The Bestseller Code

Unlock the Secret DNA of Bestsellers with Groundbreaking Text-Mining ResearchWhat if there were an algorithm that could reveal the secret DNA of bestsellers, regardless of their genre? In The Bestseller Code, Jodie Archer and Matthew Jockers have cracked the code, offering fresh insights into how fiction works and why we read. Their groundbreaking text-mining research, based on a five-year study of twenty thousand novels, sheds light on the current craze for dark heroines, reveals which themes tend to sell best, and even explains why Fifty Shades of Grey sold so well.This thought-provoking book explores the relationship between creativity and technology, providing a new perspective on the New York Times bestseller list. At its heart, it is a celebration of books for readers and writers—a compelling investigation into how successful writing works, and a fresh take on our intellectual and emotional response to stories."When a story captures the imagination of millions, that's magic. Can you qualify magic? Archer and Jockers just may have done so."—Sylvia Day, New York Times bestselling author