The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Am I a Man Yet?
Because Am I a Man Yet? was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
CarrieMe
Based on the cover and blurb, I probably wouldn't choose this book. The cover is eye-catching and appealing, but it doesn't really seem to mesh with the title and description. The topic might be appealing for some people, but I'm personally not really into memoirs. After reading the sample, I don't plan to buy or read this book. The first thing that turned me off was the author's description of Indian people. It came off as quite racist. One of the first scenes, where the neighborhood boy is nearly killed, was extremely violent. This level of violence is a little too much for me. However, some people don't mind it, so if the rest of the book is also this violent, it's a good idea to have a scene like this at the beginning so people are aware. There could also be a note made in the description, though. Even though this book doesn't appeal to me, the writing was excellent and I didn't notice any mistakes.
First Ten review added on September 1, 2017, at 10:23 am by CarrieMe.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Heidi M Simone
The cover is cute and the title is eye-catching. I sometimes enjoy a good memoir/autobiography, however, I don't usually read much war stories. Therefore, even though the OBC review is positive, I would not have sampled this read on my own. Based on what I read, the book does seem professionally edited. Though I'm sure that the author's childhood memories are significant to the storyline, I am not invested enough to continue. The memories do not seem very unique. In general, though I'm sure many would like this read, I do not see myself finishing it. Therefore, I do not plan on purchasing this book.
First Ten review added on September 1, 2017, at 7:40 am by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AA1495
Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I usually read pure romance books. Having read the sample, I found it easy to read and follow. However, I did not like the pace of the plot in the sample. I did not come across any major grammatical errors. The book has a favorable onlinebookclub review. Since I do not read the genre usually, I do not think I will be reading the book further.
First Ten review added on September 1, 2017, at 7:05 am by AA1495.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MarisaRose
At first, I wasn't sure what to make of 'Am I a Man Yet' by Mark Butler. I don't typically like to read books where war and combat are at the forefront, but I was intrigued by the OBC reviewer's comments about the author's raw, honest voice. After sampling the first ten pages, I agreed with the OBC reviewer's opinion about the author's voice; however, I still wasn't all that interested in the overall content and themes. Since books dealing with war just aren't my thing, no matter how well written they are, I'm going to pass on this one. I did not notice any grammatical errors in the sample.
First Ten review added on September 1, 2017, at 7:00 am by MarisaRose.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
jungkookblog
When I see the cover, I don't think that I am going to be reading this book because it seems like the story is about the military and a boy growing up in the military. I will be reading this book because the first ten pages seemed like the main character was talking about the past, and it seemed like something that I can relate to. The character encounters hardships and seems like he will eventually step up to it. It seems professionally edited. I did not see a review, and I don't think that would've affected my decision.
First Ten review added on September 1, 2017, at 3:53 am by jungkookblog.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Gravy
I was intrigued by the thought behind this, and still am, but the style is a little outside of my personal preference for reading. I didn't notice any errors, and the style is consistant. Just not for me.
The cover is very well done, and would have had me checking this out, had I come across it. I do not plan to continue this.
First Ten review added on September 1, 2017, at 1:59 am by Gravy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
L_Therese
The cover on this book is excellent, in my opinion. The maze effect works well with the title and hints at many twists and turns to come in the book. When I read the review, the book really sounded quite good, although I discovered on the very first page that the reviewer wasn't kidding when they wrote that political correctness was not a feature of this book. After reading ten pages, I had seen that this book is just too brutal for my list just now. I'll pass this time.
