The book shown here is about to go to press, but is on hold for a few days because the publishers have decided they don’t like the subtitle (An Invitation to the theory of relativity for anyone who is now or has ever been a bright high school student). I have the final call on this, but I’d like to make the publishers happy, partly because they probably know more than I do about how to sell books.
Three questions:
Question 1: Do you like the existing subtitle?
Question 2: The publisher has suggested truncating the subtitle to An invitation to the theory of relativity for anyone, which strikes me as dreadful. Do you agree?
Question 3: Do you have a potentially better idea?
Update: The publishers have clarified that their concern is with the word “bright”, which might either scare off readers who think they aren’t bright enough for this book and/or offend some readers because it sounds elitist.
publisher’s choice is not too bad. I agree it is not as quirky (complimentary) as yours, but still, not too bad. please note that yours has a negative connotation, see: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/former-gifted-child or google “former gifted child syndrome”
Relativity for the relatively bright.$
Relativity for the Relatively Bright.
The current one is too long. How about Relativity for the Special or General Reader?
Q1 – Too long
Q2 – Boring
Q3 – “The Theory of Relativity for Dummies”?
I like your subtitle. I would not change it.
Here’s a subtitle that the editors will probably like:
An Invitation to the Mind of a Genius For Anyone Who’s Ever Been Smart
An Invitation to the Theory of Relativity for anyone who can locate Ukraine on a world map
The title stands well on it’s own. Books don’t need subtitles.
Current subtitle is good but too long. Also, if you go with it, make sure you insert a comma after “been.”
I think Steve Reilly’s first one a lot: Relativity for the Relatively Bright.
Oops. I meant Steve Maguire.
“An introduction to the Theory of Relativity for bright and curious people”
A Bright Student’s Guide to Relativity
Their version represents an attempt to reach a larger audience; to the extent that it may reach an audience that wouldn’t be happy with the book you might want to push back. Depending on the actual flavor of the book, you might pick something like “A playful introduction to Relativity”, or that with “without Calculus”. But something is definitely lost if you just give up on your version; it promises fun for a certain kind of audience, though I’m still not sure what the book is like: Is it more like Mr. Tompkins, or maybe the light-on-math introduction that Einstein himself wrote?
Q1: I’m not a fan, and find “invitation” a little curious.
Q2: I like this less. Am I to assume this book will be as fun as your others? I don’t think either represents your unique way of presenting complex ideas very well.
Q3: I was going to attempt to come up with one, but Steve Maguire’s is perfect.
I like your subtitle: funny and unusual. (And I hope accurate.) Tell your publisher it will stand out in a bookstore shelf of bland and boring.
Q1: Yes, but capitalizing Invitation is weird unless you’re Trump or speaking German.
Q2: No, “anyone” is clearly a very different audience and gives me a different impression of the book.
Q3:
Your idea is fine and I don’t think my suggestions below are actually better, but at least they are shorter:
A) “An invitation to the Theory of Relativity for A students”
(I feel like someone’s an A student still even after they graduated.)
B) “An invitation to the Theory of Relativity for bright minds”
C) “Calling all A students: your invitation to the Theory of Relativity”
Oh, we can shorten it without changing your overall idea:
D) “An invitation to the Theory of Relativity for current and former bright high school students”
E) “An invitation to the Theory of Relativity for anyone who is or was a a bright high school”
1) It’s fine, not sure I like “Invitation”. Ridiculously wordy, but the length is part of the humor.
2) Awful. Better not to have a subtitle at all.
3)A couple of the existing versions were good. Maybe same with Introduction instead of Invitation? Got a few AI suggestions (who wouldn’t, these days), and these included:
Gemini 2.5 Flash (not bad):
Or, Why Your GPS Isn’t Lying (Much)
Proof That What You Learned in Science Class Gets Way Cooler
Grok (not impressive):
It’s Not Just for Einstein Anymore
Copilot (meh):
A Crash Course in Einstein’s Playground for the Forever Bright
ChatGpt o3:
“A Light-Speed Tour for Anyone Who’s Ever Timed the Microwave
Why Space Bends, Clocks Linger, and Homework Never Comes Back Early.
How to Stretch Time, Shrink Space, and Still Make It Home for Dinner.
E=MC2 4 Dummies
1. It looks long so is a bit offputting, especially starting “An invitation to …”
Also, I’m wondering your target audience should refer to high-school students (students at high schools) than high school students (students who are high)? But then I haven’t read the book, so I don’t want presume.
2. Yes, that is dreadful. I’d presume that a book that is for “everyone” isn’t for me. I want a book that suits my niche, not something bland and generic.
3. Maybe something like: “The Theory of Relativity for bright high-school students (and those who used to be)”?
“The Theory of Relativity for bright high-school students (past and present)”?
Or: “The Theory of Relativity for those who were bright at school (or still are)”?
I think you can make the subtitle shorter while keeping its essence.
Given the cover picture, anything involving “bending” seems apropos
I like the existing one. It would make me much more likely to purchase it. I think the top 20% of former high school students think that they were bright. Realistically you are not getting many buyers from the other 80%. You are pitching it at the right people. I understand the publisher’s concern but do they really have good data on who is going to buy a book like this? How about some A/B testing…
The update illustrated the obvious concern with your subtitle. The fact that you added this as an update indicates that it was not obvious to you. Given that, I would take myself out of the loop of all such decisions.
I agree with #22, I would be more likely to purchase the book with your current subtitle. I understand the impulse to broaden the appeal to a bigger audience, but saying that it’s for “everyone” is both false and also makes it less appealing to your actual target audience.
One change you could make it drop the “now” aspect of your subtitle, since it adds little. (It’s not like current bright high school students will no longer see themselves as the target of the group.) “An invitation to the theory of relativity for anyone who was a bright high school student”
“Einstein on the back of the envelope”
https://note.com/taiki_takahashi/n/n9b538acaa9c5
How about some permutation that uses “the curious” instead of “anyone [who is now or has ever been a bright high school student]”?
Delete “An invitation to”.
Armchair Relativity
Exciting. I remember you recommended an out of print book on this, and didn’t like the one the guy updated to (though I liked his example of the tennis and basketball). Maybe: “an accessible explanation for bright high schoolers (of any age)”