Read Between the Lines

The man in the video says there’s a simple reason why I’m not rich. “Most people have a scarcity mindset,” he explains through a thick Australian accent, addressing the camera like a wise mentor lecturing a student. “Top-tier people—actual movers and shakers that are doing things—have an abundance mindset.” Behind him, an ancient sword hangs on the wall. For some reason, he’s in a bathrobe.

This is Dan Pye, who’s posted nearly 500 videos on YouTube and even more on Facebook and Instagram, where he’s amassed over 15,000 combined followers. If you stumble upon one of these videos, you might mistake him for one of the countless self-appointed gurus who stalk the platforms in search of clicks, clout, and commerce. Pye certainly looks like the other hypermasculine bros on the #grindset internet—the corner of the web dedicated to hard work—with large biceps, an affinity for Punisher tank tops, and a haircut that’s somewhere between Marine and mohawk. He sounds like them, too, with praise for stoicism, relentless striving, and Elon Musk. “I’m an absolute animal,” he says in one video, staring down the viewer as if expecting a fight. “I’m a competitive beast.” But unlike the many other would-be influencers linking mindset with unbelievable wealth, Pye isn’t hawking crypto or herbal supplements. He’s not suggesting you get into drop-shipping. Instead, Dan Pye is talking about Frankenstein.

The theory is simple. Countless classic works of literature have fallen out of copyright and into the public domain, granting normal people the right to reproduce, remix, and resell them. Pye, along with other talking heads like Julian Sage and Daniel Hall, says this offers a remarkable opportunity, one that will reward those who take advantage. After all, Moby-Dick and Treasure Island have the kind of brand recognition even the best marketing firms can’t replicate. Aspiring entrepreneurs, the logic goes, just need to act.

Leave a Comment