I didn’t want to throw out the c-word, but a lot of people might say that the Zone Theory resembles a cult. Is that what this is?

TIM: Cults have gotten a bad rap because of Charles Manson and people like that, but another word for “cult” is “club.” It’s almost the same word.

ERIC: A part of the process is you do need to evangelize. You need to get at least twenty new friends to come into the club. That is a cult-y kind of thing, because you have to abide by these principles for the rest of your life. So we’re not afraid of the c-word, as long as it’s beneficial. There’s no real violence, except there is a human sacrifice, a little murder that you have to do.

TIM: We have an expression we say about cults. “'Cult', thanks for all your time, T, but we’re going to bring in B, and now we have 'club.' Just a little mention to the T, thank you, be on your way, adios. Push him out, bring in that B, move the L, switch the L and the U, and you’re set."

The Zone Theory seems to be explicitly written for and designed for men. As we move toward a more equal, inclusive society, how do you guys expect to promote literacy in women if you write a book explicitly made for men?

TIM: We’re not against women reading in general. We’re very equal rights in that regard. We encourage women to buy the book. We think there’s nothing more valuable for them to do than to own the book. They just can’t read it. Just because it’s not designed for them, it’s designed for men, only. So they should buy the book and give it to their husband, their friends, coworkers, uncles, parents—fathers, nephews.

ERIC: We’re also very close to hitting the New York Times best seller list. Once we do and we receive our bonuses, which are very high, we plan to do Tim & Eric’s Zone Theory for Women.

TIM: Again, not to sound cynical or exploitive, but the idea is to sell two books. Get the male audience to buy the first book and then the female audience will just be ready to go into the Zone Theory for Women. It’s financially more advantageous for us. Between you and me, the Zone Theory does work for women. But for that second book to come, we kind of have to play that it doesn’t. So that we can make that second book for women, and then change the He’s to She’s and then we’re set.

ERIC: It’s a lot of marketing, sales, marketing, sales.

TIM: We’re strategic in that department.