Thank you for such an informative and entertaining piece! These major media outlets have truly become a joke. It’s amazing how often the sky keeps falling in their myopic worldview.
You’re welcome! It was fun to write. A falling sky means more clicks! I’m pretty sure that’s all there is to it. Hard to make hay announcing, “Nonfiction is doing OK.”
A lot of non-fiction is outdated within a decade - business/economics, technology, science, self-help, even history can become outdated if new historical information is uncovered. So it makes sense why more non-fiction is read in e-format - it is usually cheaper in e-format and a lot more portable - non-fiction can be very bulky in physical format.
Agreed on all of the above. Ebooks—of which I’m actually not a big fan—also allow affordances that help quite a bit with research, such as word search. Hugely helpful!
Despite generally preferring to read from a book, I am in the ‘listen to non-fiction audiobook’ demographic (I recently posted on this too). Not podcasts, they feel too trivial, at least the ones I’ve heard so far. But in my defence to non-fiction writers, audiobooks are my gateway drug to non-fiction. And you still get a royalty
Some podcasts are really great—e.g, the ones I mentioned above. And there are, of course, many others. Audiobooks are a great gateway. If I like the audio, I often buy the hardcopy, so the author wins twice!
I found this fascinating because it reframes what often gets treated as cultural decline as something closer to evolution. The panic around “nonfiction dying” feels less like a reading crisis and more like a format shift. People still want depth and understanding. They are just encountering ideas differently and sometimes arriving at books through podcasts rather than instead of them. It makes me wonder if the real question is not whether people are reading less, but how curiosity itself is changing shape.
To me podcasts are like magazines. I might listen to 20 episodes from a podcast I like, such as Historic Royal Palaces but they don't really address any topic in depth. I still buy Tracy Bormans books so I can really try to understand the Tudor period. So I don't see how anyone who wants to understand a particular event or phenomenon in history would be satisfied with a podcast episode. In fact podcasts have prompted me to buy books I ordinarily wouldn't have heard of.
Comparing podcasts to magazines is perfect. The podcast is the tease. For some folks, that’s enough. But they never would have bought the book anyway. For others, it’s the discoverability engine that exposes us to the books we want to buy and read.
What an enjoyable and eye-opening post. I'm part of the group you mentioned that reads more non-fiction in the eBook format. It's much easier for me to check notes (just press the note number), highlight or notate sections (then have a full list of all of my annotations). Using a physical book, you have to laboriously open the book to the back to check a note, then go back to where you were reading. Plus, non-fiction tends to be longer and heavier books, and can be a burden to readers who like to recline when they read.
The last non-fiction paperback book I bought from the penguin, the book a regular size, but the page margin was nearly far too wide, nearly an inch, on all sides, making the print far too small to read. I recently discovered the same too large margins and too small print with new a Oxford paperback, and I wonder, are the printers assuming no one will actually read these old books?
I still prefer paper, but all those pluses are exactly the reasons people go with ebooks. And they’re usually much cheaper. Nonfiction print is often $25–$35 and sometimes higher. If you’re taking a gamble on a book, ebooks and audiobooks are both about half that price.
Same here, the cost can really mount when you are an active reader like me. Another plus is that you can get a chapter for free to figure out if you like the book first.
A lifelong book fiend. Retired so in superfiend mode. At least 3/4 of my reading is non-fiction, and the subjects spread far wide.
Fiction, many classics and occasional binges on such as Cormac McC. Unbelievably only read Updike a year or so back, so it was one Rabbitt after another. By chance, James Sallis - Drive. Superb noir set in the blinding light of LA & Phoenix. Ellroy comes to mind.
This Brit finds most British fiction limp effete (Hello Ian McEwen). I like the grit of American fiction.
But the realms of non-fiction stretch far beyond the horizon.
yes, not for a long time. The films based on his books a total delight.
I recall that with regard to an incident in "The Big Sleep" when asked what was going on, his response was "I have no idea"!!!
My Mum a movie fiend, and we had a lot of the old 40s & 50s B&W movies on the TV. So I was from an early age awash with them. One thing I see know is that the females in them - Bacall, Hepburn and co. My God!! To misquote Chuck Prophet the rock 'n roller - "I bow down and pray to all the women I meet ... from old movies"
The roles they had - so much stronger than the post-"liberation" roles. They ran the show. And their men. And were drop dead gorgeous!