First Ten review added on September 1, 2017, at 1:47 am by L_Therese.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb and OBC review. I'm not a big fan of non-fiction, and this autobiography didn't really catch my interest. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be finishing this book. I did like the author's use of description, but the content isn't for me. It did seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on September 1, 2017, at 12:31 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Snowflake
This book has a very interesting cover and title. I like the honesty and sense of humor in this autobiography. I also like the idea of the story - how to become a man. It seems well edited. I did not notice any obvious typos or grammar errors. The writing flowed well too. However, autobiographies are not a genre I typically read and although I really enjoyed the sample, I do not plan to read the rest of this book at this time. P
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 10:42 pm by Snowflake.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Scerakor
From the cover, review, and blurb of this book I may have given it a chance. I have been interested in memoirs lately and ones with a military nexus are always interesting. After reading the first 10 pages, I was not disappointed. I loved the way the book straight to the point and talking about the complicated parts of the author's life. Although Maybe not today, I definitely believe that I will finish the rest of this book. It seems very well written and edited.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 10:05 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
DDunstock
Typically, I wouldn't delve into an autobiography. However, I work in an environment full of retired Navy men and women, so I actually think this would be interesting read and lend me some insight into this world that I virtually know nothing about.
After reading the first ten pages, I do not think I would read this book. The style of writing is very simple, and it just isn't my type of story. I found a few grammatical errors, so I feel like this book would benefit from an editing session.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 1:36 pm by DDunstock.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
bookowlie
The cover artwork is very eye-catching and stylish, and it made me want to know more about the book. The summary blurb appears to be professionally edited and gives a clear explanation of the story and themes. The sample pages are also well-written, although I found it hard to be absorbed in the story. Based on my reading preferences, I am not planning to read the rest of the book, although others might like it.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 12:14 pm by bookowlie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ReviewerDiksha
The books with military backgrounds are of particular interest to me. I would have bought this book out of sheer interest. The title and the cover catch attention. The writing style is very good and the first few pages leave the reader wanting for more. The reviews put this book in good light and I too would like to read it further and get the complete story.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 12:05 pm by ReviewerDiksha.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
juliusotinyo
Mark's boyhood antics got me hooked from the start, such a delight to read. The freedom and drama remind me of my own upbringing back in the day. Our neighborhood had as many dogs and in many ways, quite similar to Mark's. Mark Butler served in the navy and that would have encouraged me to read his book. I love hearing about military tales, especially from those who no longer serve. Am I a Man Yet? by Mark Butler was officially reviewed by the review team at OnlineBookClub and as far as I've read, I'd probably agree with the top rating.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 7:56 am by juliusotinyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kitkat3
The title and the cover fit the subject. The blurb is sufficient, and the book appears to be professionally edited. The OnlineBookClub review let me know that even though this book is well written, it probably isn't for me. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 4:06 am by Kitkat3.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Alice Heritage
I wouldn't have sampled this on the basis of the title or description, though the cover is well composed. The first ten pages didn't change my guess; I won't read the whole book because it's not a priority for me to read horror stories about the military, and it seems they are told in a "brutal"way. I didn't see any errors; this seems to have been professionally edited. I liked the colorful and lucid writing style, which evoked a vivid image of a street where rottweilers snarl behind chain link fences. Unfortunately, the political incorrectness, and on balance the violence, put me right off. The concept of masculinity is an interesting theme, but apparently femininity is "all estrogen and tears". Nope! I did see an official OnlineBookClub review.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 3:36 am by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Azeline Arcenal
The sample didn't interest me enough so I pass on this book. The cover isn't as catchy as it can be, but I do like the title. While reading the sample, I did not notice any major grammatical errors either.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 1:10 am by Azeline Arcenal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Miche Sora
The title made me think this might be some kind of kids' book, but after reading the sample, it's more of an autobiography. It sounds like the author grew up in a rough neighborhood in Arizona, with a typical boys will be boys attitude. No thanks.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 12:58 am by Miche Sora.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ananya92
My first impression, when I read the title, was that this might be something misogynistic. However, I'm glad that this book is not what I suspected. This book is an almost autobiographical account of the author's journey from boyhood to his adulthood. The description and review were pretty encouraging. The book seems to be edited properly as well. I appreciate the honesty of the author in giving such detailed accounts of his personal life, and sharing experiences, which might be judged by readers. Much as a found the sample fascinating, I think I'll skip this one for now, as I'm already in the middle of another book.
