We Are All Weird

The Myth of Mass and the End of Compliance

By: Seth Godin

Narrated by: Seth Godin

Length: 2 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

We Are All Weird is a celebration of choice, of treating different people differently and of embracing the notion that everyone deserves the dignity and respect that comes from being heard. The book calls for the end of "mass" and for the beginning of offering people more choices, more interests, and giving them more authority to operate in ways that reflect their own unique values.

For generations, marketers, industrialists, and politicians have tried to force us into little boxes, complying with their idea of what we should buy, use, or want. And in an industrial, mass-market driven world, this was efficient and it worked. But what we've learned in this new era is that mass limits our choice, because it succeeds through conformity. As Godin has identified, a new era of weirdness is upon us. People with more choices, more interests, and the power to do something about it are stepping forward and insisting that the world work in a different way. By enabling choice, we allow people to survive and thrive.

©2011 Seth Godin (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

It felt like a lot of nothing

What would have made We Are All Weird better?

Substance. This book felt like it was regurgitating things everyone knows, but without the benefit of substance to indicate its applicability, or the insight people so often credit Seth Godin with. "Everyone is weird. Everyone is special. Don't market to the masses, market to the individuals." OK, sounds good. Tell me more. What are things others have done? "Everybody is an individual, everybody--" We've been through this, give me some concrete examples into how I can use this in innovation and marketing. "Everyone is wei--" OH, FOR THE LOVE OF...

Would you ever listen to anything by Seth Godin again?

I wouldn't say no, but I'd need a really good reason to do so. I don't think I'd *buy* anything from him again, though. And it wouldn't be something I seek out, unless I had a very specific purpose. Even with that, I would definitely NOT take it as authority, but merely as an overview of how people see things.

Any additional comments?

Honestly, I couldn't finish it. This is telling, considering it's less than 3 hours and I tend to listen to books at 1.5x. I got about 3/4 of the way through before I deleted it. Vapid, vapid, vapid.

Mediocre essay read in an annoying tone.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Honestly, I can't comment about the contents since the reading was so bad. It was hard for me to concentrate on it.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I might read Godin's books in the future, but I definitely will not listen to him narrating them.

How could the performance have been better?

If it was not the author reading it, I would be wondering if he understands the meaning of the words. It feels like random words are stressed. It made it very hard for me to listen.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment. I was expecting a better narration from the actual author of the book.

Any additional comments?

If the subject is of interest - perhaps consider reading the book and not listening to it.

Nothing new

What would have made We Are All Weird better?

I am a big fan of Seth Godin but there is nothing new here. I recommend reading Purple Cow and Lynch Pin and skipping this book

The substance of this book could fill a postcard

An interesting idea, but not enough to justify an audiobook. We Are All Weird is basically done after the first chapter.

Not the best of Godin's books

Like all marketers, I love Seth Godin. He is an incredible writer and thinker and has some of the best marketing books ever. This is clearly not his best book.

The whole premise of the book is that the world has evolved from an era of mass products and limited choice to a world of mass customization and uniqueness.

Seth is right, to an extent. As i write this, the majority of the US population uses the exact same smart phone, and iPhone, most companies run their email on MS Exchange, everyone drinks Starbucks and most women on the street carry LV or MK handbags.

So the premise is somewhat flawed. We live in a world of mass products AND mass customization. Seth could have spent more time explaining the implications for marketers than making the case for the theory of mass. Try another of Seth's books instead, there are some true gems. My favorite All marketers are Storytellers.

Mass market is being fractured.

Nothing really fantastic here. Yes we know that the age of the TV advert & one size fits all is over and now you have to use a marketing mix including some clever social media. Problem still exist that the market does not really know what it wants. I don't think Seth Godin presents his case very well and left me feeling like he was just rambling on. I think Tom Peter's book Re-imagine presents a better case. Seth narrates his book in his usual easy way and isn't difficult to listen to but this book isn't one of his better ones.

Says same thing over and over and…….

Listen to the preview and save your money. His idea is that mass market is over; small "tribes" will dictate products. Actually, I don't even think that is true, and there is little to back up his statements other than his idea (wish). And then he says that same idea for over two hours. I'm getting tired of this author who has little substance yet says it authoritatively over and over.