Also, the book is strangely oriented towards fans of The Walking Dead and it’s related properties. While the back of the book states that the author was, “Sparked [sic] by his fandom of The Walking Dead”, this is the only tell that we are about to start reading a book that is very TWD centric. There are a lot of anecdotes and inside jokes in here that I imagine make more sense to people who are fans of the show. The book’s laser-like focus on this particular property isn’t really a problem; if you are immersed in a fan culture, you can relate. But the specificity of the experience feels like it comes out of nowhere.



Similarly, the book seems heavily predisposed towards conventions as a source of revenue, which of course in that line of work, they are. But the book sort of glosses over the radical changes in social media and online selling that con appearances are often just there to buttress. You could walk away from Business is Dead with the idea that the fan con is the primary source of revenue for businesses of this type, when in my experience that is simply not the case. The con is where you make your name, the internet is where you sell your goods. But that is simply my perspective.



Lastly, I wish that the interviews had been a bit more literal. These aren’t really interviews in the way that you might be accustomed to; for example, the well known Playboy format or the Terry Gross Fresh Air format. The interviews are really more like summaries of conversations that Cohen had, I presume, at cons. Rarely are the subjects even quoted in their own words. This isn’t to say that there aren’t important lessons to be learned from these vignettes - there are. But the interview portion of the book lacks the depth and tooth that I have come to expect from a voracious diet of, for instance, podcasts.



In closing, I think that Business is Dead is a good read if you are planning on taking on an entrepreneurial endeavor such as this. It’s a similarly good read if you are already heavily immersed in one. It’s the kind of book that fills you with the author’s energy and enthusiasm for the work that he is doing, and reminds you why you set out on this path yourself. It would make an especially good gift for a friend who you know might be thinking about, or is in the process of, launching a business like this.



I’m going to hang on to my copy of Business is Dead. I’m going to keep it on my bedside table, or not far from my computer. When I’m feeling down about my own efforts, I will return to its advice and inspiration. Especially Chapter Two - that’s where the money is.





Business is Dead on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Business-Dead-Resurrecting-Entrepreneurship-Fan-Focused/dp/1682618862/ref=sr_1_3?crid=14C6UWHVKN4PV&keywords=business+is+dead%2C+resurrecting+entrepreneurship&qid=1570199991&sprefix=Business+is+dead%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-3





Learn more about Neil Cohen:

https://www.amazon.com/Neil-Cohen/e/B00H13LZ8U%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share





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