I’ve got an idea though – maybe we’re simply so used to over-the-top gushing-with-excitement sales letters that a reasonably calm, slightly positive one seems like a negative one by comparison?

You know, like that optical illusion ( http://jpdery.com/images/size-balls.jpg ).

@ Flo – Yeh I pretty much agree with that assessment.

@ Laurie I honestly do value the review. I think it was fair and honest and people can only tell it how they see it. There was lots of positives to be taken from it and I’m grateful to Stephen.

Having the book myself, his review confused me since I think it’s the best thing since buttered bread. Knowing you, and knowing your book, I ended up not valuing his review.

In the end, it was a positive review, but suffice to say I wouldn’t want this gentleman writing my sales copy.

It seems there is a split very much down the middle from people, so there is a case to be made to think people were ‘anchored’

And anyway, I said and have said I was wrong so many times now even my wife is fed up with hearing something that is normally music to her ears ;-)

@ m – Thanks very much and I’m sure you’ll get lots from it.

@ Christian – Some excellent points, especially about me ‘priming’ people.

We know we’re setting ourselves up, I really resisted both the pricing and name to begin with, but I’m comfortable with both now.

The name was actually Johns idea so I guess it must be Sterleckyesque too ;-)

I did you exercise, and actually I thought it was a pretty good review by the end. (Although I might have been a bit more on my toes than usual from your opening of “go read this first, then I’ll talk about it and ask you a question”.) I can understand though why it’s not the kind of review you might want to print out on the back cover of the second edition of your Rich and Happy book, even though the review is very positive overall.

In my honest opinion though, you are setting yourself up a bit for these kinds of reviews – or at least first impressions – by giving your book a title like “How to be Rich and Happy”. I remember my first impression after learning of the title being somewhat similar to that of said review. Don’t get me wrong, because I did buy a copy of the book, so I must have moved beyond that first impression. But for the first second, what was going through my mind was “Yeah right, like everyone who uses this book is going to become a multimillionaire and get the perfect happy life!” (Although maybe I’m in the minority.) On the other hand, once I learned what you guys mean by that, and once my brain adds what I know from you from reading your blog for a while, it starts to make sense in a more sensible way. And from reading your blog, I must say that I find the title of the book, if I may say so, very Brownsonesque. And I mean that in a good way. I guess said title is meant to be read in a slightly sarcastic, Queen’s English accent. (Readers are referred to pretty much any good BBC comedy show for live examples of said slight sarcasm, and accent. :-) )

I hope that was useful (and not taken in a wrong way).