Book Dodgers and Ghost Writers
Victoria Beckham has stunned fans by her admission that she has never read a book in her life. This lurid confession comes only three months after the publication of her 500-page biography "Learn To Fly".
Controversy has reignited about whether we are being misled each time a celebrity authors a book. The book in question may actually be the work of a ghostwriter, a talented hack who does his work quietly and anonymously.
In the past, it was common for ghostwriters to receive a partial credit, signified by "with" or "as told to". These days, the truth is more blurry. There may be no outward indication that a book is ghostwritten, other than a note in the preface thanking someone for his or her "invaluable contribution".
Misleading? For sure. But so long as a celebrity's name continues to rake in megabucks, it is a practice that will only become an unyielding habit.
Comments
Heh.
At least she came clean now, instead of keeping silent about this forever.
What points can we use to "test" a work, if we suspect it was ghostwritten?
Posted by: yiliang | August 18, 2005 09:55 AM
If the ghost writer is not acknowledged, there is no real way to know.
But you can use logic. An intellectual featherweight couldn't possibly write book, right? =)
Posted by: John Ling | August 18, 2005 11:54 AM
Ha. True, true.
Thing is, even people like Tom Clancy are supposed to be using ghostwriters these days. Just want to get the real deal, when one buys such authors, and not ripoffs.
Posted by: yiliang | August 18, 2005 01:09 PM
When a name like Tom Clancy is enough to sell truckloads of copies, ghostwriting actually makes perfect sense.
I suppose it all depends on the integrity of the author and his publisher. If they do not disclose the truth, then there's no way to know for sure.
Posted by: John Ling | August 18, 2005 03:32 PM
Caveat emptor. You can choose to write anything you like. Readers purchase and read at their own expense and risk (if any)
Common industry practice. Absolutely nothing to do with integrity and morality. Plain simple business practice.
Posted by: Freddie Chong | August 18, 2005 04:52 PM