When you are the new kid, the one with the fresh perspective, some cool ideas, and a brand new bunch of friends, people say things about you...some of what they say is interesting, some of it is funny, but almost all of it is just not true.
Here's what they've been saying, and here is, well...the truth.
1. Flat World Knowledge is going out of Business.
TRUTH: Not so much. In March, we closed an $8.2 million venture capital Series A financing. We're thrilled, particularly given the tough economic environment out there. Learn more about the partnership and read an interesting blog post by Brian Hirsch, investor and board member, about why his firm has invested in something as crazy as giving away textbooks!
2. Flat World Knowledge textbooks are "wiki books."
TRUTH: Not at all. We sign experts in their fields to author our texts, they are peer reviewed, and professionally edited to be just like the traditional publishers' books. However, since we publish our books under a Creative Commons license, teachers can make changes to their book so it better meets the needs of their course. No one else will make changes to that instructor's book, but that instructor. And the professor gets to go to a new edition when he or she wants, not when a publisher says so...which is "sweet," in the words of our CEO.
3. Bookstores can't order Flat World Knowledge textbooks.
TRUTH: They sure can! Bookstores are welcome to order Flat World Knowledge texts. All of the information needed for a bookstore to place an order with us is on the bottom of every page of our webiste, under the Bookstores link.
4. Flat World Knowledge Books are old books that have been republished.
TRUTH: Not Us. You may be confusing us with someone else. We publish brand new textbooks, with superior authorship. We have two books (out of our 22 signed titles) which revised with us rather than their original publisher, but that is not what "we do." We publish great books.
5. It will take weeks for students to get a Flat World Knowledge book.
TRUTH: More like 5-7 days. Students can choose the rate in which their book is shipped. With the least expensive option, they will have their book in 4 business days depending on what part of the country they are shipping the book. Or they can chose to ship the book 2-day for about $11.95. The best part is; while students are waiting for their book to arrive, they can read it online for free.
6. With shipping the Flat World Knowledge Books are expensive as other textbooks.
TRUTH: Not quite. Students will spend an average of $140 per textbook. Nothing in our product line plus shipping ($3.95-$12) even comes close.
7. Flat World Knowledge is having trouble shipping their textbooks.
TRUTH: Nope. We're shipping our books just fine, thank you. When a professor, bookstore, or student orders a textbook we celebrate a little bit, then we have the books shipped. See Rumor #5 for more details about timing.
Heard a good one? Rumor that is! Tell Us what you heard and we'll post it in the Rumor Pit with the TRUTH.
© 2010 Flat World Knowledge, Inc.
