How do I rate a nonfiction book? By asking five questions. Then I answer them. Use this shortcut to craft a meaningful rate-and-review.
Each of my five key questions can make it easy to rate a book fairly, intelligently, thoughtfully. Good karma-ly!
For Starters, I Love to Rate NONFICTION Books
Do you? Personally, I love reading ’em. No wonder, nearly all the books I write are self-help books.
Definitely nonfiction, my how-to books have the purpose of significantly helping readers. Ideally, there will also be some entertainment along the way, in contrast to droning and despair.
Props to Marie Kondo for inventing a superb concept, for her bestselling tidying-up how-to. By now, for many of us this (whether tidy or not), Marie has give us a handy household concept: “Does this spark joy?”
Which Nonfiction Books Spark Joy in YOU?
Come to think of it, nonfiction itself can set in motion a lot of sparking joy. Ever notice?
First and foremost, though, nonfiction books must be content-rich.
Pretty essential for a nonfiction book! However, I recognize the intimidation factor when it comes to rating someone’s content. Or reviewing it.
- With fiction, one can always rate a book based on “I know what I like.”
- But nonfiction? Maybe it’s fair enough to gobble down a book’s nonfiction words. Then belch out some stars. All based on a gut reaction.
- Being a person who loves to develop skill sets, though? It’s no surprise, really. Of course, eventually, Rose Rosetree would develop a Rate Nonfiction Books Skill Set.
Unlike most of the skill sets I teach, this one can be yours by the end of a simple blogpost. This particular blogpost! And you’re already here.
Five Possible Stars????? Aha!
So simple, having a max of five stars: The very idea sparked joy in me, leading me to develop a 5-point way to rate nonfiction books:
- Awarding each star in response to one particular questions.
- Because who doesn’t love author interviews?
- Especially when you’re the one who answers your own questions… on behalf of the author. Haha. All answers falling within the context of one particular book.
- Depending on each answer, you’ll award one of the stars. Or half of a star. Or no star at all.
- Rating books — turned into a Mission Possible: Sure, why not?
Maybe you’ll like my questions. (Please COMMENT below and tell everyone.)
Maybe you won’t. But my fave questions can still inspire you to develop your own handful of favorite questions. (Please COMMENT below and share.)
Meanwhile, here we go.
How I Rate a Nonfiction Book Question 1.
Who Does this Writer Think I Am?
“I” being me, or you, the reader person. Both the content and writing style can tell readers so much about the intended audience.
- Smart?
- Humorless?
- Rushed and rushing?
- Mainly a funloving, casual browser?
- Perhaps a reader with the heart of a poet, even if she seldom publishes all that poetry. But she has chosen to substitute tweets?
Right after you finish reading, do you feels included? Then, star.
Might you, the reader, even feel uplifted and encouraged? Then even glowier, your star.
By contrast, what if you limp away from the reading, feeling as though you’ve been chewing on cardboard? What if the author’s intended audience appears to be only professional anthropologists from Mars?
Not your jam, then. No star awarded, not this time. (In which case, now might also be an excellent time to stop reading that book and try something else.)
Note: “Creativity Secrets with Soul” is an online workshop that I’ve developed to help strengthen creativity. Choosing which person to write for — that’s definitely part of my system to help writing flow. Intended audience always is worth considering if you’re a reader or writer.
How I Rate a Nonfiction Book Question 2.
High Concept Or Generous?
Over the decades that I’ve been involved in writing and publishing, I’ve noticed, ugh! The emergence of the “High Concept Book.”
So slick and commercial!
- Many books receive top ratings simply because they’re high concept.
- Me, though? I’m allergic.
- Why is “generous” the opposite of high concept? (Generous imo.) Because generous writers share. They don’t dole out just enough to make a sale.
COMMENT below if you’d like to share why your reaction to high concept books is positive or negative.
Also, feel free to ask if you’d like me to share a story about “Just say no to high concept.” (Here I’m thinking of a certain publishing negotiation that helped me to remain an indie author, thank you very much.)
How I Rate a Nonfiction Book Question 3.
Originality, Anyone?
Of course, many people believe “There is nothing new under the sun.”
But should such people become authors? Maybe not.
- Nonfiction books can include life-changing innovation.
- Even a high degree of thoroughness can bring new details to light. (Witness the career of the amazingly diligent historian Robert Caro.)
