kadavy.net
type: channel
description: Get to know David Kadavy
date: 2025-11-04T00:11:29Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
generator agent: https://wordpress.org/
items: September 2025 Income Report
items: August 2025 Income Report
items: Alert: Slow Productivity on sale
items: Mind Management: 50,000 copies sold!
items: New YouTube Video: 12 Life-Changing Books You Haven’t Read
items: July 2025 Income Report
items: Alert: Ultralearning on sale
items: Alert: Deep Work on sale
items: June 2025 Income Report
items: Alert: Tiny Experiments and Clear Thinking on sale

September 2025 Income Report
type: item
creator: David Kadavy
date: 2025-10-31T02:11:08Z
subject: Income Reports
description: To listen to an audio version of this report, join the Patreon » September’s revenue was $5,649, up from August’s $3,493. Profits were $4,106, up from August’s $942. A rebound…for now (but record low income and profits) A nice rebound in revenue, as I got an injection of cash for Chinese rights to Mind Management.
encoded: To listen to an audio version of this report, join the Patreon » September’s revenue was $5,649, up from August’s $3,493. Profits were $4,106, up from August’s $942. A rebound…for now (but record low income and profits) A nice rebound in revenue, as I got an injection of cash for Chinese rights to Mind Management. Unfortunately, this is an anomaly and doesn’t mean revenue has rebounded sustainably. 12-month income was at a new record-low again this month. I broke a nearly seven-year-old record last month at $64,925, and this month broke it again with $61,968. 12-month profits are also at an all-time low. Last month I also broke a six-year-old record low with $29,916 profits. This month I broke it again, with $28,274. Low book income and profits My income from book sales were low, but the records broken are not as old. My 12-month revenue from books was $43,582. Last time it was that low was July of 2021, when I had made $43,066. 12-month profits from books were $21,479. Last time they were that low was also July 2021, when they were $20,383. Mind Management Simplified Chinese rights The highlight of the month was a Simplified Chinese translation deal for Mind Management. Simplified Chinese rights tend to go for quite a bit. This deal was “only” $3,000 – I could imagine having done better. Around $500 of that was taken out for tax withholding and agent fees, but I still just count the top-line revenue in these reports. Recently signed another smaller deal, and awaiting payment. Mind Management in Kindle Unlimited I started Mind Management’s first-ever Kindle Unlimited term on October 9th. So far, the results have been underwhelming. If you squint, maybe sales rank has increased since then. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-10868 size-large" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/mmt-sales-rank-2025-09-750x466.png" alt="" width="750" height="466" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/mmt-sales-rank-2025-09-750x466.png 750w, h…

August 2025 Income Report
type: item
creator: David Kadavy
date: 2025-10-03T21:44:30Z
subject: Income Reports
description: To listen to an audio version of this report, join the Patreon » August’s revenue was $3,493, down from July’s $4,176. Profits were $942, down from July’s $2,405. All-time low yearly profit 12-month profits are at an all-time low in the nearly eight-year history of these reports. I’ve profited $29,917 in the past year. The
encoded: To listen to an audio version of this report, join the Patreon » August’s revenue was $3,493, down from July’s $4,176. Profits were $942, down from July’s $2,405. All-time low yearly profit 12-month profits are at an all-time low in the nearly eight-year history of these reports. I’ve profited $29,917 in the past year. The previous low was in September 2020, of $32,213. That was just a couple months before launching Mind Management, Not Time Management, so it shouldn’t be surprising my profits are low again, as I continue to work on Finish What Matters. This, I tell myself, is life in Extremistan. Sub-$1,000 month This is the third month this year I’ve profited less than $1,000. In February I lost nearly $1,000. Before this year, the last time I profited less than $1,000 in a month was June 2020. My only other sub-$1,000 month, I lost $773 in December 2018. Ad spend not scaling The main culprit dragging down profits was increased ad spend. This was my first month spending more than $2,000 on ads since March this year. I spent only $588 in April, and have been scaling up as I’ve dug into how the Amazon Ads platform has changed, and made targeted changes to improve ROI. Thanks to a slingshot effect, April had a 340% ROI in book sales, May 71%, June 186%, July 107%, and this month I was back down to 8% – a profit of only $157 on books, after spending $2,034 on ads. Even after writing scripts to interface with the Amazon Ads API and streamline some ad-management tasks, the fact remains that most of my books can no longer turn a profit on Amazon Ads. 100-Word Writing Habit is currently easiest to sell through ads, but still it takes more spend than it makes. Mind Management crosses 50,000 sales! Amidst these dismal book-sale numbers, Mind Management, Not Time Management crossed a huge milestone: 50,000 copies sold! And so I updated the wheat-flanked words on the cover. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10830" src="http://kadavy.…

