- Joined
- Feb 20, 2015
- Messages
- 558
Rep Bank
$1,480
$1,480
User Power: 123%
I Have been chatting with a fellow fastlaner about non-fiction books and the amount of backstory that should be in them, and would like to get the views of other members here if possible.
The short question is; How much backstory in a non-fiction book is too much? More specifically a business book.
You can answer this from a reader's or writer's perspective. My personal view is this; if there is either too much backstory, or maybe irrelevant backstory, it puts me off a book. Some examples below:
Bad backstory:
4 Hour Work Week - I gave up reading it because I got fed up reading about Mr Ferris when I wanted to know how - or what - the methodology of the book was. "Get on with it FFS!" I said, before reading a few more pages, then giving up.
Shoe Dog - It's kind of nice to hear about where Phil is from, but I've just started reading this and want him to get down to business (literally), I've heard enough about his past by this point. Too much backstory IMO.
I know it's a memoir, maybe I'm expecting too much from it personally.
Good backstory examples:
TMF - Gives you enough of MJ's backstory. Perhaps more importantly, it relates to the premise of the book.
Robert Ringer's books - His backstory elements are always used as part of a lesson. Previous deals for example.
How to get Rich (Felix Dennis) - Same as Ringer's books, the backstory links business elements.
Any opinions or comments welcome, would love to hear your thoughts on this.
The short question is; How much backstory in a non-fiction book is too much? More specifically a business book.
You can answer this from a reader's or writer's perspective. My personal view is this; if there is either too much backstory, or maybe irrelevant backstory, it puts me off a book. Some examples below:
Bad backstory:
4 Hour Work Week - I gave up reading it because I got fed up reading about Mr Ferris when I wanted to know how - or what - the methodology of the book was. "Get on with it FFS!" I said, before reading a few more pages, then giving up.
Shoe Dog - It's kind of nice to hear about where Phil is from, but I've just started reading this and want him to get down to business (literally), I've heard enough about his past by this point. Too much backstory IMO.
I know it's a memoir, maybe I'm expecting too much from it personally.
Good backstory examples:
TMF - Gives you enough of MJ's backstory. Perhaps more importantly, it relates to the premise of the book.
Robert Ringer's books - His backstory elements are always used as part of a lesson. Previous deals for example.
How to get Rich (Felix Dennis) - Same as Ringer's books, the backstory links business elements.
Any opinions or comments welcome, would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
