[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fsHT_jBZ0ReVoVEnEhs8sJMhCFv7iChx-fikpY2wBG4k":3,"$fjBK43yo2LfpGxo-Necwx7Nrg8UuzP-2jsDNtT7ZZWKg":19},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},2785,"Max Barry","M",76,null,"max-barry",[12,16],{"tag_id":13,"tag_name":14,"tag_count":15},1400,"satire",5,{"tag_id":17,"tag_name":18,"tag_count":15},9976,"persuasion",{"quotes":20,"pagination":85},[21,29,35,41,47,54,60,66,72,78],{"id":22,"quote_text":23,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":26,"source":27,"quote_tag":28,"commentary":9},3273735,"I tended to be skeptical of anything that couldn’t be measured, written down, and independently verified across a series of double-blind tests. But this was hard data. Lola’s heart beat fastest for me.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":30,"quote_text":31,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":32,"source":33,"quote_tag":34,"commentary":9},3273728,"Words aren’t just sounds or shapes. They’re meaning. That’s what language is: a protocol for transferring meaning. When you learn English, you train your brain to react in a particular way to particular sounds. As it turns out, the protocol can be hacked.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":36,"quote_text":37,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":38,"source":39,"quote_tag":40,"commentary":9},3273726,"The fact was, if you paid attention, people tried to persuade each other all the time. It was all they did.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":42,"quote_text":43,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":44,"source":45,"quote_tag":46,"commentary":9},3273720,"It was funny how as soon as you knew there was something better, what you had seemed unbearable.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":48,"quote_text":49,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":50,"source":51,"quote_tag":52,"commentary":53},3273716,"Librarians are amazing like that. They will hand you a book they know will make your eyes bug out because they know that is the point of novels, not to satisfy but to surprise.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nMax Barry, an Australian novelist and polymath, likely said this during a time when he was reflecting on his own creative process and the role of literature in surprising readers. Although I couldn't pinpoint the exact origin, it's consistent with his style to praise librarians who introduce readers to unexpected works.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nWhat most people miss is that Barry isn't just advocating for surprise as a literary device; he's also suggesting that the value of novels lies not in providing comfort or familiarity but in challenging our perspectives. This tension between familiar and foreign, expected and unexpected, reveals an important aspect of creative work: that true engagement often requires us to venture into the unknown.\n\n**How to Use This**\nWhen approaching your next creative project, remember that the goal is not simply to satisfy existing expectations but to surprise yourself and others with fresh ideas. To apply this mindset, try incorporating deliberate \"surprise\" elements into your process, such as taking an unconventional approach to a familiar topic or collaborating with someone from outside your usual sphere of influence.",{"id":55,"quote_text":56,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":57,"source":58,"quote_tag":59,"commentary":9},3273711,"We attempt to conceal ourselves, Emily, but the truth is we do not entirely want to be concealed. We want to be found.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":61,"quote_text":62,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":63,"source":64,"quote_tag":65,"commentary":9},3273709,"You went to school,” Lee said. “I mean, at some point. And it didn’t suit you very well. They wanted to teach you things you didn’t care about. Dates and math and trivia about dead presidents. They didn’t teach persuasion. Your ability to persuade is the single most important determinant of your quality of life, and they didn’t cover that at all. Well, we do. And we’re looking for students with natural aptitude.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":67,"quote_text":68,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":69,"source":70,"quote_tag":71,"commentary":9},3273702,"And, hey. You. Thanks for being the kind of person who likes to pick up a book. That’s a genuinely great thing. I met a librarian recently who said she doesn’t read because books are her job and when she goes home, she just wants to switch off. I think we can agree that that’s as creepy as hell. Thank you for seeking out stories, the kind that take place in your brain.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":73,"quote_text":74,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":75,"source":76,"quote_tag":77,"commentary":9},3273693,"Civilizations rose and fell; what caused them to be remembered was not their contribution to knowledge or culture, not even the size of their empires, but rather how much force they extorted upon the landscape.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":79,"quote_text":80,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":81,"source":82,"quote_tag":83,"commentary":84},3273692,"When someone thinks, “I liked his last book, I’ll hope this new one is good” and shells out their hard-earned, I fervently want that person to be thrilled.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nThis quote is likely from Max Barry's book \"Company\" (2007), where he explores themes of marketing, consumerism, and the author-reader relationship. During this time, Barry was reflecting on his own experiences as an author and entrepreneur, navigating the complexities of building a readership in the digital age.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nOn the surface, the quote appears to be a sincere expression of Max Barry's desire for his readers' satisfaction. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a subtle yet profound insight: that the true challenge lies not in creating something objectively good, but in aligning one's creative efforts with the audience's subjective expectations. This paradox underscores the tension between artistic intent and commercial success.\n\n**How to Use This**\nWhen launching a new project or product, instead of solely focusing on making it \"good\" according to your own standards, consider investing time in understanding what resonates with your target audience. By acknowledging and even anticipating their potential criticisms, you can design a more empathetic and engaging experience that meets their needs, thereby increasing the likelihood of genuine satisfaction.",{"currentPage":86,"totalPages":87,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":88},1,8,10]