Alert: Slow Productivity on sale
type: item
creator: David Kadavy
date: 2025-09-23T15:15:42Z
subject: Books
description: Happy Tuesday! As I write this, Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity is only $2.99 on Kindle. I haven’t read this one yet, but I’ve picked it up and am looking forward to checking it out. This part of the description has a nice punch, some of which will surely appeal to Mind Management fans: From the aggressive
encoded: Happy Tuesday! As I write this, Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity is only $2.99 on Kindle. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10835" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/slow-productivity-225x350.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="350" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/slow-productivity-225x350.jpg 225w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/slow-productivity-750x1166.jpg 750w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/slow-productivity-768x1194.jpg 768w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/slow-productivity.jpg 965w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /> I haven’t read this one yet, but I’ve picked it up and am looking forward to checking it out. This part of the description has a nice punch, some of which will surely appeal to Mind Management fans: From the aggressive rethinking of workload management, to introducing seasonal variation, to shifting your performance toward long-term quality, Slow Productivity provides a roadmap for escaping overload and arriving instead at a more timeless approach to pursuing meaningful accomplishment. I have no control over the price of this book, and it may not even be discounted anymore by the time you get this. But if it is, move fast! When my readers buy books like these, it helps signal to Amazon that readers of those books will also like my books, especially if you buy them along with mine. Pick up Slow Productivity for $2.99. While you’re at it, to celebrate 50,000 copies, Mind Management is $5.00.

Mind Management: 50,000 copies sold!
type: item
creator: David Kadavy
date: 2025-09-19T01:47:16Z
subject: Books
description: I’ve once again updated the wheat-flanked words on Mind Management, Not Time Management, this time with a majorly-significant milestone: It’s now sold 50,000 copies (at least). To celebrate, I’ve temporarily marked the Kindle version down to $5.00, which is probably the weirdest price-point on the entire Kindle store right now. Sales broke through the 50k mark
encoded: <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-10830 size-medium" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mind-management-50k-laurel-wreath-350x311.png" alt="" width="350" height="311" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mind-management-50k-laurel-wreath-350x311.png 350w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mind-management-50k-laurel-wreath.png 576w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" /> I’ve once again updated the wheat-flanked words on Mind Management, Not Time Management, this time with a majorly-significant milestone: It’s now sold 50,000 copies (at least). To celebrate, I’ve temporarily marked the Kindle version down to $5.00, which is probably the weirdest price-point on the entire Kindle store right now. Sales broke through the 50k mark after I got a report from one of my foreign rights deals. I’ve made several foreign rights deals for MMT, and this is the first sales report I’ve received, so the book has no doubt sold even more copies I don’t know about. How surprising is it to sell 50,000 copies? I know almost exactly. In my September 2020 income report, I said I was 50% sure I’d sell between 20,000–50,000 within the first three years. I pretty much split the middle on that prediction. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10831" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mmt-3-years--350x213.png" alt="" width="350" height="213" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mmt-3-years--350x213.png 350w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mmt-3-years--750x456.png 750w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mmt-3-years--768x467.png 768w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mmt-3-years-.png 1509w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" /> But, I didn’t make a prediction for 5 years. That just seemed crazy. Anyway, it was about a coin-toss, which in retrospect feels luckier than 50/50 to win. Who can guarant…

New YouTube Video: 12 Life-Changing Books You Haven’t Read
type: item
creator: David Kadavy
date: 2025-09-11T02:26:53Z
subject: Books
description: I’ve been dabbling in some YouTube lately, and my latest addition is 12 life-changing books you haven’t read. I’ve seen quite a few “life-changing” book recommendation videos on YouTube from other authors, and quite frankly I find them disappointing. Some of the books they recommend are good, but I overall get the sense they’re just
encoded: I’ve been dabbling in some YouTube lately, and my latest addition is 12 life-changing books you haven’t read. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10826" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/12-life-changing-books-you-havent-read.png" alt="" width="546" height="436" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/12-life-changing-books-you-havent-read.png 546w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/12-life-changing-books-you-havent-read-350x279.png 350w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px" /> I’ve seen quite a few “life-changing” book recommendation videos on YouTube from other authors, and quite frankly I find them disappointing. Some of the books they recommend are good, but I overall get the sense they’re just recommending books from their genre that are published within their cabals of publishers and/or agents, doing favors for friends, or they’re doing some clever Amazon algorithm training. Against this wiser business strategy, I tried to really think of books that have actually changed my life, and that I don’t see frequently recommended. Interestingly, I didn’t come up with very self-help-y self-help books, and some aren’t even self-help books. Nothing against self-help-y books, honestly, that’s just how it turned out. Subscribe to my YouTube Please do subscribe to my YouTube channel, as if I eventually get some momentum going over there, I probably won’t habitually notify of new videos through my blog. I could use some help training the algo because I’ve somehow amassed over 5k subscribers over the past couple decades, from creating video on a wide variety of topics. Many of those subscribers are probably disappointed each time I publish a new video and it’s not about, say, how to wash laundry in your sink. Enjoy the video.

