Any Feedback on the new Kevin McCurley Book - "The Ultimate Python: Morph Maker Guide

[mvptext1]

I saw some reviews on Amazon but haven't seen much feedback on this new book from Kevin McCurley. Does anyone on BP.net own this book? What do you think of it? I have Kevin's complete BP book and I like that book. Any chance to read about BP's is good for me, and its always nice to see pics of BP's too. I imagine this new book is great, but would like to read about what first impressions people have of the book.

Thanks.

[MrLang]

The price is unreasonable - it's not a college textbook. I understsand it's 700 pages and a lot of color photos. They should have adjusted it however they needed to for the price point to be closer to 60-70 bucks tops.

No personal experience with the book yet since I wouldn't be caught dead paying that much for a book containing information and pictures that are all available for free online.

Not a knock and it's cool that it exists, there are just a few misses for me.

[JLC]

I just had mine arrive the other day and haven't had any time to do much more than thumb through it. It's a BEAST of a book and STUFFED FULL of ball python eye candy. If you can name a morph combo that's ever been made, it's probably in there. I can't comment on the quality of information or writing style yet, but the pictures are high quality.

The price is as low as they could make it, seriously. Anything less than what it is wouldn't be able to deliver all the morphs, and that's what the book is about. Given its size and the sheer volume of glossy color print, I'm really surprised it doesn't cost more.

[mvptext1]

That makes sense, I know the book took years to make. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of the book when you are done reading it.

[Saber402]

I was lucky enough to win a free copy through Reptiles Magazine. I got it last week. It has tons of information and like was said earlier, pictures of hundreds of different morphs and what their genetic makeup is. It has a big section devoted to thoroughly understanding the history behind some of the morphs we have today, but it also gives a very detailed explanation of ball python genetics and what you need to know to hopefully become a successful breeder if you choose to.

While the price is on the high end, I am sure some if not most of us have spent that much, or close to it, on a meal with our significant other for a birthday or anniversary, or maybe a pair of Nike's that will be wore out in 6 or 8 months, or that college textbook that was only used a semester. At least this book will be around on my bookshelf for quite some time and referenced often. And, before anyone comments, Yes I was on the waiting list to buy a copy and would have for sure.

[rlditmars]

I haven't seen it, but considering the size of the book (700+ pages) and the quality of the photos and such, it doesn't seem outrageous. Consider what the publishing costs were for the first printing and that fact that the volume of sales is pretty finite. It's not like this is a Clancy novel destined to be a top seller. They probably had to charge that much just to insure they recouped their costs with a modest profit margin.

[Pythonfriend]

printing can be expensive when you go over the top with high quality pictures. there are ways to drive down the cost, by ensuring a very large amount of sales, or by going for the magazine printing process, basically printing it like a very thick issue of national geographic.

but when you look at an actual book, with hundreds of high quality pictures showing architecture, art from picasso, or nature photography or aerial and sattelite images of earth or astronomy pictures or whatever, as soon as it doesnt move in large numbers, such high prices are not unusual at all. you can find similar prices on amazon and in book stores when you look for books that are equally difficult to print.

what i dont like is that i have a suspicion that now that the book is out, NERD wont share anything for free anymore, like they used to. all their youtube videos about ball pythons have disappeared, the website lost content. this may have different reasons, but i am suspicious that they are cutting down on ways to get some of the information for free that is now in the book. i dont like that at all. they used to have really nice youtube videos, and helpful articles about genetics on their website. i dont want to be forced to buy the book just because they remove that stuff, so that the only way to gain any knowledge from NERD is now the book. if this really is a pattern now, i have to say its quite a disgusting marketing strategy. it implies that the community doesnt count, and people that dont buy the book can go screw themselves. if they would leave the website as it was and keep the youtube videos online, wouldnt that be good advertising for the book, like a free sample?

so im fine with the high price of the book. but if whats going on with their website and youtube channel really is part of a marketing strategy (i may be wrong, but i get the impression) then thats not OK with me. i dont know their other social media, if they also have a blog or facebook page and you are familiar with it, now would be the time to check if they removed stuff from there as well. throwing their community engagement and education efforts under the bus to sell a few more copies just isnt nice if it is true.

[OctagonGecko729]

printing can be expensive when you go over the top with high quality pictures. there are ways to drive down the cost, by ensuring a very large amount of sales, or by going for the magazine printing process, basically printing it like a very thick issue of national geographic.

but when you look at an actual book, with hundreds of high quality pictures showing architecture, art from picasso, or nature photography or aerial and sattelite images of earth or astronomy pictures or whatever, as soon as it doesnt move in large numbers, such high prices are not unusual at all. you can find similar prices on amazon and in book stores when you look for books that are equally difficult to print.

what i dont like is that i have a suspicion that now that the book is out, NERD wont share anything for free anymore, like they used to. all their youtube videos about ball pythons have disappeared, the website lost content. this may have different reasons, but i am suspicious that they are cutting down on ways to get some of the information for free that is now in the book. i dont like that at all. they used to have really nice youtube videos, and helpful articles about genetics on their website. i dont want to be forced to buy the book just because they remove that stuff, so that the only way to gain any knowledge from NERD is now the book. if this really is a pattern now, i have to say its quite a disgusting marketing strategy. it implies that the community doesnt count, and people that dont buy the book can go screw themselves. if they would leave the website as it was and keep the youtube videos online, wouldnt that be good advertising for the book, like a free sample?

so im fine with the high price of the book. but if whats going on with their website and youtube channel really is part of a marketing strategy (i may be wrong, but i get the impression) then thats not OK with me. i dont know their other social media, if they also have a blog or facebook page and you are familiar with it, now would be the time to check if they removed stuff from there as well. throwing their community engagement and education efforts under the bus to sell a few more copies just isnt nice if it is true.

You arent "forced" to buy anything. If you want the information within the book then you can either pay the asking price or not. No one owes you free information or rather more correctly stated, free labor and time. Seriously, you folks argueing its too costly are no different then people who complain about not being able to afford a certain mutation of ball python. Either buy it or dont. Statements about "too costly for ME" are fine,statements about "too costly objectively" are ridiculous.

[Pythonfriend]

i didnt say its too expensive, quite the opposite. i argued that the price is reasonable and justified.

but i hate to believe that all community engagement NERD did so far was all just so that they get the right reputation set up in order to be able to sell the book. i hate to believe that he is selling out everything just to sell the book. i hate to think that when he did make the great videos and articles and shared stuff for free, that all he had in mind was money after all.

if the book is written by someone who does not care at all about the community, then i dont see myself buying it. and thats what it seems like.

yes im not forced to buy anything. thats the point. when the marketing strategy that is being used is too dirty in my opinion, then i dont buy. of course it is his right to cripple his website and take down the youtube videos, but i dont like it.

[Saber402]

You need to remember that this isn't Kevin's first book. And the sky didn't fall after the first one in 2005. I don't see why it would happen now.