- Alternatively, for some, the highest praise goes to books that recycle familiar ideas. Makes the reader feel extra-smart! Sure, I can see the appeal.
Make your choice, being honest with yourself. Then decide: To star or not to star?
How I Rate a Nonfiction Book Question 4.
Do I Like the Shape of this Book?
These days, many of us read so much free content. Books might seem like a bunch o’ articles, put together like this definition: History is just one damned thing after another.
Yet for those of us who love books, a published book can mean something more.
One of the great luxuries for a thinking person can be the shape of a book. Form-structure-development: Exploring the shape of a book can become a delicious adventure.
If you like the way any nonfiction book is delivered, that’s ample reason to star.
How I Rate a Nonfiction Book Question 5.
Truth Value
Do I agree with this nonfiction book? To what extent do I agree with it?
Many of you might feel this is the question to ask-and-answer.
Personally, though, I care far more about “Truth Value.” Every seeker of truth knows that truth comes in innumerable shades.
You don’t have to become a professional Enlightenment Teacher to develop your own, meaningful standards for truth. Given the huge flow of information that deluges all of us consumers daily, standards help. So I like that I get to set my own standards.
What if I feel a little ashamed after reading a book with low truth value? I won’t rate that book. Rather, I’ll leave it to be rated by those who find that kind or degree of truth fits them like a glove. You know, feeling proud to leaf through it, or click through it; millions of readers who aren’t me might feel good afterward.
But when a book shines with High Truth Value? To me, my world got a little brigher. My clarity has fewer hiccups. With gratitude, I’ll award that fifth star.
In Conclusion
Rating a nonfiction book can be…
- Different from judging a book by its cover.
- Different from rating fiction.
How do you like the idea of awarding up to five stars for a nonfiction book? All based on answering five questions that have meaning for you.
Hey everyone, thanks for reading this how-to, nonfiction blogpost.
HI Rose!! I love this, what fun.
Leave it to you to make something that I previously found icky into a feast of interestingness.
Previously I have found public ratings and criticisms just… uncomfortable and something to be avoided! Now it’s like a fun game. :)
For the second star, about “High Concept,” I didn’t know what that term meant before.
The website you linked says, “When it comes to books, high concept is a story that can be pitched with a concise premise that draws high interest from literary agents, editors, and readers. Or, at least, that’s the high-concept pitch.”
Ohhh, so that’s what that is!!! I don’t like those books either!!
I think I’ve only gotten through one, many years ago, about happiness.
You’re welcome, ANNA PATRICIA.
If you love books, it’s a really important skill to be able to tell when the “title” you’re considering is a high concept book. In general, they’re both SHOWY, COMMERCIAL, and SHALLOW.
I prefer non-fiction and my version of question 1 is “Did I feel joy when it was time to pick up the book. Did I get a thrill during the day anticipating of reading it at night?
Question 2 I’ve never thought of. I either like the book or not. The ratings don’t influence me.
But the book title does, funnily enough. Those few words can thrill me… or not. (The content has not always lived up to the title though).
I’ve never used originality to evaluate a book. If I liked it, it doesn’t matter if it was original or not. (Typing that sentence, it seems so wrong.)
Cracking my head now to see if the books I enjoyed were original.
Agree on the shape of the book.
Truth value is highly, highly important to me. I’ve just realized it’s how I award most of the 5 stars.
I’ve enjoyed learning your skillset for rating non-fiction books.
PRIYA, how lovely to hear from you!
Regarding your Comment #7, when the content doesn’t live up to the title… isn’t that like a broken promise? There goes one of your stars, perhaps.
Can you tell us more about book titles?
Priya’s ideas made me wonder why you don’t award any of the five stars for the title. I won’t read a book in the first place if I don’t like the title.
Incidentally, maybe some of you are wondering about whether I will participate in Goodreads giveaways. I do plan to do my first one soon, starting this Monday.
Once signup details are available, I’ll let you know.
Now, to your question, MELISSA. Book titles are in a category of their own, aren’t they?
When rating a book, I don’t award stars for their titles, no more than I value my friends based on their hairstyle.
How exciting to read about your doings on Goodreads! I hope you write many blogposts here as a writer, because we both know that you’re not only a writer. You’re the founder of Energy Spirituality.
As a writer, a humble content writer, who is also into Energy Spirituality oh yes. For sure, I have some questions for you. Do you consider memoirs to be nonfiction or fiction?