July 2025 Income Report
type: item
creator: David Kadavy
date: 2025-09-06T02:32:26Z
subject: Income Reports
description: To listen to an audio version of this report, join the Patreon » July’s revenue was $4,176, up from June’s $3,504. Profits were $2,405, up from June’s $1,759. Record lows continue Revenues and profits continue to be low, historically speaking. Income over the past twelve months has been $70,457, which is the lowest since $70,177
encoded: To listen to an audio version of this report, join the Patreon » July’s revenue was $4,176, up from June’s $3,504. Profits were $2,405, up from June’s $1,759. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10798" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/income-report-2025-07.png" alt="" width="638" height="371" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/income-report-2025-07.png 638w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/income-report-2025-07-350x204.png 350w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px" /> Record lows continue Revenues and profits continue to be low, historically speaking. Income over the past twelve months has been $70,457, which is the lowest since $70,177 June of 2024. That doesn’t sound so bad, but profits are lower than they’ve been for a much longer time, at $34,003, the lowest since $32,213, in September 2020. The average monthly profit of $2,834 is very close to the record low of $2,684, which was also in September 2020. Book revenues over the past twelve months are $50,931, which is the lowest since August 2021, when they were $48,095. The peak was $89,630, in January 2023. Book profits over the past twelve months are $28,046, which is the lowest since November 2021, when they were $27,914. The peak was $56,519, also in January 2023. Some perspective Looking back at my old income reports provides some perspective on these low numbers. The low point of profits in September 2020 was right before I launched Mind Management. I called it “an average-ish month, historically speaking.” Here’s what my graph looked like back then. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7122" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/september-2020-income.png" alt="September 2020 Income" width="638" height="371" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/september-2020-income.png 638w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/september-2020-income-35…

Alert: Ultralearning on sale
type: item
creator: David Kadavy
date: 2025-09-02T19:53:58Z
subject: Books
description: Good afternoon. As I write this, Scott H. Young’s Ultralearning is only $1.99.In this case, I must disclose that Scott is a friend, and we have long Zoom conversations periodically. We have a lot of overlap in the way we think, though I am much more mystified by how to trick oneself into doing what one
encoded: Good afternoon. As I write this, Scott H. Young’s Ultralearning is only $1.99.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10790" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ultralearning-232x350.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="350" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ultralearning-232x350.jpg 232w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ultralearning-750x1133.jpg 750w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ultralearning-768x1160.jpg 768w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ultralearning.jpg 993w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" />In this case, I must disclose that Scott is a friend, and we have long Zoom conversations periodically. We have a lot of overlap in the way we think, though I am much more mystified by how to trick oneself into doing what one intends, while Scott is far more interested in what is the best and most optimal way to do it. He puts that passion into Ultralearning. I’m always impressed at how thorough Scott is. He uses a lot of scientific research to back up his claims and, unlike some pop-psy trad-pub authors, he is very careful not to assert a claim unless it is robust and replicated. He combines that scientific rigor with real-world experimentation. Scott first built his audience years ago when he learned the 4-year MIT Computer Science curriculum on his own, in 1 year. It’s a fast-moving world, with execution easier than ever, but acquiring knowledge and skill not always so much. So Ultralearning is as relevant as ever. I have no control over the price of this book, and it may not even be discounted anymore by the time you get this. But if it is, move fast! When my readers buy books like these, it helps signal to Amazon that readers of those books will also like my books, especially if you buy them along with mine.

