First Printed Proof Copy of The Mistakes That Make Us (Video)
In June 2023, I held the first printed proof of The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation. The video below captures that moment, including a cover-alignment problem that needed attention before publication.
The book is now published. If you are exploring it for yourself or your team, start with the free preview before deciding whether it is right for you.
Why a proof copy matters
Seeing a design on a screen and holding a printed copy are different tests. The alignment issue was something to notice and correct. A proof creates an opportunity to find a problem before it reaches more readers.
That is a useful question for other work, too: what could we test on a small scale before making a larger commitment? We still need to consider the risk, especially when a mistake could harm someone.
Thanks to Don Coon for the cover design, Tom Ehrenfeld for editing, and Cathy Fyock for coaching and support throughout the project.
For more on learning from errors, see What Are Mistakes? Why Do We Make Them?
A transcript of the video can be found below.
Some Images of the Cover
Click any photo for a larger view
From the Video
This transcript preserves the June 2023 recording. References to pre-orders and future editions are historical, not current availability or pricing. See the book website for current editions and buying options.
Mark Graban: Hi. It's Mark Graban here. I'm really excited today. I just received the first print-proof edition of my new, almost here, upcoming book. It arrived through Amazon. It's a proof that's why there is an ugly beige bar across the cover, but here it is, holding it the first time, The Mistakes That Make Us – Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation.
You can see how the cover is designed. Don Coon, thank you, my old friend and cover designer. Brilliant the way he has the design wrapping around the cover. If I can make sure the stupid ring light doesn't cast too much of a glare off of the glossy cover. Of course, I'm going to make a mistake in a video about the cover for a new book about learning from mistakes.
I hope this isn't going to bother anybody to have coffee stains on the spine of the book. My gosh, I'm not good with a camera and a ring light. There we are, The Mistakes That Make Us. The Kindle version is available for pre-order now at Amazon, The Mistakes That Make Us. You go to mistakesbook.com, you can sign up to get a free PDF preview of the book.
You'll be notified when the print editions are going to be available through Amazon, through my website, and eventually through other retailers. It's going to be available in paperback like we see here.
It's going to be also available in hardcover for a little bit more if you're interested. Then I'm going to be recording the audiobook version, The Mistakes That Make Us that then should be available in September or so. Again, thank you to Don Coon, cover designer. Thank you to Tom Ehrenfeld, my editor. Thank you to Cathy Fyock, my book coach. Here it is, wanted to share it with you.
Explore the book before deciding
Read a sample to see how the book approaches learning, accountability, and improvement. You can also explore a speaking session for your leadership event.
Make it safe to learn from mistakes
In The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, I share stories and practical steps for leaders who want people to admit mistakes, learn from them, and prevent them from happening again. It received the 2025 Shingo Publication Award.
Looks great Mark! Congratulations on getting another step closer! Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks, Karen! Have you checked out the PDF preview?
https://www.mistakesbook.com/chapter/
Asked on LinkedIn by Jim Samuel:
Quick question … What will you do if you find a mistake in the proofs?
My reply:
It’s not a what if.
We’ve found mistakes in the proof.
Some got through copy edited.
Some were created in page layout.
I know we won’t catch every mistake during the proofreading phase.
I think it would be a mistake to expect that a book would be perfect when it first launches.
The beauty of being the publisher and print-on-demand is that mistakes and defects can be corrected even after the book is released.