How about reading books as an empath? Or writing books as an empath?
Does that add anything extra to an empath’s approach, reading books?
Interesting question, TRACIE! On reflection, I consider memoirs to be the genre known as creative nonfiction.
Come to think of it, most of the books I’ve reviewed so far on Goodreads have been memoirs. Therefore, my standards for reviewing them have been different from the 5 Question Standard that I described in this blogpost.
For creative nonfiction, I’m more interested in the impact on me. Isn’t that what creative nonfiction is meant to do, really?
Also, because I’m a spiritual teacher deep down, I seek out the Teaching Tales in memoirs.
What has the author taught me about how to be, how to grow, how to expand my possibilities in life?
Here are some of the reviews of creative nonfiction — memoirs — that I have posted so far.
For instance, on Goodreads I reviewed Maya Angelou’s first memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”
Robert Caro, currently my favorite historian, wrote a writer’s writer memoir:”Working.”
You’ll find my Goodreads book review at the link just provided.
What I learned about how to be from James Herriott was completely different: “All Creatures Great and Small.”
Another book review from me that was a response to his writing as Teaching Tales of creative nonfiction!
Incidentally, I know that I haven’t yet defined creative nonfiction. But I’ve found an excellent definition and description in an article from TCK Publishing:
The primary difference between nonfiction and creative nonfiction is that regular nonfiction informs or instructs by sticking to the facts.
Creative nonfiction also informs readers, but it does so by building a narrative around the facts by introducing the scene and building the characters of real people so readers can better relate to them.
Back to examples of my book reviews of memoirs, I’ve also reviewed “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom, definitely, to me, creative nonfiction.
As for your other interesting question, TRACIE, in Comment #17, let’s have a re-post. Then a response.
How about reading books as an empath? Or writing books as an empath?
Does that add anything extra to an empath’s approach, reading books?
Whether we’re skilled or unskilled as an empath would make a big difference to our response, with unskilled empaths doing many — guess what? — unskilled merges while reading.
Examples of my having read books as an unskilled empath would include:
* Reviewing Maya Angelou’s first memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” (Link at Comment #22)
* Reviewing “All Creatures Great and Small” by James Herriott. (Link at Comment #24)
By contrast, Skilled Empaths can have a less subjective reading of a book. I’d go so far as to say that — even without doing all those unskilled empath merges — we still have more perceptiveness and compassion as readers, compared to non-empaths.
TRACIE and other Blog-Buddies who have made yourself Skilled Empaths, you might recall this quote from “The Empowered Empath: Owning, Embracing and Managing Your Special Gifts“:
As I recall the wording:
Rose, in the future would you share other book reviews that you publish on Goodreads? I’d love that.
Delightful idea, TRACIE. Will do.
In addition, I invite all you Blog-Buddies to post links to your book reviews on Goodreads. (Including, but definitely not limited to, any reviews you publish on my books in print.) Fun!
Your comments #18-27 gave me an aha!
Based on the definition you have given for creative nonfiction, one of the books I’ve been reading recently comes under that category.
I hadn’t been expecting that book to be creative non-fiction, so I had found it a bit confusing that the writer was creating this story about people in the 1600’s in New England, and writing about how they might have been feeling.
I think I’ll enjoy reading that book a lot more now!
Thank you for these questions. I think I’m going to find it so much easier to rate and review books.
ANNE, you’re welcome.
Seems to me, reviewing an author’s book on Goodreads is not like reviewing a movie on Rotten Tomatoes.
Movies reach huge audiences; books, not so much.
Even more important, movies are made with huge teams of actors, writers, directors, camera crew, and a ton of other behind-the-scenes staff.
So, if somebody frivilously (or viciously) makes fun of a movie, it could be relatively easily to let that go.
By contrast, what do casual reviewers do to the ONE (usually, just one) author of a book?
Personally, every one my published books so far has taken between 3 1/2 and 9 1/2 years to write and publish. Serious authors, like me, put everything they have into a book.
Those who pride themselves on giving 1-star or 2-star reviews unless they “feel something special”?
It’s cruel, as well as ignorant. No matter how experienced a writer, receiving bad reviews??? You can just imagine.
“No matter how experienced a writer, receiving bad reviews??? You can just imagine.”
How many times have I read or heard famous artists (actors, playwrights, etc) saying they don’t read reviews, or try not to read reviews, because it can be so awful?
