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General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: Pseudoscience-is-malarkey on 26/11/2020 09:24:35

Title: Shuggie Bain is #1 best seller
Post by: Pseudoscience-is-malarkey on 26/11/2020 09:24:35
I guess I have to read this British/Scottish writer's debut book before philistine allegations are made on me. Anyone read it?
Title: Re: Shuggie Bain is #1 best seller
Post by: alancalverd on 26/11/2020 10:13:09
Caveat emptor.

My local supermarket is currently pushing about 20 books, at least five of which carry the "number one best seller" tag on the front cover. It is clearly not an indication of either quality nor popularity, just the publisher's indifference to credibility. 
Title: Re: Shuggie Bain is #1 best seller
Post by: Bored chemist on 26/11/2020 12:52:21
Caveat emptor.

My local supermarket is currently pushing about 20 books, at least five of which carry the "number one best seller" tag on the front cover. It is clearly not an indication of either quality nor popularity, just the publisher's indifference to credibility. 
The Beatles had about 20 "number 1 best selling " records.

Not at the same time.
It's not a problem with credibility, it's one of understanding context.
Title: Re: Shuggie Bain is #1 best seller
Post by: alancalverd on 26/11/2020 14:26:27
The context is a supermarket shelf.

If it held 20 fish, of which 5 were labelled "fresh today", you would have cause to complain if four were rotten, even though every one probably had been "fresh today" at some point in its history.

I've also come across "NEW - Traditional...." blazoned on a few items.