Thread: JDNSW needs to write a book.

There's a wealth of information on AULRO from John and others.
We're lucky that it's easily accessible rather than on Facebook where everything is transient.

I often Google a subject and it brings me back to a thread on AULRO !

The idea of a book (physical or print-on-demand) or online resource is great but it would take a fair amount of time & dedication.


Colin

Originally Posted by gromit

There's a wealth of information on AULRO from John and others.
We're lucky that it's easily accessible rather that on Facebook where everything is transient.

I often Google a subject and it brings me back to a thread on AULRO !

The idea of a book (physical or print-on-demand) or online resource is great but it would take a fair amount of time & dedication.


Colin

I agree.

I'm not trying to play down the input of others at all, I just find his comments and stories very readable. (I hope this isn't embarrassing for you John!).

It could just be me and my personality, but I really find his stuff easy to read, not all of us have the ability or "gift" to write like that.

Yes, it would probably be a lot of work, I understand that, just thought I'd throw it out there anyways!

Originally Posted by shack

I agree.

I'm not trying to play down the input of others at all

I understand that and agree that John's replies are readable, informative & 'on-the-money'.

With John's OK, you could search all his replies then cut & paste, collate and put together quite a tome. But again, it needs a lot of time & dedication.


Colin

What I have done is simply to put together a collection of references over the years, together with workshop and parts manuals for those Landrovers that I have been involved with, and use these and sixty odd years of being directly involved on and off with Landrovers since I first encountered them as a field assistant on a BMR geological party in 1960, and use these books and my experience to help others when I feel I have something useful to add.

It probably helps that I have had some experience over many years writing scientific papers and presenting them at conferences, as well as a number of years editing a scientific journal. But I have never written a book. My twin brother has written several books, mostly unpublished or privately published in limited numbers. I have edited a couple of these.

But you are right, writing a book would be a lot of work, and even if published would be unlikely to make an income in any way commensurate with the amount of work. And it would have to be restricted to the areas of 'Landrover' that I have had experience with or is covered by my books, without a lot more work again.

And, I am not getting any younger.

It cannot be disputed, John has much knowledge of various subjects. Linking some of those subjects may prove difficult.
John's writing style definitely reflects his scientific background, as does his input on this forum. A book written in that style is a text book. John would need to write multiple books, one for each of the discipline of expertise.
A few of John's exploits have slipped into his writings, on this forum, but nowhere near enough for those of us, interested in such.
I feel an oral history, extracted and transcribed by a person trained in that field, would be a good seller, marketed properly.

Not exactly what you are talking about, but there was an oral history of my professional career published in the August issue magazine "Preview", published by the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists. It is only five pages though.

I think that non-members may now be able to register to see this magazine on line at aseg.org.au. It comes to society members as part of their membership.

I'm certainly not trying to put any pressure on you John, if nothing else, take it as a compliment and continue doing what you do here.

Cheers
James