Which would you rather - book title

[Tinkofhousepan]

Which would catch your eye more. 'Wandering through illusion' OR 'Hold on a second.. Pineapples don't grow on trees?' This is for a book on consciousness and human behaviour/all based on fact/religion/relationships/AI etc. Very paranoid writer who takes the world oh so seriously. I on the other hand feel it would draw more people in with a fun title. Which would you guys pick up at a boom shop?

The first one. Good luck!

Pineapple one, but realistically I'd buy neither so not really target audience.

I wonder whether the "Pineapples Don't Grow on Trees" times have passed... There's been a lot of those catchy titles around. Maybe it's time for something with more soul, so, the first one!

First one

Thanks for your opinions guys. The book is quite deep, and thought provoking (goes into simulation theory/ reincarnation/General and localised consciousness streams etc) so I thought a fun title would hook more readers in. But I suppose a serious title might be more appropriate! I'm allowed to be the cover picture silhouette though so I might just keep quiet about the title!

We also thought 'are you awake?' Was quite good as it goes into things most people won't have considered and wakes them up to new ideas and debates.. thoughts on that one?

I like ‘Are any of us awake?’

I would pick up Scarydinosaur's title "Are any of us awake?"

The first one sounds interesting. The second sounds like one of those Xmas books full of 'funny' factoids.

The reason I didn't like the 'Wandering through Illusion' title, is that it just sounds SOOOO far up its own bottom and like something you'd get in a shop full of crystals. But if that is your target audience, then great. Are any of us awake? is a bit better although it sounds like a novel. I like Are we awake? best.

One of the awake suggestions is better than the first two. Pineapples sounds a bit novelty. The illusion one sounds like bollocks.

I agree with Merry about the first title. I prefer the second, but would ditch the waffly prefix 'Hold on a second ...' and go with the punchier option of just calling it 'Pineapples don't grow on trees'.

... I don't like the 'awake' titles as they'd suggest to me a proselytising Christian book.

Pineapples Don't Grow On Trees made me think of There's No Such Thing As A Fish, so that's the one I'd go for. Other one sounds so wanky.

Absolutely not the pineapple one- just sounds like yet another silly, gimmicky factoid/did you know/blogger-authored bit of fluff that someone upthread so perfectly described as a Christmas book.

Blue pill or red
I'd be interested to read it. :-)

How about just 'Hold on a second...' or

first one.

Not wantin* t9 be difficult but I don’t think the title is the problem. It’s the content. It sounds a bit wanky and pointless, sorry.

Excuse typos

Harsh cardibach

....... but fair.

I wouldn't pick up either to be honest. I'm only drawn to mass market domestic thrillers with "The Girl" somewhere in the title these days.

I’m afraid I wouldn’t pick up either of those. I take it this is going to be self-published so they don’t have an agent/publisher to help with this?

A Self-Conscious Guide to Consciousness / to the Sub-Conscious
Cogito Ego Sum: [subtitle saying what it actually is]
What is it trying to do, is it a history of philosophical/religious takes on consciousness or an attempt at explaining consciousness from a new angle?

Hi guys!! Thanks for all your helpful comments. The backbone of the book is the idea that we live within a simulation, hence the reference to illusion. I have fed back the comments and look forward to hearing more of your thoughts!