--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've probably written some books - I know…" description: "\"I've probably written some books - I know I've written some books that were more interesting to me than to a large audience, but that was mostly when I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/h-w-brands-5491_academia_i-ve-probably-written-some-books-i-know_552385.jpg" --- # I've probably written some books - I know I've written… ![“I've probably written some books - I know I've written some books that were more interesting to me than to a large audience, but that was mostly when I was first getting started in academia and writing for a narrow audience.” quote by H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/h-w-brands-5491_academia_i-ve-probably-written-some-books-i-know_552385.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/h-w-brands-5491_academia_i-ve-probably-written-some-books-i-know_552385.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/h-w-brands-5491_academia_i-ve-probably-written-some-books-i-know_552385.jpg) > “I've probably written some books - I know I've written some books that were more interesting to me than to a large audience, but that was mostly when I was first getting started in academia and writing for a narrow audience.” [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author reflects on early academic work that appealed more to personal interests than to a broad readership, highlighting a niche focus in early career stages. **In simple terms:** Early academic writing was more personal than popular. Key Takeaway Embrace niche interests while expanding audience. Themes academia writing audience career development personal growth Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - conference presentations - grant proposals - journal articles - public lectures Key Concepts niche focus authorial voice audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can you broaden appeal without losing authenticity? - What steps can you take to reach a wider audience? A Different Perspective Balancing personal interest with broader relevance can limit impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academia/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Getting started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-started/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [A confessional passage has probably never been written that didn't stink a little bit of the writer's pride in having given up his pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/a-confessional-passage-has-probably-never-been-written-that-didn-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [I've probably written about three albums that no one will ever hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sturgess/i-ve-probably-written-about-three-albums-that-no-one-will-ever-hear/) [Jim Sturgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sturgess/) > [Ive probably written about three albums that no one will ever hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sturgess/ive-probably-written-about-three-albums-that-no-one-will-ever-hear/) [Jim Sturgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sturgess/) > [“if I had waited long enough I probably never would have written anything at all since there is a tendency when you really begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/if-i-had-waited-long-enough-i-probably-never-would-have-written/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Kindle, isn’t it?” the waitress asked. “I got one for Christmas, and I love it. I’m reading my way through all of Jodi Picoult’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/kindle-isn-t-it-the-waitress-asked-i-got-one-for-christmas-and-i-love/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I like to think that I probably have written more World War II music than anyone on the planet after all the 'Medal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-like-to-think-that-i-probably-have-written-more-world-war-ii-music/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [If I live for another ten years I shall probably have written all that I want to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/if-i-live-for-another-ten-years-i-shall-probably-have-written-all/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [What I wish is that people would look beyond the tribbles and see I've written some other books that I really would like people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gerrold/what-i-wish-is-that-people-would-look-beyond-the-tribbles-and-see-i/) [David Gerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gerrold/) > [“Each book is a new book. I’ve never written it before and I have to teach myself how to write it as I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/each-book-is-a-new-book-i-ve-never-written-it-before-and-i-have-to/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [ I had written three books \[Games of Throne\], at that point, and each one of them was better than the other. At a certain… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-had-written-three-books-games-of-throne-at-that-point-and-each-one/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [I should have written books instead of reading them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/i-should-have-written-books-instead-of-reading-them/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Many people can and have written books, but many have nothing to say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-rogers/many-people-can-and-have-written-books-but-many-have-nothing-to-say/) Amy Rogers > [I've really written my books for my husband and our family. They've brought us closer together by allowing us to discuss things that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-stephenson/i-ve-really-written-my-books-for-my-husband-and-our-family-they-ve/) [Pamela Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-stephenson/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) ## More by H. W. Brands > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [The Republican Party has moved substantially to the right of where Reagan was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/the-republican-party-has-moved-substantially-to-the-right-of-where/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Reagan gave essentially the same speech from the beginning to the end of his political career, which was always, 'The American people are great,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/reagan-gave-essentially-the-same-speech-from-the-beginning-to-the-end/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Presidents are evaluated not by what they did by the stroke of their own pen; it's what they persuade Congress to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/presidents-are-evaluated-not-by-what-they-did-by-the-stroke-of-their/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [In the business arena, the standard rules of morality don't apply. What we're really looking for is efficiency. It doesn't do anyone any good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/in-the-business-arena-the-standard-rules-of-morality-don-t-apply-what/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [There is a certain kind of sobering, civilizing effect that being president imposes on people. There is a certain kind of dignity