Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog

Actually, I've used components of the proposed title here and there in the blog and articles, so it's fairly organic to where my thinking is now. Mark likes to call the proposed book, "Fukuyama-esque," but with my usual optimism and particular writing style. The book will definitely discuss the "restarting of history" and the search for a "better normal" and a host of other conceptualizations I have buzzing about my brain. I will consider the World Economic Forum meeting in Australia to be my first big trip of this new effort (although I do a mil unit in WA soon and an international helo conference later in the month): I am now a man connected to purpose, whose every thought moves toward one goal.

What the actual title ends up being, I don't know. Nyren's in charge of that, and I take his input in that regard to be profound, so still some settling in to do with Neil, content-wise, but we're set on the money (when all the sales bonuses are factored in, the overall amount would be in the same zip code as PNM--assuming I get PNM numbers).

The big thing is we're all clear on this being a rebranding that builds on PNM-BFA (oh so tightly linked) but definitely separates from that pair. Time alone should do the trick, but a re-presentation of me as an author is called for, and this time it'll be a lot easier than it was in 2004 (my main reason in starting the column distributed by Scripps).

I looked in the mirror last night, wondering why I now feel the compelling need to be an author of books. I mean, I've got the guaranteed op-eds and the guaranteed big articles, and for the vast majority of my career, that's all I wanted. So why make the extra effort on the books?

I guess I just feel that now's the time in my life to play that card. How much longer I do it, I'm not sure. The next book I want to do is a serious departure from international affairs, and I do want that book to come out in 2010, regardless of advances or sales or career-enhancement. It's just something Mark and I want done at the end of that day.

Beyond that? Who the hell knows. If Enterra continues to skyrocket (we have a host of PR announcements coming out in the next couple of weeks on new contracts and clients), I may be in a very different place financially by 2010, so even today's modest income impact (the advance will constitute about 5% of my income this year) wouldn't matter much.

Of course, the books are the big thing for the speaking. Then again, I'm not sure how long that one lasts either, although, if I had to guess, I might expect that aspect of my career to be the last one standing--say--35 years from now.

I have a friend in RI. We had dinner at his house when we were there a bit back. He was trained as a mime during the Soviet days and worked in Soviet circuses. When the Wall comes down, he comes over, and after the usual dishwashing stint (I told him I first met Vonne while washing dishes), he moves into manufacturing dental appliances. Now, in his middle years, with his wife and two kids and mortgage and everything going fine, he's back to working as a mime on the side in Newport, at an improv comedy place. No money to speak of. He just does it because he misses it. He misses being on stage. When I heard Vlad describe going back to being a mime again, it made me realize why I still love public speaking, and why I'm now psyched to do the WEF meet in Australia (keynote plus up to four panels).

And I guess that, as long as I'm wanting to do that public stuff, and it helps to have books, and that stuff gives me lots of experiences worth recounting in books, then I'll probably keep writing books.

Ludlum started at 40, and so did I.

Next up with Neil: a serious phonecon to synch on impressions of what this book is all about. I expect some hints on the direction of title, and further confirmation of scheduling (I can access Mark right after he finishes his co-write with Harry Reid).

And with that conversation (probably early next week), I'll feel like I've accomplished a lot this summer.

I don't like summers, generally. I don't like the heat so much (although I am beginning to really love golf). I don't like the kids being so unscheduled. I do like the vacations. I really hate the lull in speaking gigs and business activities. But I do love the time for ruminations.

And I'm glad I came out of this period with something big upon which to focus future actions.

Nice to have the kidney stone fragments gone too.