It’s official: My first translation book is out!
Good news!
My first translation book has come out!
The book is สำเร็จได้... ไม่เห็นต้องรีบ which has been translated from Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement. After blood, sweat, and tears (see the summary of my translation tips here), it is now finally on sale. The book is a Thai version translated from its original English edition, published in the US. Written by Rich Karlgaard, a Forbes publisher, it’s about late bloomers: people whose talents or capabilities are not visible to others until later than usual. Think of Morgan Freeman, Steve Jobs, and J.K. Rowling.
Ananta Samakhom, Bangkok, Thailand (By Phaisal G./Singh Photography)
It’s sad that the launch of this book coincides with the COVID 19 outbreak, but here’s my shameless self-interview about how it feels to have my first translated book published! (Well, clearly I am not famous enough to be interviewed by other people yet * laugh *) The link to the free sample is below.
*Imagining myself on The Ellen Show*
*TV show theme music. Audience clapping. The host says a kick-ass summary about my life. I walk in. I wave. *
Host: Welcome, Alisa! So, how did it feel to get the opportunity to translate a book?
Alisa: I feel dumbstruck, really. It all happened last year. My translation classmate sent out a message in our class group about an opportunity to translate a business book with Nation Books. I had been taking multiple translation lessons by then, and I wanted to put what I learned in practice. So, I grasped the opportunity right away. Nation Books sent me the first chapter of the book and asked me to do a sample translation. I did. And I got the job.
I didn’t think too much about how much time it would require me. But, deeper into the process and closer to the deadline, the translation of this book became the major part of my life.
My name in the book details page.
When the book released, I immediately bought 5 copies and gave them to my family. The moment when I saw the book, as I slowly took it out from the postal package, the feeling of joy and gratitude almost overtook me. Here it is, 6-months’ worth of work, 320 pages of them, in my hand. I quickly flipped through. The letters, the words, almost all of them were on my laptop just a month ago. Now, they have materialized, like a kind of life form breathing into the pages.
““Rich Karlgaard’s Late Bloomers shines a much-needed light on an essential human truth—that each one of us can realize our gifts and unlock our full potential, whether we’re an early achiever or a late bloomer. As he shows, life is not a race, it’s a journey.””
Host: Who should read this book?
Alisa: This book is great for people like me: working adults. If you ever doubted in your life that you may be a late bloomer, then this book is for you. You will be kinder to yourself, trust me. If you’re looking to move up in your career ladder, this book is also for you, because it will tell you what might be holding you back. If you want to pivot into an entirely new field, then this book is also for you! It will help guide you on that discovery!
This book is perfect for parents. It’s for parents who might ever feel frustrated or apologetic about their children’s (seemingly slow) developments. It’s also for parents who are interested in child-rearing and child development. The impact of today’s academic pressures has been harmful to children. It’s also dangerous for students to jump into a job market without the understanding of their true selves and strengths. This book will guide parents so that their children can avoid those pitfalls.
““Despite Aesop’s warnings, our society still admires the hare more than the tortoise. We deify those who burst out of life’s starting blocks and disdain those who take time to find their pace. But that’s a colossal mistake, says Rich Karlgaard in his powerful new book. Drawing on a deep reservoir of science, Karlgaard shows that many of us — perhaps most of us — peak well after our wunderkind years as we acquire the wisdom, resilience, and equanimity necessary for genuine achievement.””
This book is also great for teachers and school administrators. These individuals hold the key to unlocking the potential of the country’s youth. If they embrace the differences of personalities and strengths of their students, we will have a diverse pool of learners who are confident about their uniqueness. Wouldn’t it be good if Thailand had a creative, resilient, and purposeful pool of students? As an educator myself, I strongly believe so.
Host: Where can we purchase this book?
Alisa: Good news! You can read the first chapter of the book for free here! And if you like it, you can buy it here or get an ebook as well!
True to the nature of this translator’s website, the Thai version of this article will appear soon.
