Why Write a Self Help Book Versus a Big Idea Book
The two most common types of nonfiction books are self-help and big idea books. Both categories are great for authors who want to share their expertise and experience with the world. However, reader demand is shifting, and authors need to shift their strategies to keep up. Let’s examine why it’s becoming more worthwhile to write a self-help book versus a big idea book today.
Self-Help Books are in, Big Idea Books are out
As readers, we tend to like books that make us feel better. We want to read stories or advice on things that will help us improve our lives and make us happier.
This is why many people choose to read self-help books over other genres. They contain advice and guidance on living happier lives through inner reflection and personal growth. Readers walk away with actionable tips and can act on the series of steps outlined in the book.
Big idea books teach others how they can change the world around them by influencing.
Although big idea books contain great information, they don't always resonate with readers as well as self-help books do because they aren't focused on helping people improve themselves as individuals first and foremost. Share on X
The difference between a Self-Help Book vs a Big Idea Book
The main difference between a self-help book versus a big idea book is that the self-help book focuses on the reader’s needs, while the big idea book focuses on the author’s thoughts and ideas.
Self-help books are written by authors who have had personal experiences with the issue they are writing about and know what it feels like to experience it firsthand. They empathize with those who have struggled with this issue and want to help them find solutions. They deeply understand their audience’s needs and can write about them in ways that resonate with them.
Big idea books are written by authors who think about things differently than most people. Their ideas may seem new or unusual to most people, but they believe that these ideas could change the world as we know it if only more people were exposed to them. They often use anecdotes from their own experiences as examples of how their ideas can be applied in real-life situations. Still, these stories aren’t necessarily relatable to most readers because they don’t share the same experiences as the author did when he or she came up with these ideas.
The goal of a Self-Help Book vs a Big Idea Book
Many people dream of writing a book. But if you’re like most people, you’re probably intimidated by the prospect of writing a big idea book.
A big idea book is an idea-driven book that uses the author’s ideas and knowledge as its primary content. Let’s say your big idea is, “online classes are the future of education.” You would write your entire book describing the future of education and how online learning can help it. Your goal would be to persuade readers that this is true.
On the other hand, a self-help book is a result-driven book that uses readers’ outcomes as its primary goal. The main idea behind a self-help book is to show readers how they can achieve their desired outcome. So instead of discussing what may happen in the future, you focus on what has already worked for others and teach the audience how to do it themselves.
What do you want to share in a Self-Help Book vs Big Idea Book
The best books are the ones that can change your life. You’re probably already aware of this if you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner. The book that changed my life was The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. It taught me how to run my business in a way that allows me more freedom and control over my time.
But what if you don’t have that much advice or experience to share? What if all you have is an idea? Can you still write a self-help book?
Luckily, the answer is yes. There’s no reason why you can’t jump into a self-help book without a concrete strategy mapped out. Simply begin with your idea and dive into book research to flesh out the advice you’re looking to give readers.
So, which do you choose?
I believe that in the current market, it’s a better strategy to write a self-help book versus a big idea book.
Whether in a presentation, speech, article, or a book, most people describe ideas by borrowing other people’s words and making them sound more appealing. When we condense big concepts like that, the words we use can be limiting, have many different meanings, or even be completely wrong.
Self-help books take all of those limiting factors away because you're not just trying to put an idea into words. You're describing concrete, actionable steps on how to put an established idea into practice. Share on XHowever, if you’re committed to sharing your big idea is to consider writing a hybrid of a self-help and big idea book. Stay tuned for more on this emerging opportunity for book writing and publishing.
Further Resources
How to Write a Self-Help Book Outline
Is It Better to Self-Publish or Get a Publisher?
Writing Your First Nonfiction Book
Most Lucrative Nonfiction Genres to Write In
Ready to write your self-help book? Click here to get free outlining help.
About the Author
Melissa G. Wilson is a seasoned author and publisher with over 20 years of experience, guiding over 174 thought leaders to success in the literary and business arenas. As the founder of Networlding Publishing and a former “Networking Coach,” Melissa has authored five best-sellers, including “Networlding” which held a top spot on Amazon for a year. Based in Chicago’s West Loop, she combines her passion for networking and publishing to help authors from diverse fields achieve their goals. Melissa is committed to fostering community and professional growth, offering free consultations for aspiring non-fiction business authors.