Update time . . .
I just submitted the Unhinged Habits book jacket copy. The back cover features only blurbs.
True to form, I overthink this shit and obsess over every detail.
And off we go.
The Back Cover Book Blurb Formula (most authors ignore)
(I detailed the networking and outreach process that helped me get these blurbs in another post. Read it here.)
A few key ideas:
Hardcover back covers fit 5-7 endorsements.
Who endorses your book matters more than what they write.
Include diverse voices that speak to different reader types.
Choose authors over celebrities—book buyers recognize and trust other authors.
Mirror your book's key themes using words your ideal reader already knows.
Readers read the first blurb, then scan the rest.
When people scan, two things make them stop:
Something they recognize (like a familiar name)
Contrasting blurb lengths (Mix short and long endorsements to break visual monotony.)
Did I tell you I overthink the shit out of this stuff?
Welcome to my brain.
Let’s keep going.
The Method Behind My Endorsement Madness
At the top, I included the entire endorsement from Arthur C. Brooks.
“In this beautifully-written book, Jonathan Goodman confronts the paradox of modern life: We’re always busy, yet we can’t seem to get anything done. After reading Unhinged Habits, you will break free from this cycle—by reorienting your life around what matters the most.”
– Arthur C. Brooks. Harvard Professor and #1 New York Times bestselling author
I placed this at the top because it's the longest and most comprehensive—readers will actually read this one fully before scanning the rest.
Brooks gives me instant credibility (Harvard Professor, #1 NYT bestselling author) while perfectly capturing the book's core paradox. Plus, I'm genuinely a fan of his work.
The next endorsement is a single line from Jason Feifer .
“Unhinged Habits will get you off of the conveyor belt of modern life so that you can finally start living your definition of success, and not somebody else's.”
-Jason Feifer, Editor in chief, Entrepreneur Magazine and author of Build for Tomorrow
I chose this single line specifically for the 'conveyor belt' metaphor—it's vivid imagery that readers will remember.
It’s length creates visual contrast after Brooks' longer endorsement and reinforces the book's central theme about escaping societal autopilot.
Following that, I went even shorter and pulled out just 11 words from Nick Maggiulli.
“If you're having problems prioritizing, this is the book for you."
- Nick Maggiulli. NYT bestselling author of The Wealth Ladder and Just Keep Buying
Nick's full blurb was 82 words. I extracted just these 11 because they directly address 'prioritizing,' a major book theme, in the simplest possible terms. The brevity creates visual contrast on the page.
Strategically, Nick has enormous credibility with highly-intelligent professionals, especially in finance—a key target audience for this book.
Following that, I went with Nir Eyal.
"Jonathan Goodman delivers a masterclass in breaking the bad habits that keep us scattered and overwhelmed. This book delivers a complete system for designing a life where you can excel in what matters most without sacrificing time with the people you love."
- Nir Eyal, Author of Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life
This is roughly half of Nir's original endorsement.
I edited it down to emphasize the idea of breaking bad habits. Nir's name recognition in productivity circles adds instant authority.
Next up is Michael Easter, one of my favorite authors.
“Unhinged Habits is a radical reimagining of modern life through an ancestral lens. Jon draws from over a decade of personal experimentation with seasonal living to dismantle conventional wisdom about work, money, and even adult friendship. His lived experience allows him to get to the heart of it in a way many others don’t.”
-Michael Easter, New York Times bestselling author of Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain
Michael was the perfect choice to validate the book's 'ancestral lens' approach—he's the authority on returning to more natural ways of living.
Mike and I are friends. His personal knowledge of how I actually live this philosophy also adds authentic credibility that most endorsers can't provide.
And finally, Dr. Gloria Mark with a perfect line to end the list.
“A valuable collection of frameworks and actionable steps to help you become more focused, more energized, and less distracted.”
-Dr. Gloria Mark. Chancellor’s Professor Emerita, University of California. Author of Attention Span.
I positioned Dr. Mark's endorsement last for two strategic reasons.
First, her focus on becoming 'more focused, more energized, and less distracted' directly addresses what potential buyers are likely feeling when they discover my book—scattered and unfocused.
Placing those exact words at the bottom, in that prime final position, felt crucial.
Second, Dr. Mark is the only female endorsement on my book jacket. The damn thing's a post office—there's too much male.
Two other female endorsements fell through at the last minute, and by then it was too late to secure replacements.
Since we tend to remember and give more weight to things we encounter last, positioning the sole female voice at the end helps create the perception of balance in what's otherwise a heavily male-skewed lineup.
I wish I had another strong female endorsement because this obviously isn't only a book for men. If anything, the themes of family and purpose will likely resonate more strongly with women initially. But it is what it is.
Oh yeah, and there’s one more endorsement . . .
It’s from Steve.
He’s my mailman.
“I’m honored that you included me in your book, thank you! Your observations are so very true and fascinating, I agree with you…this book is going to be big.”
-Steve. (Jon’s mailman)
This is my favorite blurb.
I included it for 5 reasons:
Proof of concept: Steve embodies the book's core thesis—I advocate for deeper community connections, and here's my actual mailman endorsing it, proving I live the philosophy I teach.
Authenticity differentiator: In a market flooded with typical CEO and academic endorsements, Steve signals this isn't generic self-help but accessible wisdom for regular people.
Conversation starter: People will remember 'the book with the mailman's endorsement' and share that story—it's inherently more memorable than another executive's praise.
Target audience expansion: While my other endorsers appeal to professionals and productivity readers, Steve shows the book has broader appeal beyond high achievers.
Media hook: 'Author includes mailman's endorsement' gives me a unique story angle for interviews and press coverage. I dunno, maybe.
Steve delivers my mail. We always said hi.
One day I asked what he listened to while delivering.
“Self-development podcasts.” He told me. “I also work out every day before my route.”
Steve and I became friends. He comes over for lunch.
I think the people we do this life thing in parallel with are worth getting to know.
There's a section in Unhinged Habits called 'Steve the Mailman.' Here’s the start of it:
I sent it to him to make sure he was comfortable with what I wrote. His endorsement is what he texted me back.
Yes, his name in my phone is Steve the Mailman.
His blurb is different, grabs attention, and tells one hell of a story.
—
So yeah, anyway, I obsess over this stuff. Probably too much.
But also, I think that the details matter. So long as we don’t forget to have fun with the whole damn thing, of course.
-Jon
Do you read books based on blurbs?