Beyond Intellectual Showmanship
In today’s world, where information is abundant and time is limited, the way we engage with books is rapidly changing. Particularly in non-fiction, readers are no longer as enamored with long, voluminous works. Instead, they seek concise, focused content that delivers value without unnecessary elaboration. Yet, many non-fiction books, especially those by well-known authors, continue to adhere to traditional publishing standards of length, often relying on anecdotes and additional information that could be seen as extraneous. This raises a question:
Do these books really need to be so long, or are they simply a reflection of old habits in publishing?
While many readers admire authors like Yuval Noah Harari or Jared Diamond for their intellectual rigor and exhaustive research, there is a growing recognition that not every subject requires hundreds of pages to convey its core message. The tendency to extend works beyond what is necessary has, for many, become a source of frustration rather than admiration. In fact, the rise of book summary services like Blinkist speaks directly to this desire for conciseness. These services distill books down to their essential ideas, offering busy readers a way to engage with complex ideas in a fraction of the time.
This shift toward brevity is not simply about reducing reading time but reflects a broader cultural trend toward valuing efficiency and clarity over volume. In an age where we have access to an overwhelming amount of information, readers increasingly favor works that respect their time and get straight to the point, leaving behind the more indulgent literary conventions of the past.
The Problem with Length for Length’s Sake
One of the main critiques of many lengthy non-fiction books is that they often feel padded with anecdotes and background information that, while interesting, do not always serve the core argument. This is not to say that storytelling and context are unimportant — they can make abstract concepts more relatable and provide crucial support to a book’s thesis. However, when these elements become the focus rather than the supporting material, the book risks losing its effectiveness.
Take, for instance, works by popular authors like Harari and Diamond. These books are often praised for their depth and breadth of knowledge, but one could argue that much of their content could be conveyed in fewer pages without sacrificing intellectual rigor. The inclusion of long historical digressions, elaborate case studies, and multiple examples often feels more like an attempt to impress the reader with the author’s knowledge than a necessary part of the argument. This raises the question of whether length is being used as a proxy for intelligence or seriousness.
Moreover, the length of these works can act as a barrier for many readers. Long books demand a significant time investment, which not everyone is willing or able to make. This is particularly true in a world where attention spans are short and there is constant competition for our focus. By insisting on a standard length that may no longer be necessary, publishers and authors may inadvertently be turning away potential readers who are hungry for knowledge but daunted by the prospect of wading through hundreds of pages.
Why Concise Books Can Be Just as Valuable
Despite the long-standing association between length and intellectual seriousness, there is no reason why a concise book cannot be just as valuable — or even more so — than a longer one. In fact, many of the most influential texts in history are relatively short. Consider religious or philosophical works like the Gospels or the Tao Te Ching. These texts convey profound ideas in a brief, focused form, allowing readers to grasp their essence without being overwhelmed by extraneous details. Their power lies in their ability to communicate essential truths simply and directly.
Similarly, some of the best non-fiction today may be those that deliver their message clearly and concisely. The rise of shorter books and even booklets on specialized topics is evidence of this. Writers who can distill complex ideas into a manageable format demonstrate not only mastery of their subject but also respect for their readers’ time. Rather than showing off how much they know, they focus on what is most important for the reader to understand, cutting away the excess that too often clutters non-fiction works.
In the same vein, concise books often allow readers to engage more deeply with the material. By removing unnecessary layers, authors give their audience the space to think critically about the ideas being presented rather than getting lost in a sea of details. This kind of clarity can make for a more engaging and rewarding reading experience, encouraging readers to reflect on the core arguments rather than passively absorbing information.
The Rise of Summary Services and AI Summaries
The increasing popularity of services like Blinkist, which provide condensed versions of non-fiction books, reflects this growing demand for brevity. These platforms cater to readers who want to stay informed but do not have the time or inclination to read entire books. By focusing on the key takeaways, these services allow readers to engage with the main ideas of a book without committing to its full length.
There is, of course, a risk that summarizing books in this way can strip away important context or nuance. However, the fact that such services are thriving suggests that many readers feel the trade-off is worth it. In an age of information overload, the ability to quickly grasp the essence of a book may be more valuable than wading through the entirety of its content. AI-driven summaries, which use natural language processing to condense texts, are another reflection of this trend. These tools allow readers to efficiently extract the key points from articles, research papers, and books, offering yet another way to manage the vast amount of information we are confronted with daily.
The rise of these technologies also raises questions about the future of non-fiction writing. As summaries become more prevalent, authors may feel greater pressure to write more concise books from the start. Rather than leaving it to AI or summary services to condense their work, they may begin to tailor their books to readers’ evolving expectations for brevity and focus.
Challenging the Tradition of Intellectual Showmanship
At the heart of this issue is the tradition of intellectual showmanship in academic and literary culture. For centuries, there has been a tendency to equate length with seriousness and intelligence. Many doctoral dissertations, particularly in the human and social sciences, reflect this, as scholars feel the need to justify their insights by including extensive citations, literature reviews, and theoretical frameworks. While these elements are important in academic writing, they often lead to bloated works that could convey their essential insights more succinctly.
This tendency is not limited to academia. In the world of popular non-fiction, authors often feel the need to demonstrate the depth of their research by including an overwhelming amount of detail. This may be driven, in part, by publishing norms that expect a certain word count to justify the price of a book. However, as readers become more discerning and demand clearer, more focused content, it may be time to rethink this approach.
Ultimately, intellectual credibility should be based on the strength and clarity of an argument, not on how much information is packed into a book. Authors who can communicate their ideas effectively without resorting to excessive length demonstrate not only a mastery of their subject but also a respect for their readers’ time and attention.
A New Era of Non-Fiction?
As our reading habits evolve, it is becoming clear that the traditional model of the long non-fiction book may no longer serve the needs of modern readers. Concise, focused works are increasingly valued, while books that rely on length for the sake of credibility are losing their appeal. The rise of summary services and AI-driven summaries highlights the demand for brevity and clarity, suggesting that the future of non-fiction may lie in shorter, more efficient works.
This is not to say that long books have no place. There will always be topics that require deep exploration and detailed analysis. But as authors and publishers adapt to changing reader expectations, we may begin to see more non-fiction books that prioritize substance over volume, delivering valuable insights in a format that respects both the reader’s time and the complexity of the subject at hand.
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