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Title: A marketing triumph
Review: It is a shame that this book got so much attention when there are so many other books of this genre--creative nonfiction--that are better researched, better written, and contain more interesting observations and insights. Harvey has not figured out how to use the personal voice in writing. He does it awkwardly and for all the wrong reasons. This book must have been supported by a heavy marketing campaign--it could not have attracted this much attention on its own. It's regrettable because the subject was interesting and deserved a better writer, one who could have seen where the story was and gone there, rather than doggedly slogging through the story he set out to write, flinging cliches and sophomoric self-awareness left and right. A sad comment on contemporary publishing that this book was marketed heavily while so many truly wonderful books are published but not a cent is spent to ensure they reach the reading public they deserve.
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