Our new book Prosper!: How to Prepare for the Future and Create a World Worth Inheriting has been out for a little over a month now. All in all, it's off to a very good start.
Initial reader feedback has been loud and positive. Chris and I have appeared on no less than 3 dozen interviews to talk about the book's messages. And between the print, e-book and audio versions, we estimate Prosper! has already sold a few thousand copies (in the murky world of publishing, you don't get clear or frequent reporting, so there's a lot of guesswork involved). That's strong early performance.
But, the first month is usually the best month for a new book. Sales can fall off quite sharply after that, and usually do. The seasoned authors we know say that keeping the momentum going over the next few months will make a huge difference in terms of the number of people who will be ultimately reached by this book.
We could really use your help in doing that. The good news is, there are 3 quick, simple steps you can take today that will actually have real impact. They are:
1) Write A Review On Amazon
It turns out that the quality and number of reviews on Amazon.com actually matter a lot.
Yes, reviews influence shoppers — the more popular a book appears, the more people will buy it. But Amazon reviews also influence trade buyers, the people who make bulk book purchases for bookstores and libraries.
Currently Prosper! has 11 reviews on Amazon that give it a combined 4.5 star rating (out of a possible 5). We're hoping those in the Peak Prosperity audience who have now read the book can help us double or triple the total number of reviews.
If you've read Prosper!, please take a moment to go here and submit a review (click the grey 'Write a review' button)
We're not trying to color the type of review you write — please just give your honest feedback. We're hopeful that the vast majority of you found it valuable enough that the current rating will maintain or improve.
Cost to you of Step 1: $0 and five minutes of your time.
2) Email Your Local Library(ies)
Librarians do indeed listen to their customers. If they get pointed requests for a specific book, they will investigate acquiring it.
Send an email to your local library (or libraries) and ask them if they have a copy of Prosper! in stock. If they don't, advise them to procure a copy or two, for the benefit of the community.
Here's a short template you're welcome to copy & paste. Feel free to edit in any way:
Dear local library –
Do you have a copy of the following book in stock?The book is authored by Chris Martenson and Adam Taggart and is available in print (ISBN: 978-1937832766), e-book (ISBN: 978-1937832773), and audio (ISBN: 978-1478935407)If you don't yet carry Prosper! in stock, I highly recommend ordering it for your library's collection. It's a very well-written resource that provides actionable guidance on what each of us can do to insulate ourselves from the unsustainable trends in our economy, energy systems and environment — while improving our lives (and those of the next generation) in the process.It's exactly the kind of resource I value my local library carrying.Your local resident,[Name]
Cost to you of Step 2: $0 and two minutes of your time.
3) Share The Book
If you've already read Prosper!, hand it to someone who hasn't.
If you have people in your life you think would benefit from its insights — parents, siblings, children, neighbors, friends, students, community leaders, elected officials — buy more copies and share them liberally.
The new year starts tomorrow. For the next few weeks, people will be in a rare frame of mind where they're open to changing their behavior more than perhaps at any other time of year. Seize that window to plant a few seeds. Hopefully they'll germinate over 2016…
Cost to you of Step 3: $18 per book (or less, depending on where you buy it).
But if those you care about engage with you more on the topics it covers — it could be your best investment of the year…
If you're able to help us with any or all of the above, we appreciate it greatly. And whether you're able to or not, we wish you the happiest of New Years!
by oliveoilguy 
