Matthew Lesko: 100 Books, 0 Writing, Millions in Grants

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Matthew Lesko and his approach to publishing books on government grants, particularly focusing on his claim of not writing but rather plagiarizing content. Participants explore the implications of his methods and the value of his books compared to freely available information online.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes Lesko as a "clown" who uses hyperbole and 'white lies' to sell his books, suggesting a critical view of his character and methods.
  • Another participant expresses frustration at not having thought of Lesko's gimmick first, indicating a perception of his approach as clever yet exploitative.
  • In contrast, a different participant defends Lesko's work, arguing that while the information may be available for free online, the convenience of having it compiled in a book format justifies the purchase.
  • A repeated sentiment from another participant echoes the earlier frustration about the gimmick, reinforcing the idea that the information could be accessed without cost, yet many choose to pay for the convenience.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express mixed feelings about Lesko's methods, with some criticizing his approach as exploitative while others defend the value of his compiled information. No consensus is reached regarding the ethical implications of his work.

Contextual Notes

Participants rely on subjective interpretations of Lesko's character and business model, with no detailed analysis of the content of his books or the specific information they provide.

hypnagogue
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Late-Night Infomercial Clown Matthew Lesko Has Authored Nearly 100 Books On Government Grants. His Formula? “I Don’t Write,” He Says. “I Plagiarize.”

http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=10258

Interesting piece on Matthew Lesko, the annoying guy who can be seen in his infomercials running around in question mark speckled suits in Washington DC, chasing professional looking suits with his big books on how to get free money from the government. A zany character who makes millions with hyperbole and 'white lies.'
 
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The only thing that upsets me, is that I didn't think of it first. What a gimmick, to get a million people to buy a book{s} containing information that they could get for free.
 
I am fine with it. You can find out almost anything on the internet for free, but who wants to search for all of these things? I am paying for the neatly compiled package of this information. Also I like being able to read it on actual paper.
 
hypatia said:
The only thing that upsets me, is that I didn't think of it first. What a gimmick, to get a million people to buy a book{s} containing information that they could get for free.
:smile: As the saying goes, "A fool and his money are soon parted."