In 2020, I published a book called, Would I Lie to You? The Amazing Power of Being Honest in a World That Lies. The book blends research with narrative, telling the story of what it means to live a more honest life.
On the behavioral science writing side, I was going for Malcolm Gladwell, the Heath brothers, and Daniel Pink. I wanted to be shelved alongside Blink, Switch, and Drive.
On the narrative side, I was reaching for Cheryl Strayed, Glennon Doyle, and Elizabeth Gilbert. I dreamed of being in company with Wild, Untamed, and Committed.
In hindsight, perhaps I should have just called it a one-word title, like Truth! And picked a genre more clearly. (A recurring problem of mine.)
Sadly, it didn’t sell the way I hoped it would.