--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd much rather have a book that a few…" description: "\"I'd much rather have a book that a few people love intensely than a book that a lot of people like okay.\" — Mac Barnett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/mac-barnett-23936_book_i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-p_4434.png" --- # I'd much rather have a book that a few people love… ![“I'd much rather have a book that a few people love intensely than a book that a lot of people like okay.” quote by Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/mac-barnett-23936_book_i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-p_4434.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/mac-barnett-23936_book_i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-p_4434.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/mac-barnett-23936_book_i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-p_4434.png) > “I'd much rather have a book that a few people love intensely than a book that a lot of people like okay.” [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A work that provokes intense devotion from a few outweighs broad, lukewarm approval, emphasizing depth over breadth in cultural impact. **In simple terms:** Depth beats breadth Key Takeaway Passionate niche value Themes quality vs. quantity audience engagement artistic integrity cultural resonance Mood determined pragmatic Type statement maxim When to use this quote - publishing decisions - marketing strategies - artistic curation Key Concepts book love intensity popularity Practical Applications - targeted audience development - brand positioning Questions to Reflect On - When is niche appeal preferable to mass appeal? - How does intensity of love affect a work’s legacy? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Each book will have a lot of cliffhangers, because I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-j-anderson/each-book-will-have-a-lot-of-cliffhangers-because-i-like-that/) [Kevin J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-j-anderson/) > [A novel is a book with a lot of pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/a-novel-is-a-book-with-a-lot-of-pages/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [My book has a lot of parts of my life that people don't know about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-forrester/my-book-has-a-lot-of-parts-of-my-life-that-people-don-t-know-about/) [Maureen Forrester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-forrester/) > [ When you're done \[with writing a book\], people tell you "Well, gee, I'm not interested." "Great, I'm glad I sat down and wrote this!" ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/when-you-re-done-with-writing-a-book-people-tell-you-well-gee-i-m-not/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [I began writing books after speaking for several years and I realize that when you have a written book people think that you're smarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-began-writing-books-after-speaking-for-several-years-and-i-realize/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I don't think I want to write a third book. But the more people talk to me about it, the more I think maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-busch/i-don-t-think-i-want-to-write-a-third-book-but-the-more-people-talk/) [Frederick Busch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-busch/) > [Literally thousands of e-mails over the course of a book go out to people I've never met, people who might end up being the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/literally-thousands-of-e-mails-over-the-course-of-a-book-go-out-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [The fun thing we get to do is mess around playing all sorts of different people. People that really existed, people that exist in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brodie-sangster/the-fun-thing-we-get-to-do-is-mess-around-playing-all-sorts-of/) Thomas Brodie-Sangster > [“This book is for people who get too much email, which is a bit like saying, “This book is for people who have email.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-samuel/this-book-is-for-people-who-get-too-much-email-which-is-a-bit-like/) Alexandra Samuel > [The drama is the book of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/the-drama-is-the-book-of-the-people/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [Go through your phone book, call people and ask them to drive you to the airport. The ones who will drive you are your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/go-through-your-phone-book-call-people-and-ask-them-to-drive-you-to/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“Vincent liked to do things by the book, while John liked to throw the book at people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-conboy/vincent-liked-to-do-things-by-the-book-while-john-liked-to-throw-the/) Justin Conboy > [Nobody has time to write a book. Some people just do it anyhow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyn-mccrumb/nobody-has-time-to-write-a-book-some-people-just-do-it-anyhow/) [Sharyn McCrumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyn-mccrumb/) > [If I ever wrote a book, people would never believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/if-i-ever-wrote-a-book-people-would-never-believe-it/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [“M. Scott Peck’s classic book People of the Lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-j-chaput/m-scott-peck-s-classic-book-people-of-the-lie/) [Charles J. Chaput](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-j-chaput/) ## More by Mac Barnett > [Kevin Cornell and I have worked together a bunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/kevin-cornell-and-i-have-worked-together-a-bunch/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“I live well! I may have been swallowed, but I have no intention of being eaten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-live-well-i-may-have-been-swallowed-but-i-have-no-intention-of/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“A clue! From M!" "Who's M?" "Maybe M is for Mackintosh! Maybe Grabes ans Mackintosh are in cahoots!" "Or maybe M is for Mom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/a-clue-from-m-who-s-m-maybe-m-is-for-mackintosh-maybe-grabes-ans/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [Danger is the snack food of a true sleuth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/danger-is-the-snack-food-of-a-true-sleuth/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [I think the trick of writing a good picture book manuscript is to leave that space for illustration. An illustrated novel can do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-think-the-trick-of-writing-a-good-picture-book-manuscript-is-to/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [Every Librarian is a highly trained agent. An expert in intelligence, counterintelligence, Boolean searching, and hand-to-hand combat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/every-librarian-is-a-highly-trained-agent-an-expert-in-intelligence/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [Not only is a good prank harmless, but, like a good story, it reveals an essential truth that would otherwise be hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/not-only-is-a-good-prank-harmless-but-like-a-good-story-it-reveals-an/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [Too often we tell kids pleasant stories devoid of truth, and stories without truth are not good stories. Our audience deserves more from us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/too-often-we-tell-kids-pleasant-stories-devoid-of-truth-and-stories/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [We put authors on such a pedestal, and it's a moment that humanizes the whole thing, and lends an absurdity to what otherwise is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/we-put-authors-on-such-a-pedestal-and-it-s-a-moment-that-humanizes/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [Pranking is a great way to indicate the underlying absurdities of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the-underlying-absurdities-of-the/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“He checked out his surrounding. More books. A drinking fountain. A poster showing a guy slam-dunking a basketball with one hand and holding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/he-checked-out-his-surrounding-more-books-a-drinking-fountain-a/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [ I love those adult writers with the pranking ethos, \[Don\] DeLillo and \[Donald\] Barthelme and David Foster Wallace. I don't see any reason not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-love-those-adult-writers-with-the-pranking-ethos-don-delillo-and/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“Dana was what Steve called a "silent partner" in the Brixton Brothers Detective Agency. Being a silent partner meant that Dana didn't carry a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/dana-was-what-steve-called-a-silent-partner-in-the-brixton-brothers/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“I may have been swallowed, said the duck, but I have no intention of being eaten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-may-have-been-swallowed-said-the-duck-but-i-have-no-intention-of/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) [Explore all 25 Mac Barnett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [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/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“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/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd much rather have a book that a few people love intensely than a book that a lot of people like okay.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mac Barnett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-people-love-intensely-than-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-people-love-intensely-than-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/mac-barnett-23936_book_i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-p_4434.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/mac-barnett-23936_book_i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-p_4434.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c8/mac-barnett-23936_book_i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-p_4434.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd much rather have a book that a few people love intensely than a book that a lot of people like okay.” — Mac Barnett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mac Barnett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd much rather have a book...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-people-love-intensely-than-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-people-love-intensely-than-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```