26.07 - 11:29 am | #

Very enjoyable piece. I actually struggled forever with a name for my blog and went through a bunch of deadwood before settling on the one I have now. You'd think a writer to whom book titles come pretty easily wouldn't have had so much trouble with that, but it is tough!
Howard
Howard Hopkins | Homepage | 12.26.07 - 12:56 pm | #

Art,
Thanks for the invitation. Will try to stop by...

Howard,
A name is something that sticks with you and defines you. It's a tough decision indeed!

Morty
Mordechai (Morty) Schiller | Homepage | 12.27.07 - 9:37 am | #