Published: Dec. 17, 2011
Words: 1918 (approximate)
Language: English

Description

Almost everything in the world has been faked. “FAKE” examines the bizarre practice of recruiting others to write fake ebook reviews for personal gain and to artificially boost ‘ratings’. Strange, but true!

Tags

fake reviews, sandbagging

Available ebook reading formats

Single purchase gains access to all formats. How to download ebooks to e-reading devices and apps.

Format	Full Book	Sample First 20%
Online Reading (HTML, good for sampling in web browser)	Buy	View sample
Online Reading (JavaScript, experimental, buggy)	Buy	View sample
Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps)	Buy	No sample available
Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)	Buy	No sample available
PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing)	Buy	No sample available
RTF (readable on most word processors)	Buy	No sample available
LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub)	Buy	No sample available
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)	Buy	No sample available
Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting)	Buy	No sample available
Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page)	Buy	No sample available

Reviews

Log-in to write a Review   Log-in to add a Video Review

Review by: StreetWise Publications on Jan. 30, 2012 :
I have reviewed my marketing strategy, partly because of this book and 'FREE!' and Murray's guide to publishing on Smashwords. I guess i suspected all along that many of the review I have read were faked. I just didn't connect how that could adversely affect my book sales. A must read for everyone who has anything to do with books, writing or reading them.
(review of free book)

Review by: Ernest Winchester on Dec. 24, 2011 :
This article needs to be read along with its companion piece ‘Free’. Together they provide a compelling truth to the sad state of epublishing.
(review of free book)

Review by: James Pollard on Dec. 17, 2011 :
Well that was a good read. It really touches a nerve with me after experiencing first hand the psychological effect that sandbagging can have on you. I recommend this to anyone who is starting out. It may prepare you you for the darker side of this industry and encourage good writers to persist regardless of the dirty tricks that abound. Although I don't agree with his criticism of posting free ebooks (hence the four stars and not five), I think that Murray has done us all a service with this well written and no nonsense attempt at cleansing the web of these practices that threaten to dumb down this craft and squash real talent.
(review of free book)

Reason for report:
— Select a reason — Book is or contains spam Book infringes copyright Same content is published elsewhere with different author (for ex., by private-label rights) Duplicate Incomplete work (such as sample or serial) Should be marked adults-only Category is inappropriate Poorly formatted Nudity or other inappropriate content on cover Nudity or other inappropriate visual content in book Inappropriate erotica content Cover image is improper Content is inappropriate Other violation of Terms of Service Other reason not shown above.

Additional details: