There’s one remaining copy of David Millar’s autobiography “Racing Through the Dark” to give away. As a reminder the publisher’s offered me a review copy but I’d already reviewed the book when it came out in Europe so there was no point getting another review copy.
Instead they offered to send three copies to give away to readers of the blog. I’ve done this via a quiz. The trouble is finding an answer that people can’t get from an internet search in six seconds.
Quiz
Guess the word count of the story.
Rules: post your answer in the comments section, don’t email or send a tweet.
Feel free to use a pseudonym and you don’t have to leave your email in the field before leaving the answer. I’ll send the book airmail to anywhere on the planet.
I’ll pick the winner in due course. If there’s a tie I’ll use a random function to select a winner.
{ 169 comments… read them below or add one }
40,000?
72,000
64,001
52,ooo
actually really want to read this book. I’m going to go with 136500
140.000 but you can keep the book.
I’ll go for 128800.
68,209
125,000
77753
96,327 — is this like the Price is Right where we can’t overbid?
62,000
134,000 and every one a rip roaring page turner!
I think 134400
254.ooo
Let’s say 116550 words!
91,072
The Price is Right!
92.000
109.995 words.
Constantine ; )
Going for 13375
102,500
143,400
90,000!
92,066
145,320
let’s go for 149793 words
78,654
The word count of the book or the review? The word count of the review, including the cover quote, is 1,406. Without the quote, it’s 1,365. If you mean the whole of Millar’s book, it’s 347 pages – quite long for an autobiography – so at 500 words per page, that would be 175,000 or so. So, that’s my guess.
98,250
160.000?
180,000
99,999
I’ll take 168,000 please.
About 7 and a half lines, 20 words per line, so the guess is 150. Just like doping, the rules are open to interpretation.
122,500
131,250
182,500
128880
145876
177400
185000
165.000
92,000 words
ignore my last, someone else already guessed that, ill go with
93,001
165,000
I’ll guess that it’s around 98,000 words.
Of the story? 160 words.
You run a very fun column as well as very informative. Thank you for all of this!
Peter
167313
166,000
190.203
174,000!
Thanks for the chance.
131,000
147, 200
147, 200.
Thanks for giving away the book. I and writing an awesome blog. Of course….
147, 200.
Thanks for giving away the book. And writing an awesome blog. Of course….
130130
128,364
77,381
100.250
80,257
70,000
107,859
89765
How have you counted the words in the book, do you have the kindle edition?
Easy, I asked the publisher who sent me the books.
172500
90,500
139,877 words
113,425
79982
ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS!
And.. 125 thousand words.
115,560
cheers!
88000
165458
172,500 words. I’m from Australia so if postage is going to kill you, happy for you to post it to a local.
1405
bmx! No wait, MTB?
My guess is 121456.
129,205
27000
122500
95010
71,000
107,805
350,000 words
99,680
102,000
124875
140,321.
I think @Rodney and I had the same google approach.
I’ll guess 72001.
147200
How long is due course? I’ve been waiting for the book to be cheaper here in the states and I’d buy it, but I’d love to win it!
Incidentally, Millar’s stage win in the Tour was pure gold!
162 words in this story I’m guessing.
91,000
159,200.
125,077
69,281
68,805
169,319 words. Thanks inrng, for an enlightening and well-written column, every single day.
95,000 ?
109,296
at least 140,501 words.
110,750
I’ll go with 171 171 words
97,851
113431
2,000,000 words.
Thanks inrng, for an enlightening and well-written column, every single day.
162,435
75630
149,700
My answer would be 80450 words
92000 words.
97653 words
98.500
158489
116610
99 999 maybe.
Thanks,
Tom
Glasgow
157
94, 582
140136
138429
120053
193456
Miller penned 140,000. His editor probably added a bit more. Got the book anyway. What’s the answer to the last quiz btw?
A yellow long wheelbase Land Rover.
Cheers. Seems like I’ve got some catch up reading to do.
92,000.
250 words per page x 368 pages. Am I close?
175560
130000
Love the blog read it every day, great job. 127,660
I’ll go for 120.001
I’ll go for 120.001
100,001?
157,376
155520
110000
80640
172346
112509
140,000 words – I’m probably tooooo late to contribute, but I would Love to read his book. Thanks for the offer.
23,773
168,206 words.
180,000 words
91273
140,000
104,100
71000
110401
159453
113,850
hmmmm…. 112,777….
150,000
152,000
166,666
I’m guessing 123,456 words…
171,500 for me
108,500
112,710 for me please.
157,474
Great book.
123774
492 000
136,000 words.
I’ll tilt at 128,800 words…
Oops, and here it is with an email address…
175,311
136,223
176120
125,000 is the word count according to the publisher. A coin flip between PJJ and LCD Abdujaparov…
Coin says… LCD Abdujaparov.
Thanks for all the entries. I have another book – a different one – to give away soon and it comes with some bonus extras.
47,465