The secret DNA behind bestsellers

Is it possible to predict whether a book will sell well? Former publisher Jodie Archer and Matthew L Jockers, of Stanford University’s Literary Lab, built an algorithm to find outYour program can identify, from scanning 20,000 books, ones which made the New York Times bestseller lists with 80% accuracy, and one of your key discoveries was that the topics covered in a novel – marriage, work, technology – are more important than its genre in terms of predicting its success. Why?JA: If you look at a bestseller list, you might think it was very diverse in genre – a Stephen King alongside a Jojo Moyes. But certain topics were strong indicators of a bestseller, regardless of genre. “Human closeness” came out on top. This doesn’t mean romance – it could be talking with someone you are intimate with or shopping with a parent. It may be to do with pacing – when Dan Brown knows he has to slow his pace down a little bit and let the characters reflect before a big chase scene in the Vatican, his characters talk it out. John Grisham does it perfectly because in all the legal machinations and suspense and back stabbing, there are always scenes where a lawyer gets a bottle of red wine and a Chinese takeaway and sits on the couch with his female counterpart and they chew the cud for a bit. It is almost the opposite of a formulaic how-to; make a boy meet a girl, make them fall out. Related: Bestselling books 2015: Fifty Shades still on top Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-09-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #john grisham #chinese takeaway #fifty shades

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The secret DNA behind bestsellers'


This Week's Bestsellers: October 10, 2022

Kerri Maniscalco and Naomi Novik bring their popular, well-reviewed fantasies to a close. Plus Kate Atkinson and Chloe Gong respectively bring historical London and Shanghai to vivid life, and new cooking books from Jacques Pépin and others feed readers' appetites. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kerri maniscalco #kate atkinson #chloe gong #feed readers


This Week's Bestsellers: October 03, 2022

Richard Osman hits our hardcover fiction list at #3 with 'The Bullet That Missed,' his new Thursday Murder Club mystery. Plus Elizabeth Strout and Andrew Sean Greer revisit favorite protagonists, and Colleen Hooever has a new(-ish) book. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elizabeth strout


Silvia Moreno-Garcia ignored the experts and trusted her instincts. Now she's a bestseller

Novelist Silvia Moreno-Garcia brings 'The Daughter of Doctor Moreau' to the L.A. Times Book Club Sept. 27 Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-09-19 17:44:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #silvia moreno-garcia #doctor moreau #times book


These Books have an Edgy Secret: A History and Gallery of Fore-Edge Painting and Art

From 1600s British literature to Sarah J. Maas books on TikTok, fore-edge painting is an enduring art form that adds even more magic to books. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-09-15 10:34:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #british literature


August Religion Bestsellers: ‘Chase the Fun’ Takes Off; Wanda Brunstetter Returns

Podcaster Annie F. Downs breaks the top 10 on PW’s Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers list with her new book, ‘Chase the Fun: 100 Days to Discover Fun Right Where You Are’ after launching an interactive shopping campaign at Target and Walmart; Wanda Brunstetter’s latest Amish romance debuts at #3... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wanda brunstetter #religion fiction


China Bestsellers in July: Classroom Classics Go Big

That reading list your teacher sent you home with can do great things for sales of several 'great classics' in a hot July in China. The post China Bestsellers in July: Classroom Classics Go Big appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-09-14 01:07:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #china bestsellers #great things


This Week's Bestsellers: September 5, 2022

STEMinist romance author Ali Hazelwood has the #3 book in the country with 'Love on the Brain.' Plus TikTok buzz propels Alex Aster's 'Lightlark' to the #10 spot in the country, and 'Creepy Crayon!' by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown tops the picture book list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: ##3 book #picture book #romance author


This Week's Bestsellers: August 29, 2022

'All Good People Here,' the debut psychological thriller by 'Crime Junkie' podcaster Ashley Flowers, is the #5 book in the country. Plus roving grammarian Ellen Jovin is a 'Rebel With a Clause,' and move over, adult coloring books: 'Definitive Word Search, Vol. 1' sold 14K print copies in its... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #good people ##5 book


Ali Hazelwood’s sort-of-secret life as a best-selling author

“Love Hypothesis” author Ali Hazelwood didn’t intend to keep her scientist identity separate from her author identity. She didn’t intend to become an author. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-08-20 12:00:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-selling author


This Week's Bestsellers: August 22, 2022

Former child star Jennette McCurdy has the #5 book in the country with the memoir 'I'm Glad My Mom Died.' Plus director Michael Mann writes a sequel to 1995's 'Heat,' and the Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman's 'The Sandman" drops. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: ##5 book #mom died #netflix adaptation #neil gaiman #memoir


A French bestseller considers Josef Mengele’s years on the run

Olivier Guez's "The Disappearance of Josef Mengele," translated by Georgia de Chamberet, is a grueling read. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-08-18 12:00:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


This Week's Bestsellers: August 15, 2022

'Long Live the Pumpkin Queen,' a paranormal YA romance based on 'The Nightmare Before Christmas,' is the #6 book in the country. Plus the August book club picks hit our hardcover fiction list, and BookTok is atwitter over 'Husband Material.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #long live ##6 book #book club


July Religion Bestsellers: ‘Positive Thinking’ Hits #2; Debby Giusti’s Debut

Norman Vincent Peale, known as the father of positive thinking, takes #2 in Religion Nonfiction with his 60-year-old mega-bestseller, ‘The Power of Positive Thinking;’ Debby Giusti debuts at #2 on our Religion Fiction bestsellers list with her new Christian romance, ‘Soldier Protector.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #positive thinking #hits #2 #takes #2 #religion nonfiction #christian romance


This Week's Bestsellers: August 01, 2022

Isaac Fitzgerald's book tour takes a cross-country jaunt from 'Dirtbag, Massachusetts,' #9 on our hardcover nonfiction list. Plus 'The World's Worst Assistant,' Sona Movsesian, lands at #10 on that list, and the Netflix adaptation of Mark Greaney's 'The Gray Man' premieres. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #isaac fitzgerald #netflix adaptation #book tour


Bestselling Author Stuart Woods Dead At 84

Woods was the author of more than 90 novels, many featuring the character of lawyer-investigator Stone Barrington. Continue reading at The Huffington Post

[ The Huffington Post | 2022-07-28 06:47:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling author


Relationships are complicated. I learned it's OK to keep secrets for a time

Michelle Pearson and her husband kept a significant development from their guests to ensure their wedding day remained carefree and special. But eventually, they brought others into their secret. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2022-07-26 08:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #significant development #pearson


This Week's Bestsellers: July 25, 2022

'Tanqueray' by Stephanie Johnson, the erstwhile burlesque performer who found new fame on Humans of New York, is the #9 book in the country. Plus Ruth Ware's latest is #10 in the country, and a gaggle of political books clamor for attention on our hardcover nonfiction list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stephanie johnson ##9 book #ruth ware


How Silvia Moreno-Garcia's shapeshifting visions of Mexico took over the bestseller list

The Mexican-Canadian author of bestsellers 'Mexican Gothic' and 'Velvet Was the Night' was born and raised to be a genre-hopping, storytelling dynamo. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-07-14 13:00:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #silvia moreno-garcia #mexican gothic #bestseller list


June Religion Bestsellers: Sarah Young Tops; ‘The Stranger' Returns

Sarah Young’s ‘Jesus Calling,’ which just surpassed 40 million copies sold since its publication 18 years ago, takes #1 on the Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers list after having a banner month; Mitch Albom returns to #1 in Religion Fiction with ‘The Stranger in the Lifeboat.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sarah young #jesus calling #takes #1 #religion fiction