# Is "Telling Lies for Fun & Profit" by Lawrence Block a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Telling Lies for Fun & Profit by Lawrence Block (Arbor House, 1981) is identified by: First hardcover edition. The US Arbor House hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First hardcover edition
- Arbor House states 'First Edition' on the copyright page
- ISBN 0877953341
- Nonfiction, collecting Block's Writer's Digest columns on fiction writing
- Publisher imprint reads Arbor House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lawrence Block |
| Publisher | Arbor House |
| Year | 1981 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First hardcover edition |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First hardcover edition. Arbor House states 'First Edition' on the copyright page. ISBN 0877953341. Nonfiction, collecting Block's Writer's Digest columns on fiction writing.

## Is this the true first?
The US Arbor House hardcover is the true first edition. A nonfiction manual for fiction writers.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club issue affecting identification of the Arbor House first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Telling Lies for Fun & Profit* by Lawrence Block a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/telling-lies-for-fun-profit
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.