Alert: Deep Work on sale
type: item
creator: David Kadavy
date: 2025-08-17T15:39:21Z
subject: Books
description: Happy Sunday! As I write this, Cal Newport’s Deep Work is only $2.99 on Amazon Kindle. This prescient classic came along just as people were starting to get an idea that digital tools and media might be making us more distracted than productive. Now “deep work” is part of the popular lexicon. I built upon Deep Work
encoded: Happy Sunday! As I write this, Cal Newport’s Deep Work is only $2.99 on Amazon Kindle. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10782" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/deep-work-232x350.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="350" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/deep-work-232x350.jpg 232w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/deep-work-750x1132.jpg 750w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/deep-work-768x1159.jpg 768w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/deep-work.jpg 994w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" /> This prescient classic came along just as people were starting to get an idea that digital tools and media might be making us more distracted than productive. Now “deep work” is part of the popular lexicon. I built upon Deep Work when developing the system I shared in Mind Management, Not Time Management. In fact, when I interviewed Newport for my podcast, he said: The thing I learned after Deep Work came out – which is not really in the book, but I think is important – is understanding that there are different flavors of deep work. Not just between different professions, but within your particular profession there could be different types of things that are deep. They feel different, and there’s different things to support them. Which directly echoed the “seven mental states” I wrote about in Mind Management. To celebrate this rare discount on Deep Work, I’ve temporarily marked Mind Management $2.99 on Kindle. (I literally just did this so it may be some hours before Amazon changes the price. I didn’t want to wast time announcing the Deep Work discount, because I suspect it won’t last even a day.) I have no control over the price of this book, and it may not even be discounted anymore by the time you get this. But if it is, move fast! When my readers buy books like these, it helps signal to Amazon that readers of those books will also like my books, espe…

June 2025 Income Report
type: item
creator: David Kadavy
date: 2025-08-13T00:43:17Z
subject: Income Reports
description: To listen to an audio version of this report, join the Patreon » June’s revenue was $3,504, down from May’s $3,771. Profits were $1,759, down from May’s $2,173. 12-month profit low My profit over the past twelve months is the lowest it’s been in five years. In November 2020, it was $36,243, and this month
encoded: To listen to an audio version of this report, join the Patreon » June’s revenue was $3,504, down from May’s $3,771. Profits were $1,759, down from May’s $2,173. 12-month profit low My profit over the past twelve months is the lowest it’s been in five years. In November 2020, it was $36,243, and this month it’s $37,149. When will the bleeding stop? November 2020 was just after Mind Management, Not Time Management had debuted. That’s a comforting reminder that when I’m getting close to a major book, my revenue may tend to dip. While I’ve released plenty of shorter titles since then, and Digital Zettelkasten was the surprise hit of them all, I’m hoping that releasing my next book will return to livable profits. On one hand, of course it will. A book on finishing has a clear market, what I’ve written so far has a chance to be big, and finishing the Getting Art Done trilogy should have network effects. As I wrote about in How to Sell a Book, that one additional book would triple potential two-book paths within the series from two, to six. On the other hand, I’ll be publishing into a different market than before. Amazon and the self-help genre are getting crowded with AI slop, people are reading even less, the media environment is fragmented, and Amazon Ads are getting more expensive and more complicated. So, as much as I’d like for books like this to be the “secure” side of my barbell, the reality is there are no guarantees. Sometimes I think my business is totally failing. But I remind myself this general roller-coaster trajectory is the nature of this business. When I consider other ways I could make some quick money to keep my bank balance from dwindling, a little calculator in my mind usually goes back to “just finish the book.” The few readers who back me on Patreon help out, but I’m reconsidering that. I’m well aware it’s not a focused offering that maximizes revenue potential, but interest in it is very low – one out of a thousand email subscribers – and what inte…

Alert: Tiny Experiments and Clear Thinking on sale
type: item
creator: David Kadavy
date: 2025-08-10T00:49:08Z
subject: Books
description: Good evening! As I write this, there are a couple books my readers are sure to be interested in that are steeply discounted on Kindle. Tiny Experiments is $2.99, and Clear Thinking is $1.99. Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, is my favorite new traditionally-published self-help book in a long time. It highlights, promotes, and
encoded: Good evening! As I write this, there are a couple books my readers are sure to be interested in that are steeply discounted on Kindle. Tiny Experiments is $2.99, and Clear Thinking is $1.99. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10757" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tiny-experiments-232x350.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="350" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tiny-experiments-232x350.jpg 232w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tiny-experiments-750x1132.jpg 750w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tiny-experiments-768x1159.jpg 768w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tiny-experiments.jpg 994w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" /> Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, is my favorite new traditionally-published self-help book in a long time. It highlights, promotes, and formalizes ways of thinking that will hopefully be very familiar to my readers: the “linear” world we’ve been brought up in gives us unrealistic expectations about how things are supposed to go. To follow your curiosity, you need to approach everything with an experimental mindset. Instead of planning specific actions to lead to specific outcomes, conduct tiny experiments, where your hypotheses lead to new discoveries. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10758" src="http://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/clear-thinking-232x350.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="350" srcset="https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/clear-thinking-232x350.jpg 232w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/clear-thinking-750x1133.jpg 750w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/clear-thinking-768x1160.jpg 768w, https://kadavy.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/clear-thinking.jpg 993w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" /> Clear Thinking, by Shane Parrish, I haven’t gotten to check out yet, but I’m excited to grab it at only $1.99.…