Sometimes it seems like people leave bad or mediocre reviews for really good books just to prove that they’re very special and “independent.”
So true, JANICE H.
Also possible: Sometimes it seems like people leave bad or mediocre reviews for really good books just to prove that they don’t know much about karma, either. Are they ever going to learn — ouchee!
Your Comments #18-27 gave me an aha!
Based on the definition you have given for creative nonfiction, one of the books I’ve been reading recently comes under that category.
I hadn’t been expecting that book to be creative non-fiction, so I had found it a bit confusing that the writer was creating this story about people in the 1600’s in New England. Yet the writing was giving me ideas about how they might have been feeling.
I think I’ll enjoy reading that book a lot more now.
I hadn’t been expecting that book to be creative non-fiction, so I had found it a bit confusing that the writer was creating this story about people in the 1600’s in New England.
Yet the writing was giving me ideas about how they might have been feeling.
Creative nonfiction is a fascinating genre, ANNE. I took a course in it once. What surprised me most?
It’s related to what you just observed. In the previous comment I’ve re-posted it, using italics for emphasis.
One of the universal principles in good writing is, “Show, don’t tell.”
This applies strictly to people and their feelings, when an author writes creative nonfiction. You can’t say, “Sam sobbed” unless he was actually sobbing. But you can find other ways to give the gist of what Sam said, back in 1632, providing a context so that readers can tell how sad he felt.
Basically, in creative nonfiction you can’t make things up. Another example?
In your wonderful comment above, ANNE, you referred to the story, “that the writer was creating this story about people in the 1600’s in New England.” (My italics.)
Strictly speaking, a writer of creative nonfiction might tell a story, or recount a story. But a writer of creative nonfiction wouldn’t create a story, since that would qualify as fiction.
Professional writing is surprisingly technical, I suppose. [Laughing]
Thank you so much for that distinction in Comment #53, between telling versus creating a story. Surprisingly technical indeed!
Thank you so much for that distinction in Comment #53, between telling versus creating a story.
Surprisingly technical indeed!
You’re welcome, ANNE. Any of you who wish to encounter me in full English Major-and-writer mode?
Consider checking out my book reviews on Goodreads. (Maybe even consider friending me there.)
I’m also really enjoying reading your reviews on Goodreads, Rose.
For those Blog Buddys who haven’t checked them out yet, there are some beautiful and moving reviews I’d really recommend reading.
And for those reviews where the books are ones you’ve termed “High Concept” (a really helpful distinction too), or books that have a low truth value, I’m learning much more discernment when it comes to selecting books, and thinking about what I’ve read.
Reading your reviews has also helped me appreciate reading and writers even more.
Thanks very much, ANNE.
You know, Blog-Buddies, writing nerdiness comes in many degrees of intensity. Please don’t think you need to be any kind of fancy reader of books in order to have a fun romp through Goodreads.
Another one of my recent reviews might be of interest. What happens when somebody claims to write nonfiction but she has maliciously distorted her description of two of the main characters?
People she referred to by their real names; people I’ve personally known and cared about!
If you’re curious, find my review at this part of Goodreads.
Finally, for now, ANNE, sometimes I rate a nonfiction book for the truth value, although I don’t put it that directly.
In my review of a big-and-beloved bestseller by a popular novelist — a book that is supposedly “spiritual” — I made a distinction that might not often appear on Goodreads reviews:
* Who’s a good writer?
* Versus who has the standing to write something considered “spiritual”?
“SHOWY, COMMERCIAL, AND SHALLOW”.
Ok, understanding better high concept books😊.
Maybe also over-hyped, instant bestseller, and easily made into a movie?
If so, I read one like this recently.
You’re onto it now, BROOKE.
I agree totally with your Comment #65 and mostly with your Comment #66. You see, the “lucky” authors become instant bestsellers, easily made into movies. But mostly?
Publishers demand mostly high concept books.
Which is how, as an author, I know the concept of “high concept.”
Isn’t it amazing, BROOKE, the gap between the reality of publishing today versus what most readers know!
There you are, making these great comments about your discovery of high-concept….
And you’re one of the very smartest people I know, maybe the most prodigious reader, working professionally as a librarian, and with an advanced degree in library science. Yet nobody had broken the news to you before?
Most of you readers know about the commodification of spirituality and how very “successful” this approach has made Gwyneth Paltrow and her “Goop.”
