The author’s personality

As a reader, I am mostly attracted to honest writing where an author is willing to be open about the experiences that they include in the book. This is especially important for memoirs. The information contained in the book should not feel bland; the emotions and point of view of the author need to shine through. This allows the writing to be conversational and appealing. As the reader, you should get a glimpse of the author’s outlook on their experiences even if this may not be what necessarily dominates the story. Letting the reader think for themselves while including your own truthful opinion creates an appropriate balance.

The author’s bio

The author’s bio is an important addition to any non-fiction work. It summarizes the author’s skill set and describes their personal life briefly. This helps in engaging the audience more since they have some understanding about the person who has written the book and also they can put a face to the name. This is specifically important for non-fiction work that is highly personal. Some authors even prefer adding photographs which can certainly help in elevating the story. For technical work, this level of openness may not always be necessary. Still, a short bio may be essential.

List of sources

A list of sources should be included to facilitate further reading and also prove the authenticity of the information that appears in the text. The author should quote other notable writers and experts on the topic to ensure that the solutions suggested in their work have been tried and tested and have worked. For new and technical ideas, this is definitely crucial. It also allows the reader to trust what is contained in the book. Including other sources also assists other experts who want to build on your idea to understand the concept of it in the first place.

Clarity in the title

The title should easily let anyone who is interested in the book know what is contained within. If the title does not fully disclose the content, then the subtitle should clearly state the reason the book was written. In the title, the problem that is expounded in the content should be touched upon. If the title is not clear, there is the possibility of losing potential readers who may have otherwise benefited from reading it. A clear title should, therefore, be one of the things that a reviewer should consider when reviewing the book.

Endorsements

When other industry experts endorse a book, it adds to the trustworthiness of the information. Even though this might be missing, it does not mean that the information cannot be trusted. Still, endorsements show that someone else who is an expert on the topic has read the text and they are willing to recommend it to someone. Endorsements, therefore, should be done by people who understand the content and are knowledgeable in it.

Even though some of these factors are more important than others, all of them play a role in the success of a non-fiction book and hence should be considered during the review process.