The average nonfiction book in self-help, how-to, travel runs from 40,000 to 50,000 words. However, the answer to: how long should a nonfiction book be? depends on genre.
The memoir genre tends to be from 60,000 to 90,000 words. Historical texts or biographies range from 60,000 to 200,000 words.#
As these vary widely – and writing long texts is a LOT of work – make sure you check with either your desired publisher or desired genre on Amazon to find out the appropriate length for your book. According to Mark Coker of Smashwords, the top 100 bestselling ebooks at Smashwords (sales could be from other sites) averaged 115,000 words. Largely, this means fiction.
We deal with nonfiction books at Business Author Academy. Many of our clients write topical books that range from 30,000 words (shortish) to a comprehensive 60,000 words. If adding exercises, resources and an appendix, that might jump to 85,000 words.
# Source: Author Training Manual by Nina Amir
What Page Length Should Your Nonfiction Book Be?
In planning your book, you might estimate say 8 – 12 chapters. It’s helpful to then write a chapter summary for each chapter, which outlines what you will cover. Michael Larsen (How to Write a Book Proposal) recommends the number of lines for each chapter summary in a book proposal can relate to the number of pages written for each chapter. So, the summary – if 16 lines long say – would equate to 4,400 words per chapter or 16 double-spaced manuscript pages, very roughly. (Per that rate, 12 chapters = 52,800 words)
The average A4 page (in 12 point, Times New, doubled spaced) has 275 words, so if you have 180 pages in Word, it might be 50,000 words (you can check with word count in Tools).
Final Page Count for a Nonfiction Book?
But of course, type style, margins, final page size, and illustrative elements will make a huge difference to final page count in your print book.
Amazon automatically calculates average page count for their Kindle readers, which is often shorter. You can work with your book designer (if indie) to space your book as per your desired page count outcome—not forgetting white space.
If you want a self-published book to look ‘professional’, I advise you to aim for 30,000 – 70,000 words and this is typeset between 140 and 250 pages or so. My book ‘Power Marketing’ is 29,000 words approx and takes 136 pages in 6 x 9” format. I can’t help but edit my book to death.
Finding it tough going? Shoot for 35,000 words – of the best work you’ve ever delivered.
“Can a business or topical book be 20,000 words?”
I love short books, I really do. But is it short because you think people don’t read long books? (This is simply not true – case in point Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari is 525 pages long). If you don’t use a lot of diagrams, flow charts, images, then I would encourage you to keep delving deeper into the topic until 30,000 words.
“How many pages should a business book be?”
For a business book self-published, it should compete with traditional published works. That means 250 to 300 pages or 62,000 words – 80,000 words.
“Do shorter books perform better for busy professionals?”
If your target market is say psychology professionals, not really because they want the factual basis, but if it is CRM and automation consultants, then yes. You see, every market segment has a series of common behaviours (or desires, if you like). CRM and automation people spend their lives looking for simple, quick fixes and great solutions. If you can give them two real, applied concepts to implement, they will be happy.
“Am I writing too much for my audience?”
This really is best answered in writing coaching as it may bely hidden mindset limitations. (Writing Coaching here is done by editors, so it’s affordable for professionals and effective to fulfil goals). Proof here. Most audiences latching onto a new idea that answers an itchy problem will not think it is too much. Some will ask if you’re making a workshop or course. Bingo!