First Ten review added on August 31, 2017, at 12:55 am by ananya92.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Donnavila Marie01
This is a straightforward autobiography by Mark Butler about his boyhood experiences up to his enlistment in the US Navy and subsequent deployment to Iraq. It is a realistic and intriguing life story that any man can relate to. This is not a book about heroism but it is more about searching for the meaning of being a real man. I recommend this book to those who are looking for honesty and simplicity of life. The author’s style of narrating his story has a personal touch to the reader.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 8:50 pm by Donnavila Marie01.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Christina Rose
The book title and cover did not jump out at me, therefore I am glad I read the sample provided and the Official OnlineBookClub review. This book seems to be full of raw honesty. Parts of the sample were hard to read, but it is refreshing that the author wrote without censorship. I did not encounter any errors in my reading, and look forward to purchasing and reading this book in the future.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 8:39 pm by Christina Rose.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Gingerbo0ks
I don't really like the title and the ideas behind it, though it may be in jest. The OBC review rates it as being the better of the stories about being in the Navy that are out there. I wouldn't choose to read this usually as I don't think I could find anything to relate to. I struggled to see what points were being raised and where the story was going in the sample,but I suppose that comes with reading further. It reads more like a fiction story in parts rather than someone just accounting past events, which keeps it interesting.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 8:13 pm by Gingerbo0ks.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rebecca_Rivera
I like the cover, although it looks a little busy with the words amongst the lines of the maze. I would not have picked this book out since I don't often read autobiography/memoir types. The OBC review convinced me to give it a try. I don't think I'll finish it since it's not in my preferred genre, but I really enjoyed the bit I read. It's no-nonsense honesty, which is hard to find. Nicely done.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 7:48 pm by Rebecca_Rivera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
micoleon13
I didn't really like this cover page. The idea behind it, after I knew what the book was about, makes sense, but it struck me as a self help book. I wasn't too interested in reading it. The Onlinebookclub review completely changed my mind. While I don't really like autobiographical military books, the review implied it was much more. The pages which I read were well written and edited. The style is easy to read and I almost forgot to stop after ten pages, I was so caught up in the story. I have no ideas for improvement and I would like to continue reading this book.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 7:11 pm by micoleon13.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Lennycat
Had I not read the first ten pages of this book as a part of this program, I probably would not have read this book because I don't really like books about war or the military. I do like the book cover though. The design is really clever and well done with its color scheme and font choice. I read the review on OnlineBookClub.org and it was a favorable review with 4 out of 4 stars. I did not find any technical or grammatical errors in the sample that I read, which was about 15 pages. After reading the sample, I would not choose to continue reading this book. Although I respect the author for his brutal honesty, I did not like his stories of how violence and cruelty. I did not think that these are things that I want my son to grow up like. His father's cruelty at glueing the quarters to the cement so that the homeless people could try to get them off was sad and petty. Sorry, but being mean doesn't make you a man.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 7:00 pm by Lennycat.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Seraphia Bunny Sparks
After reading a sample of, Am I A Man Yet?, by Mark Butler, I have decided that I will not be purchasing this book. My initial response when I saw this book was that it would not interest me. As I read some of this book, I found some moments engaging, but it doesn't appeal to me. I think that if I had not read a sample of this book, I'd have passed on reading it. All in all, I like how the author relates the exploits of his childhood. I think my favorite was how he shrugs off being so sick after going after that football. From what I've read this book appears to be professionally edited. This book does have an official OnlineBookClub review, but the review didn't have any impact on my decision.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 6:46 pm by Seraphia Bunny Sparks.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Cjgarland89
This book right away seemed like a great read for me. I enjoy military non fiction and first hand accounts of these types of growth. I have strong opinions on boys become men via the military. After sampling the book my initial opinion is confirmed that I would like to purchase and finish this book. The OBC review provided quite a bit and influenced me a little bit in coming to my decision. I didn't see any errors.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 6:43 pm by Cjgarland89.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
jwalker73
