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My book is published globally in English by Forbes Books, and in all other languages by Mensch Publishing.
I was prompted to write it after a second bottle of Chablis was opened in pub. I was sitting with Richard Charkin, and my daughter, Searsha. There was lots of jollity amidst the wide-ranging discussion of Book Publishing. I think Richard was waiting for early signs of wine-induced vulnerability, when he simply said, ‘you must write a book’. I asked what sort of book he thought it should be. I’ve been writing (unpublished) children’s stories for years, and harbour intentions to write ‘a thriller’ so I was excited that I might be about to be discovered by this great man of publishing. ‘How Publishing can embrace AI’ was his immediate answer. So, I did as I was told. Researching it was fascinating, in truth - publishing is the oldest industry of which I know and I took a theme of ‘innovation through the ages’ for my interest. In parallel, I did the same with Artificial Intelligence. It gradually dawned on me that books and AI are both simply expressions of human creativity and genius and, recently, have begun to intertwine, with many common themes. My perspective is that although there are legitimate fears to hold about how AI can affect our lives (and Publishing), nevertheless, we should shimmer with it, not shake because of it.
REVIEWS
Thomas Cox, Managing Director, Arq Works
I thoroughly enjoyed 'Shimmer, Don't Shake' and highly recommend it for publishers, tech enthusiasts, and futurists alike. Nadim Sadek expertly paints the landscape for the imminent convergence of publishing and AI. By exploring the various epochs that have shaped both fields, he draws insights from past eras to predict the opportunities and consequences of our ongoing technological revolution. As a technologist working in the publishing space, I found Nadim's perspectives on the potential applications of AI in this field and their implications for the industry especially thought-provoking and insightful. With a captivating blend of historical context, technological insights, and examinations of societal implications, Nadim adeptly guides readers through the evolution of AI in publishing. Nadim isn't merely commenting from the sidelines; he's actively involved. He underscores the significant work he and his company undertake in this area, assisting publishers and authors in leveraging AI to ensure their titles reach targeted audiences. While Nadim doesn't profess to be a historian or a technical expert in artificial intelligence, he delves into these complex topics with a unique style, drawing extensively from his experience in the field. I believe that for those in the publishing industry seeking guidance through the uncharted waters of AI in publishing, 'Shimmer, Don't Shake' stands as an invaluable resource.
Martin Pichlmair, CEO of Write with LAIKA · Associate Professor at ITU Copenhagen · Co-founder of Broken Rules
Writing has been at the heart of the Generative AI revolution and there’s no medium that’s more used to shaking things up. Shimmer, Don’t Shake starts off with giving an overview of all those historic moments where writing proved as a catalyst for change. And after a solid introduction to current AI technologies it quickly gets to the core of the issue: a balanced and well thought through analysis of the influence that AI - and not only the generative kind - will have on publishing and already has. This book is a fascinating read that someone like me, who works in Generative AI but is several layers removed from the publishing industry, can learn a lot from. It is well grounded in research and every page makes clear that an expert of this industry was at work here. It projects just enough into the future to get a hunch of changes to come. And it strikes an appreciable balance between hype, hope, and fear. All that, written in a clear and concise language.
Rick Mayston, Literary & Media Agent
As someone who has worked in publishing and the media for around 48 years(!), I have been party to many new innovations and changes that have affected my industry as a whole. Some within that industry have sought to carry on without any acknowledgement of the developing age, and some have embraced it positively. What I can say categorically is that it is the latter group that generally survive…and indeed thrive where they may not have even been a major player previously. Does that mean that everything has to change? Absolutely not…and it is refreshing to read such a positive response to AI that seeks to combine the new technology with the best of past traditions in order to provide a much broader platform for success. Many in the tech world understand the technology but not how to monetise it. Many in the publishing world are fearful of anything new ’taking over’. In this book, Nadim Sadek superbly addresses both the many revenue opportunities and the industry’s fears in a way that is fully coherent to the layman. He does not preach about the virtues of AI, nor does he demean the history of publishing. Instead we feel as if we are in a similar place to where the author started his journey, and that if we take a similar path, opportunities will present themselves in ways that may not previously have been possible. An excellent read for anyone wanting to engage positively with AI, but does not want to fully relinquish tried and tested traditions.
Ben Bilboul, Founder & Managing Partner of Karmarama (now part of Accenture Song)
AI looks set to disrupt the advertising industry at a scale not seen since the introduction of television or the world wide web. But Nadim offers an optimistic and clear-eyed look at the benefits and opportunities afforded to agencies and marketers by the arrival of LLMs and other AI technologies. There are lessons here not just for publishers, but everyone in marketing grappling with our new world.
Richard Charkin, multiple CEO of Publishing businesses and author of ‘My Back Pages
The publishing industry worldwide is on the verge of a technological revolution which will dramatically increase the discoverability and sales of its key assets – the millions of books lurking in their under-promoted but hugely valuable back lists. "Shimmer, don't Shake addresses the fears and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. It offers clear solutions for authors and publishers enabling them to enhance readership and income.
Simon Walker, Group CEO, Kepak
As a CEO of a broad based food business, I was not sure I would find a book on AI in publishing relevant, but Nadim’s easy-to-embrace narrative of the nature of AI and its application across many industries, drew me in. Written accessibly and engagingly, it gives a fascinating insight into how AI will continue to evolve into all aspects of our lives with the application to the world of publishing highlighting the potential for AI to open up new opportunities and create value.
Justine Solomons, Director and Founder, Byte the Book
A wonderful and succinct book that allows the reader to put AI in the context of the many technologies that first enabled and have since transformed the publishing industry. Publishing is going through its next iteration, and this book promotes optimism for future incarnations.