Actually, come to think of it, I touched on this topic in “Seeking Enlightenment in the Age of Awakening.”
Look up Gwyneth Paltrow in the Index and you’ll find the reference.
On a topic unrelated to your comments today, BROOKE, but related to Goodreads…
I’ve been meaning to add an update on how I have been reviewing nonfiction books recently. (Last week, I had such a ball reviewing spiritual books, I made it onto Goodreads’s weekly list of 100 most active reviewers: #87.)
Here’s what I’ve begun to include in my more recent book reviews:
A paired approach.
First comes my Official Rating. In my view, given what the author aimed for, to what degree was that accomplished?
Almost always, I’ll give five stars.
Second, I’ll follow up with a review that shares a second kind of rating, my Personal Rating.
Here’s where I’ll give a second number of stars, according to my current opinion… and my personal values.
For instance, here’s my review of “Care of the Soul” by Thomas Moore.
Of course “my personal values” are mostly about HIGH Truth Value.
Yes, the world of publishing is totally foreign to me, Rose.
I haven’t had the occasion to experience that side of things.
For any of you who are curious, here’s a link to an always-updated list of my book reviews for Goodreads. And, since you Blog-Buddies have that tasty background from Energy Spirituality and this blog, here’s something you might find interesting…
Pssst, inside info! You can appreciate why I only RATE certain nonfiction books, according to the standards set forth in this blogpost.
Yet I don’t REVIEW those books.
Often it’s because the book author is a big winner — hero!– at Goodreads right now, like Tolle’s “The Power of Now.” Whereas my opinion does not support the general acclaim for that author’s greatness.
Or even, possibly, in my view, by now the author’s lacks the standing to keep selling any book about Spiritual Enlightenment.
Glad to read that Comment #79, BROOKE.
Not everybody with something important to say… must choose publishing as the venue to share with the world.
Spiritual lessons, for instance, are caught rather than taught. As for the ability to write a book or spirituality or religion that’s genuinely helpful, in my view that’s so rare!
I love reading your reviews on Goodreads, Rose.
1.) They’re interesting and fun to read.
2.) I get to learn more about your influences, which is soooo interesting.
Pretty impressive that you got on the top reviewers list!
I wondered how the heck anyone could write enough reviews to get on those lists. I guess you really do love writing!
Thanks, JANICE H. Sweet of you!
And you’re right, I do love writing. What fun to be able to write about books when it’s not like college, being graded by tough (but mostly fabulously wonderfully awesome) professors, with their academic standards.
To land on the Top Reviewer’s List for the WEEK isn’t such an achievement. I’m just catching up as a newbie at Goodreads, since I’ve read sooooooooooo many books in my life.
That list isn’t about the quality of one’s reviews, just the numbers.
But I can accept a gracious compliment, JANICE H., and so I do.
I’m really enjoying reading your reviews, Rose.
And I really like the paired approach you have to reviewing books. It makes me realise we have a lot of freedom in how we can use websites like Goodreads.
Thanks, ANNE.
Folks talk a lot about thinking outside the box. I wonder how often they realize how they are PUTTING themselves into a box in the first place.
For me, rating and writing reviews on Goodreads for fiction is impressionistic. Therefore, a simple way to use the rating feature? Fine with me.
I do wish that reviewers wouldn’t be star-stingy when they review books. Nearly every fiction book that I’ve read-and-reviewed was masterful.
What do you’all think is the incentive to gratuitously downgrade magnificent books with a * or a **?
Why reserve ***** for only the books deemed “life changing”? (And blame authors that one changes one’s life nearly never?)
As for nonfiction books, I think they do deserve that more thoughtful double-rating approach.
One’s sense of the truth value for books may change over the years. That sure has happened often for me, and why blame a brilliant author for the turns and leaps of my own personal journey?
About your Comment #93, I think those people on Goodreads who are stingy with their stars are showing the world something about themselves. What they are showing could be very different from what they think they are showing.
What are they trying to show the world?
“I’m so clever, much smarter than those authors. Unlike them I have really important standards.”
What are they really showing the world?
“I have never created much of anything. I have no clue what goes into writing a great novel or non-fiction book. That’s why I can take such pleasure in tearing down what other people have created.”
Interesting, PENNY CHU. I tend to agree with you.
What’s the opposite of a high-concept book? How about this life-changing, amazing book, which I just reviewed on Goodreads: “America’s Four Gods.”