Getting Real by 37signals is now free | Hacker News Reader

Getting Real by 37signals is now free

gettingreal.37signals.com

45 pointssebslomski14 comments

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I'm pretty sure this is a repost. This PDF was released for free a couple months ago.

http://37signals.com/svn/posts/3182-get-your-free-copy-of-ge...

Odd, and I can't "Flag" articles anymore?

That's strange, the link is showing up for me (both here on the comment page and in the overview)

When I read Getting Real I was struck by this piece of advice: http://gettingreal.37signals.com/ch08_Wordsmiths.php

At the time I was working with someone who was an awful writer and communicator. That person was in a VP position that required lots of communication internally and externally. I think 37 Signals are right about writing because good writing requires clear thinking.

Damn, what happened to the browser version?

Update It's still there: http://gettingreal.37signals.com/toc.php

It's not free if they want my e-mail address in exchange ...

There's always mailinator.com.

FWIW, 37Signal's mailing list is extremely low volume. I've been on it for years and I can't remember the last time I got an email from them.

lazyjones, is it because you don't want SPAM, or some other reason? I ask because Gmail spam filtering is so good, I stopped using mailinator type apps long ago. In addition, more and more places are providing single-click unsubscribe.

I posted here because I don't like the implication that handing out your e-mail address (and allowing them to use it for whatever they state in their terms) bears a cost of 0. It is clear that 37signals also consider it to be worth much more than that, otherwise they would just link the PDF from that page as an alternative to having it e-mailed. "Free" means "zero cost" to me and I prefer conditions to be stated clearly and honestly, that's all.

[I don't use gmail anymore because my e-mail content is also not "free", i.e. I prefer paying 0.90 EUR/month to a smaller Webmail provider without ads and with worse spam filtering over letting Google analyze my personal e-mail for advertising and possibly other purposes - it's a cost I cannot calculate]

To most people "free" = I don't have to pay anything.

Nothing is at zero cost really ... if you have to click a link to download something that "costs" you your time, which is inherently worth something.

I think in this context "free" isn't deceptive at all.

Just because it has value for them doesn't mean it hurts you.

A simple google search of "Getting Real pdf" will find what you're looking for.

I know DHH divides opinion here on HN, but this book is a real Gem (not to be confused with RubyGems).

This and "The Pragmatic Programmer" are my top two books, relating to Software Development and Running a small business.

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