If you’ve ever cracked open a nonfiction book only to slog through endless padding, repetitive points, and needless jargon, you’re not alone. The truth is, most nonfiction books are way longer than they need to be — and honestly, a lot of them could be summarized in a few pages or even a few paragraphs.
The Problem with Nonfiction Books
- They’re padded to meet length requirements.
Publishers want 200+ pages, so authors add filler — stories, anecdotes, repeated ideas — to bulk up the content. - They repeat themselves a lot.
You’ll find the same point rehashed 3–4 times across chapters. By page 150, you’re just waiting for the book to end. - They’re written for branding and sales.
Books aren’t just knowledge-sharing; they’re also marketing tools to build the author’s brand, sell speaking gigs, or push products.
The Formulaic Pattern in Popular Nonfiction
If you look closely, you’ll notice many nonfiction books — especially from authors like Ryan Holiday and others in the self-help or business space — follow a very predictable formula. Chapters often start with a quote, include an anecdote, then break it down with some “scientific” sounding analysis or stats.
This pattern is designed to:
- Keep readers hooked
- Make ideas feel relatable
- Create shareable “nuggets” people can repeat
It’s not always malicious — more like a well-oiled system for style over substance. Once you recognize the formula, it can definitely feel like a scam or at least a lot of fluff.
The Bottom Line
Reading an entire nonfiction book is often a slow way to get a handful of useful insights. With AI summaries, you save time, and still get smart.
So next time you feel like diving into a thick nonfiction book, try asking an AI first — you might be surprised how much you can learn in a few minutes.
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