Typical- blame the new-guy format for YOUR problems. Hollywood filmmakers blamed TV for declining theatre attendance, but eventually they figured out how to work together. There's no reason that authors can't be podcasters or vice versa.
Many authors are podcasters! Strictly speaking, I am. I cohost a productivity podcast called Focus on This! Publishers love it (almost require it) when authors have their own platforms to sell books from. A podcast never hurts that equation.
Thank you for the essay. One thing that I notice is the effect of people switching from purchasing books to either using a subscription service or using their public library. It is probably a marginal number, but I think a growing one.
Very interesting article. Few people are willing to really dig into the statistics and see what they actually say. I don't have a dog in the fight as I don't listen to podcasts because they don't fit in with my life. I do mix in some nonfiction with my usual fare of 19th and early 20th century classics, and there are some outstanding books out there. Some of my favorite nonfiction writers are David Granny, Erik Larson, Nathaniel Philbrick, and Robin Wall Kinmerer. Right now I'm looking forward to reading The Gales of November, about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. 💖📚
I am guessing you got the readers' pattern right. What about the publishers' pattern? Do they only consider published authors? Do they insist that authors bring their reading market (their podcast following)? Do podcast listeners actually spend money buying a book whose content they already got from the podcast?
I think podcast fans definitely read the podcaster’s books—or at least buy them. It’s one of the ways they show support and affiliation. Publishers definitely prefer it when an author has a built-in audience.
Thank you for such an informative and entertaining piece! These major media outlets have truly become a joke. It’s amazing how often the sky keeps falling in their myopic worldview.
You’re welcome! It was fun to write. A falling sky means more clicks! I’m pretty sure that’s all there is to it. Hard to make hay announcing, “Nonfiction is doing OK.”
A lot of non-fiction is outdated within a decade - business/economics, technology, science, self-help, even history can become outdated if new historical information is uncovered. So it makes sense why more non-fiction is read in e-format - it is usually cheaper in e-format and a lot more portable - non-fiction can be very bulky in physical format.
Agreed on all of the above. Ebooks—of which I’m actually not a big fan—also allow affordances that help quite a bit with research, such as word search. Hugely helpful!
Despite generally preferring to read from a book, I am in the ‘listen to non-fiction audiobook’ demographic (I recently posted on this too). Not podcasts, they feel too trivial, at least the ones I’ve heard so far. But in my defence to non-fiction writers, audiobooks are my gateway drug to non-fiction. And you still get a royalty
Some podcasts are really great—e.g, the ones I mentioned above. And there are, of course, many others. Audiobooks are a great gateway. If I like the audio, I often buy the hardcopy, so the author wins twice!
Yes, I definitely haven’t got the hang of podcasts searching
I found this fascinating because it reframes what often gets treated as cultural decline as something closer to evolution. The panic around “nonfiction dying” feels less like a reading crisis and more like a format shift. People still want depth and understanding. They are just encountering ideas differently and sometimes arriving at books through podcasts rather than instead of them. It makes me wonder if the real question is not whether people are reading less, but how curiosity itself is changing shape.
That’s a great angle and well worth exploring. I think you’re probably right.
To me podcasts are like magazines. I might listen to 20 episodes from a podcast I like, such as Historic Royal Palaces but they don't really address any topic in depth. I still buy Tracy Bormans books so I can really try to understand the Tudor period. So I don't see how anyone who wants to understand a particular event or phenomenon in history would be satisfied with a podcast episode. In fact podcasts have prompted me to buy books I ordinarily wouldn't have heard of.
Comparing podcasts to magazines is perfect. The podcast is the tease. For some folks, that’s enough. But they never would have bought the book anyway. For others, it’s the discoverability engine that exposes us to the books we want to buy and read.
What an enjoyable and eye-opening post. I'm part of the group you mentioned that reads more non-fiction in the eBook format. It's much easier for me to check notes (just press the note number), highlight or notate sections (then have a full list of all of my annotations). Using a physical book, you have to laboriously open the book to the back to check a note, then go back to where you were reading. Plus, non-fiction tends to be longer and heavier books, and can be a burden to readers who like to recline when they read.
