Published books can be a good source of evidence for ascertaining whether or not they know what they are talking about and teaching. The problem there is that few seem willing to go into print - I wonder why?
I would say because you have a lot of people that are writing blogs and books as they go along and learn it themselves and apply it to their lives. So their writing and mindset changes as they go along the trail of life. The one's that walk the walk end up being experts, but not always in it for the fast lane. There are others that outsource content which you can spot a mile away, because it's not personalized and tends to be like term papers, or they get many other writers that all write different and have a different voice, so you can spot that right away too, they're not an authority or know their stuff. There just in it for the money. And then there are the one's that copy other people's content and say it's theirs which usually gets shut down as soon as a group of writers such as Hubpages catches them stealing all kinds of content. Which is not an authority either. And then you have the authorities that have walked the walk and talk the talk which very few indeed.
This all mixed together makes it harder for the real deal to stand out. So unless you know what you're looking for and already developed like most in Fast Lane you're not going to to know the real thing from the fake thing, because you have to many snake oil salesmen, and the one's that are still learning and growing aren't aware yet that some of what they're writing isn't truth and fiction. Others again are just out for the money.
For someone to become an authority that takes a lot of learning and growing and developing, a long process, and not something that happens over night. And I can tell you I run into too many that race into the ball park and aren't prepared because they're in a hurry. I haven't raced anywhere, because I understood the last few years even if I went to school, got straight A's and on the Dean list, it didn't mean crap. And I've learned in seven years online through my own observation and interacting with people the moment you think you've arrived, doesn't mean you have arrived. You basically have to master everything in your life yourself first before anyone's really going to take you seriously and for your business, book, etc to last long term.
While I see lots of people throwing content out there, even to sell, I know they may be making money for a short period of time, but if they don't have a strong foundation to begin with, that's not going to last to long. That's why I say, I have put books out there, but it was to test the waters, and I won't put my novel out there, until I know it's ready. It's all trial and error, and frankly I had to laugh because if you meet the people where they're at, and no your audience, they'll respond. And it's not always the trend. I just threw one book out there this forum wouldn't do! I had more reads on that book then I did on any subjects discussed in this forum. Why I laughed, is because the reviews were good, except for one.
And that person stated there are to many cancerous books out there, and it's apparent this author has never been around this subject. This is an example, of someone not ready to hear the truth, and I did walk the walk and went through the journey, so even if you do know what you're talking about, there's a group of the population that is on the other side of ignorance and unaware of the subject. And think you're wrong. And it seems that's when I usually get the negative reviews. When I've done my home work, applied it to my life, put it out there, and someone person that hasn't reach self actualization or transcendence says, you don't know what you're talking about. And this is part of the lesson, you can listen to people all day tell you, you don't know what you're talking about, and sure you can get self-doubts and start believing maybe you don't. lol I think that is the lesson, not allowing you to be thrown of course, because others are at a different place.
I very seldom tell people they're wrong in the business world because I know unless I know for a fact it's wrong, there's no point in pointing it out, unless I have the facts and evidence to prove it is wrong. And I'm still growing and developing myself. I'm one of those people that also look at everything and everyone, and see what's working for them and not working for them. And who my competition is, and sure I don't like always watching and reading everything, but I can say it teaches you a lot, and reading reviews and seeing what the public says. I suppose I am just a firm believer rather then staring at statistics too, look at what's happening and going on. Comments, and interaction on the internet. I can't say it's the perfect method, but I can tell you people get trapped and caught up in guru's and tools.
For example: Like the Meyer's and Brigg's: People get stuck in that box, and see one person say, it's a diagnosis and they're diseased. They get focused on something and get stuck there. So yes, tools and Guru's can get you stuck in places you don't want to be. And I suppose right off the bat in 2010 I understood don't get stuck in groups and tools. Because they're boxes and you're mindset tends to gravitate towards whatever the guru or tool teaches you and usually to get the money.
And personally, I do gravitate towards other countries because American stuff just seems to be stuck in a victim mentality mindset or not exactly steering people to the real deal and knowledge. It's like same b.s. but mixed up in niches and I suppose it just depends on whether you want to be the real deal, or just be another person that hides the truth just to make money. Either way you're going to make money, but I suppose I just drift off to becoming the real deal versus pretending I'm something that I'm not.