Write Useful Books by Rob Fitzpatrick Book Summary

How to design and refine recommendable nonfiction books.

Most nonfiction books either fail to attract an audience or achieve only short-term success. Those that perform well often rely on expensive marketing campaigns, temporary media buzz, or the author’s popularity. As a result, it’s rare for new authors to break through and create a lasting impact.

Write Useful Books by Rob Fitzpatrick provides an alternative path. It explains how to plan, write, test, and refine engaging nonfiction books using proven strategies from the world of entrepreneurship. The approach can help you create a truly useful book that automatically attracts new readers through word-of-mouth referrals.

Let’s explore three of my favorite insights from the book.

1. A Truly Useful Book Doesn’t Require Much Marketing

There are several ways to be successful in writing a nonfiction book. However, the most reliable option, especially for new or unproven authors, is to create a book that is so useful that readers recommend it to others. With that in mind, much of this guide is about ensuring your book provides a great reader experience.