Another burden to the reader: publishers using crappy inkjet-like print with jagged type. Including but not limited to Penguin.
Tell me about it. I hate that stuff. Alas.
The last non-fiction paperback book I bought from the penguin, the book a regular size, but the page margin was nearly far too wide, nearly an inch, on all sides, making the print far too small to read. I recently discovered the same too large margins and too small print with new a Oxford paperback, and I wonder, are the printers assuming no one will actually read these old books?
I still prefer paper, but all those pluses are exactly the reasons people go with ebooks. And they’re usually much cheaper. Nonfiction print is often $25–$35 and sometimes higher. If you’re taking a gamble on a book, ebooks and audiobooks are both about half that price.
Same here, the cost can really mount when you are an active reader like me. Another plus is that you can get a chapter for free to figure out if you like the book first.
A lifelong book fiend. Retired so in superfiend mode. At least 3/4 of my reading is non-fiction, and the subjects spread far wide.
Fiction, many classics and occasional binges on such as Cormac McC. Unbelievably only read Updike a year or so back, so it was one Rabbitt after another. By chance, James Sallis - Drive. Superb noir set in the blinding light of LA & Phoenix. Ellroy comes to mind.
This Brit finds most British fiction limp effete (Hello Ian McEwen). I like the grit of American fiction.
But the realms of non-fiction stretch far beyond the horizon.
American fiction has its charms. Have you read much Raymond Chandler? The Marlowe books are excellent.
yes, not for a long time. The films based on his books a total delight.
I recall that with regard to an incident in "The Big Sleep" when asked what was going on, his response was "I have no idea"!!!
My Mum a movie fiend, and we had a lot of the old 40s & 50s B&W movies on the TV. So I was from an early age awash with them. One thing I see know is that the females in them - Bacall, Hepburn and co. My God!! To misquote Chuck Prophet the rock 'n roller - "I bow down and pray to all the women I meet ... from old movies"
The roles they had - so much stronger than the post-"liberation" roles. They ran the show. And their men. And were drop dead gorgeous!
Typical- blame the new-guy format for YOUR problems. Hollywood filmmakers blamed TV for declining theatre attendance, but eventually they figured out how to work together. There's no reason that authors can't be podcasters or vice versa.
Many authors are podcasters! Strictly speaking, I am. I cohost a productivity podcast called Focus on This! Publishers love it (almost require it) when authors have their own platforms to sell books from. A podcast never hurts that equation.
Thank you for the essay. One thing that I notice is the effect of people switching from purchasing books to either using a subscription service or using their public library. It is probably a marginal number, but I think a growing one.
Very interesting article. Few people are willing to really dig into the statistics and see what they actually say. I don't have a dog in the fight as I don't listen to podcasts because they don't fit in with my life. I do mix in some nonfiction with my usual fare of 19th and early 20th century classics, and there are some outstanding books out there. Some of my favorite nonfiction writers are David Granny, Erik Larson, Nathaniel Philbrick, and Robin Wall Kinmerer. Right now I'm looking forward to reading The Gales of November, about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. 💖📚
That sounds like a great list! Digging into the statistics is not my speciality, but it was fun.
Oops, make that David GRANN and Robin Wall KIMMERER. Damn autocorrect!.
Very interesting and insightful analysis, as a soon-to-be-published non-fiction author, I thank you! 🫶🏻
My pleasure! Good luck with your book!
I get the vast majority of my book recommendations from podcasts, including yours from The Art of Manliness podcast.
That’s excellent! So glad to hear that. I hope you enjoyed the book!
The collapse of science, the growth of scientism.
I am guessing you got the readers' pattern right. What about the publishers' pattern? Do they only consider published authors? Do they insist that authors bring their reading market (their podcast following)? Do podcast listeners actually spend money buying a book whose content they already got from the podcast?
I think podcast fans definitely read the podcaster’s books—or at least buy them. It’s one of the ways they show support and affiliation. Publishers definitely prefer it when an author has a built-in audience.