meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The James Altucher Show

804 - How to Write Books That Sell 160-Million Copies with Ken Follett

The James Altucher Show

James Altucher

Education, Business

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 14 December 2021

⏱️ 67 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How does one write books that sell 160 million copies? What was the writing process looks like?In this episode, I have one of my favorite authors, Ken Follett, the author of thrillers and historical novels who has sold more than 160 million copies of his works, came on to talk about his writing process for his new book, Never. Some of the things that we talked about include, developing characters, what can we borrow from the real world in the writing process, and what's the best approach to writing current politics and current events!Listen to the episode and find out more!My new book Skip The Line is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever you get your new book!Join You Should Run For President 2.0 Facebook Group, and we discuss why should run for president.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltucher.com/podcast.Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts:Apple PodcastsStitcheriHeart RadioSpotify Follow me on Social Media:YouTubeTwitterFacebook ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This isn't your average business podcast and he's not your average host.

0:06.8

This is the James Altiger Show.

0:12.8

Today on the James Altiger Show.

0:16.9

Always love talking to Ken Follett, the author of I Have The Needle and his new thriller

0:22.2

called Never.

0:23.2

He's always interesting.

0:24.7

He sold 160 million copies of his books overall.

0:27.5

He's a massive bestseller.

0:29.8

We talk about Net Olney, his process of creating a bestseller thriller and how he looks at

0:36.3

plot, character and everything else.

0:38.8

But also we talked about the current world situation and how world could end, which of

0:44.5

course is great material for thriller writers and something we should all be wary of.

0:58.5

You get COVID yet or anything?

1:00.4

None of my family has caught the virus.

1:02.3

I'm happy to say.

1:03.3

Oh, good.

1:04.3

In this country or in the States.

1:06.4

And actually none of my employees has caught it.

1:08.7

But we've been very careful here in my house where we have cleaners and like that.

1:15.1

We all wear masks when we meet the staff here.

1:19.0

It's interesting the different levels of security and concern people have around the world

1:24.2

and around the country and so on.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from James Altucher, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of James Altucher and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.