#106: David Heinemeier Hansson — Turning Blogs into Bestselling Books, Writing Non-Fiction, Books as Products, Selling 1 million copies, Rethinking Work, Finding Meaning In Business & Writing
06/01/24 • 70 min
David Heinemeier Hansson, serial entrepreneur and bestselling author on his 14-year journey to selling millions of copies of his books, why you should view your books as valuable products, and how he has co-written and marketed his books—all while running multiple successful businesses, including Basecamp, Ruby on Rails, and Hey.com. Plus how he used his blog to create a viral book, why his editing process took years and why he’s certain that working more than 40 hours a week isn’t smart.
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ABOUT DAVID HEINEMEIER HANSSON
David Heinemeier Hansson is the creator of Ruby on Rails and co-owner of 37signals. He is also a Le Mans class-winning racing driver, antitrust advocate, investor in Danish startups, frequent podcast guest, and family man. His bestselling books include Rework and Remote: Office Not Required and Getting Real.
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RESOURCES & LINKS
- 📄 Interview Transcript (unedited)
- Ruby on Rails
- 37 Signals
- Hey.com
- Getting Real
- Rework
- Remote: Office Not Required
- Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber
- On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs: A Work Rant
- David on Tim Ferris’s podcast, episode #195: The Power of Being Outspoken
- Stoicism Resources from Tim Ferris
- DHH on the Daily Stoic
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.
For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.
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FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON
Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon
Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon
Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon
If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!
David Heinemeier Hansson, serial entrepreneur and bestselling author on his 14-year journey to selling millions of copies of his books, why you should view your books as valuable products, and how he has co-written and marketed his books—all while running multiple successful businesses, including Basecamp, Ruby on Rails, and Hey.com. Plus how he used his blog to create a viral book, why his editing process took years and why he’s certain that working more than 40 hours a week isn’t smart.
*
ABOUT DAVID HEINEMEIER HANSSON
David Heinemeier Hansson is the creator of Ruby on Rails and co-owner of 37signals. He is also a Le Mans class-winning racing driver, antitrust advocate, investor in Danish startups, frequent podcast guest, and family man. His bestselling books include Rework and Remote: Office Not Required and Getting Real.
*
RESOURCES & LINKS
- 📄 Interview Transcript (unedited)
- Ruby on Rails
- 37 Signals
- Hey.com
- Getting Real
- Rework
- Remote: Office Not Required
- Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber
- On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs: A Work Rant
- David on Tim Ferris’s podcast, episode #195: The Power of Being Outspoken
- Stoicism Resources from Tim Ferris
- DHH on the Daily Stoic
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.
For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.
*
FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON
Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon
Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon
Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon
If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!
Previous Episode
#105: Krystal Sutherland — Secrets To Writing a Page-Turner, Writing Young Adult Fantasy & Thrillers, How to Motivate Yourself, Amazon Studios
Young Adult Bestselling author Krystal Sutherland on the reality of hitting the New York Times Bestseller list, how she constructs compelling hooks and endings for each chapter, moving across genres, and her advice for getting your book done and creating a page-turner.
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ABOUT KRYSTAL SUTHERLAND
Krystal Sutherland is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of House of Hollow, A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares and Our Chemical Hearts, which was adapted into a film by Amazon Studios. Her books have been published in more than twenty countries and nominated for the Carnegie Medal and YA Book Prize, among others. Originally from Australia, she has lived on four continents and currently calls London home.
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RESOURCES & LINKS
Follow Krystal:
- Website
- Instagram: @km_sutherland
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For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com
For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com
*
FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON
Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon
Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon
Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon
If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.
For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.
*
FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON
Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon
Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon
Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon
If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!
Next Episode
#107: Niamh Mulvey — Writing Literary Fiction, Short Stories & Navigating The Publishing Industry, Creating Memorable Characters
Short story and literary novelist and former Hachette Editor, Niamh Mulvey on how to create memorable characters, finding her voice as a writer after years of failing, overcoming rejection and what she’s learned from her years in the publishing industry.
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ABOUT NIAMH MULVEY
Niamh Mulvey is from Kilkenny, Ireland. Her short fiction has been published in The Stinging Fly, Banshee and Southword and was shortlisted for the Seán O’Faoláin Prize for Short Fiction 2020. Her short story collection Hearts & Bones: Love Songs for Late Youth was published by Picador. The Amendments is her first novel.
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RESOURCES & LINKS
- 📄 Interview Transcript (unedited)
- Hearts and Bones
- The Amendments
- Into the Woods by John Yorke
- The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr
- A Swim in the Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
Follow Niamh:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.
For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.
*
FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON
Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon
Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon
Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon
If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!
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