with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/there-is-a-certain-kind-of-sobering-civilizing-effect-that-being/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [The Founders were anything but demigods to themselves and their contemporaries, who recognized full well that the experiment in self-government had only begun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/the-founders-were-anything-but-demigods-to-themselves-and-their/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [The American political system is based on the president taking the initiative and Congress responding. With President Trump, it's been the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/the-american-political-system-is-based-on-the-president-taking-the/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [The president was not the most important political player in the 19th century. Besides Jefferson at the beginning, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/the-president-was-not-the-most-important-political-player-in-the-19th/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [The Reagan Revolution has had no second act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/the-reagan-revolution-has-had-no-second-act/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [The shelf life of a seventh-year State of the Union address is about five minutes. Presidents can propose stuff. They're probably not likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/the-shelf-life-of-a-seventh-year-state-of-the-union-address-is-about/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [When you look at the development of the American presidency, you see that the presidents who have had the greatest impact are the ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/when-you-look-at-the-development-of-the-american-presidency-you-see/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [With my students, I always have to sell my subject because I know when you're 19, 20 years old, you've got other things on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/with-my-students-i-always-have-to-sell-my-subject-because-i-know-when/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [I'm the farthest thing from a bibliophile. I purge my collection regularly: If I haven't read a book in a couple of years, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-m-the-farthest-thing-from-a-bibliophile-i-purge-my-collection/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [If you wanted to, you could write history in Haiku.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/if-you-wanted-to-you-could-write-history-in-haiku/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) [Explore all 100 H. W. Brands quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) ## More Academia quotes > [“Word spread quickly: The visitor wished to address the scholars. 'What can he want?' they wondered, streaming into the Royal Theater. Attendance was voluntary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/word-spread-quickly-the-visitor-wished-to-address-the-scholars-what/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [One of the things that's great about New York is that it is not a one-industry town. It has education, academia, the service industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/one-of-the-things-that-s-great-about-new-york-is-that-it-is-not-a-one/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [ “See that the mind is honest, first; the rest may follow or not as God wills. \[That\] the fundamental treason to the mind ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/see-that-the-mind-is-honest-first-the-rest-may-follow-or-not-as-god/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [The approach of intellect or noesis will forever be an effete and limited sort of thing by contrast with the vigor and color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-approach-of-intellect-or-noesis-will-forever-be-an-effete-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [One can hardly appreciate how academia has perverted its highest tasks and "ideals" without pondering long and hard the implications of Jacques Barzun's House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/one-can-hardly-appreciate-how-academia-has-perverted-its-highest/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Practically everybody (1) overweighs the stuff that can be numbered, because it yields to the statistical techniques they’re taught in academia, and (2) doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/practically-everybody-1-overweighs-the-stuff-that-can-be-numbered/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [The number one problem in academia today is not ignorant students but ignorant professors, who have substituted narrow "expertise" and "theoretical sophistication" (a preposterous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-number-one-problem-in-academia-today-is-not-ignorant-students-but/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Almost all scholarly research carries practical and political implications. Better that we should spell these out ourselves than leave that task to people with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/almost-all-scholarly-research-carries-practical-and-political/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [There is this tremendous body of knowledge in the world of academia where extraordinary numbers of incredibly thoughtful people have taken the time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/there-is-this-tremendous-body-of-knowledge-in-the-world-of-academia/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [What do you call a co-worker these days? Neither teammate nor confederate will do, and partner is too legalistic. The answer brought from academia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/what-do-you-call-a-co-worker-these-days-neither-teammate-nor/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [“Chivalry in academia is dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/chivalry-in-academia-is-dead/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“The tunnel under the wall of intellectual snobbery is the only way back to common sense reality, but most won't find it because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-navarro/the-tunnel-under-the-wall-of-intellectual-snobbery-is-the-only-way/) [D.E. Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-navarro/) > [Even if 80 percent of the population of a country are Christian believers, they will have almost no cultural influence if the Christians do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/even-if-80-percent-of-the-population-of-a-country-are-christian/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“(If you'd like to see it, I've been keeping a log of department meetings ranked according to level of trauma, with a 1 indicating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-schumacher-dear-committee-members/if-you-d-like-to-see-it-i-ve-been-keeping-a-log-of-department/) Julie Schumacher Dear Committee Members [Browse all 233 Academia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academia/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've probably written some books - I know I've written some books that were more interesting to me than to a large audience, but that was mostly when I was first getting started in academia and writing for a narrow audience.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "H. 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