I like the cover and title of this book. The red, black and white works well together to provide a clean, bright appearance. It also nicely portrays the maze a person goes through to reach adulthood. The OBC review promotes this book as a four-star read and the overview makes me think I would enjoy this book. I appreciate an autobiography which details personal growth through life experiences. I read the first ten pages and enjoyed what I read. The story flowed smoothly and appeared professionally edited. The descriptive writing and theme of the story immediately drew me in. Am I going to buy this book? I already have! I can’t wait to continue sharing this authors story as he transitions to manhood.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 6:38 pm by jwalker73.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Izesicle
I would buy the book on the cover alone; it's beautifully designed. I like the light tone of the sample, it reflects the positive review. The writing reminded me of Robert Cormier books with a bit older character. The sample seems to have been professionally edited. I did not notice any typos or grammar errors. The writing, given the excellent choice of words, flowed very well. The reviewer was right in that there are parts of the book that are not very politically correct. For a biography, I find that refreshing. I will definitely buy the book.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 6:22 pm by Izesicle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
CataclysmicKnight
The cover of this one was intriguing to me, and I love media that explores "manliness" as a concept. I definitely didn't expect such an interesting story right from the beginning though! It's as interesting as a fiction novel as Mark grows up, grabbing a football from a sewer and coming down sick for days or being chased by a dog. I ended up reading well past the first ten pages as I was just so engrossed by the story! That alone convinced me that I need to finish reading this one!
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 4:42 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jeyran Main
What an appealing cover this book has! I really like it. From reading the sample it is definitely something I would like to read and so I will be purchasing the book. The work appears professionally edited and provides a good insight into what you are to expect from the book.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 4:05 pm by Jeyran Main.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Naval Aulakh
"Am I a Man Yet?" Is a well written fiction. The author has done a great job. The story starts from childhood of the protagonist and unfolds the realities and experiences he goes through in his life. The plot is very interesting. After reading its review on OnlineBookClub, I decided to read the sample of the book. I enjoyed reading it.
Moreover, I did not find any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes in the sample. I would definitely like to read the entire book.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 3:49 pm by Naval Aulakh.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Yoli García
Before reading the sample pages, the cover and title of this book got my attention because it has to do with the military and I belong to a military family. The sample pages seem professionally edited and the writing is straightforward. The author has a proud tone. Yes, I think I will eventually read this book because I am intrigued about what the author has to say about the military. However, I did not liked reading about what his father and he did to the homeless people. From the tone of the author and the events that happen in the samples pages, I got the impression that this story might be a cliché: the chavaunistic and heartless young man turns into a badass soldier. I know not all soldiers become soldiers for being like that since I am the wife of an officer. Nevertheless, I am intrigued by this book's perspective.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 2:37 pm by Yoli García.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
CrescentMoon
I really like the cover of this book. I think it's very masculine and really symbolic. I love how the top has kid shoes and the bottom has adult shoes showcasing that transition from a boy to a man which is perfect considering what this story is about. I don't really think I am the target audience for this. I don't typically read war or military type of books. However, I do think that young men would find this book really interesting.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 2:30 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vermont Reviews
Today's book of the day Am I a Many Yet by Mark Butler was a pleasant read. Mark's previous books have made the grade and are on my top shelf for 4 out of 4 stars. The days of the knights and protection of the royals and fighting for religious reasons were literary winners. This story shows Mark's younger days of growing up in Arlington, Texas. One of my favorite lines from the story.
"Danger came with the territory, and if you wanted respect, you had to be brave."
"When you're a young boy, ignorant of danger, caution is as important as flossing."
Growing up in a tough neighborhood is difficult no matter what state you live in.
Always like your novels Mark.
Vermont Reviews
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 1:18 pm by Vermont Reviews.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
gali
I wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as it isn't the sort of book I normally gravitate to. The cover isn't very appealing, but the blurb is fine. The sample started with the author's childhood experiences and was well written, but I don't care for the subject matter. I won't read the balance of the book, as autobiographies aren't my cup of tea. The OBC review didn't affect my decision either way.
First Ten review added on August 30, 2017, at 12:10 pm by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 42%
Am I a Man Yet? earned a score of 42%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 42% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
Go to main Bookshelves page for Am I a Man Yet?
