As some of you know, I recently released a book “The History of Fantasy Sports: And the Stories of the People Who Made It Happen.”
There’s never been a book like this, and the reviews are fantastic. It’s got a 4.8 rating on Amazon, the editorial reviews are great, and the Midwest Book Review said: “Simply fascinating read from start to finish.”
The book has everything from how fantasy baseball was invented (spoiler alert: no, Dan Okrent didn’t magically get the idea on an airplane) to Scott Pianowski spending a month on a couch in Peter Schoenke and Jeff Erickson’s apartment. Everything from Peter Pezaris creating Commissioner.COM taking 30-second freezing showers in an office that should have been condemned to how Monica Lewinksy may have saved the fantasy industry.
But here’s why I need your help: I wrote this book to make a contribution to the fantasy community. I knew there was nothing like this and it was needed. And there are so many amazing stories it turned out better than I could have imagined. But the problem is, I thought this was something I could knock out in a few months. I had no idea what I was getting into. It took 18 months of full-time work doing massive research and conducting dozens of interviews…another few months to publish…and now I’m at four months of full-time work doing PR.
While I thought this was something I could knock out in a few months, I’m now at two years of full-time work, with no end in sight. Promoting this will be a full-time job for the foreseeable future. And despite getting a lot of publicity since it launched in May…and despite the amazing reviews…the sales have been disappointing. I think the problem is some people are busy and thinking they’ll read it later, and others don’t comprehend how unique this is. Many of the reviews say it’s a “must-read” for anyone who plays fantasy.
This book is one of the top accomplishments of my life. I am very proud of it. What kept me going all these months is as I learned information and stories, I knew the book was going to be freaking great! But right now, part of me regrets having ever started this. I have given up dozens of rounds of golf, vacations, etc., and I am not playing full-season fantasy football for the first time in 30 years because I didn’t have time to do my normal prep.
I did this for the fantasy community, and I don’t want to regret this. You can help by just taking a few minutes and buy the book. Even if you’re too busy right now to read it, get it and read it when you can. If for some reason you can’t get the book, put it on your wish list for your birthday or Christmas. And please, tell others via social media, or if you have a website, podcast, newsletter, etc.
And I’m not just asking you to do me a big favor. I am fully confident you will love the book.
It's available on most book sellers’ websites, both eBook and paperback, but the easiest (and least expensive) place is on Amazon. There are also more details and reviews on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/History-Fantasy- ... B0D39FMLVR
Thanks for any help,
Larry
Some Reviews:
"Despite spending my entire career in the industry, I was enlightened by all the interviews and countless stories throughout the book." —PAUL CHARCHIAN, President of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, 2009-2020
“What sets this book apart is its ability to bridge the gap between historical data and the human elements of the fantasy sports community. Schechter brings to life the pioneers, the landmark moments, and the underlying strategies that have defined the genre. This is a must-read that captures the essence of fantasy sports with the reverence and depth it deserves.” —MARK MARIANI, CBS Sports and Turner Sports
"Just an incredible piece of work from which I learned so much." –- JOE SHEEHAN, The Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter
“Larry regales us with colorful accounts, many of them direct from the source. This is a must-read for any passionate fantasy sports fan.” —TRISTAN COCKCROFT, ESPN Senior Fantasy Sports Writer
“This is the definitive history of fantasy sports. Larry Schechter brings remarkable detail to the then-and-now dynamic of fantasy, from the bootstrapped early years to the multi-billion-dollar industry it is today.” —JOE LEMIRE, Sports Business Journal
“If anyone has the slightest interest in fantasy sports, this book is a must-read! Very thoroughly researched, the book is equally entertaining and interesting.” – DG Amazon review
“This book should be considered the official bible of the fantasy sports industry.” – AMAZON CUSTOMER
“I'm on page 30 and already buying it for two more people.” – ERIC KESSELMAN