The hottest Nonfiction Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Education Topics

Book Review Contest Rules 2024

Astral Codex Ten • 4749 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
📚 Literature Book review Fiction Nonfiction Poetry
  1. Book review contest for 2024 on www.astralcodexten.com. Participants can write reviews between 2,000 and 10,000 words, with no word count requirement. Entries must be submitted through a Google Form by May 5th.
  2. Contest rules emphasize blinding the judging process to ensure fairness. Personal information that could identify participants should not be included in the Google Doc submissions.
  3. Diversity in review topics encouraged through affirmative action. A quarter of finalist slots reserved for books from nontraditional categories like fiction, poetry, or older works.

The 13 New Books to Expand Your Mind in 2023

Granted • 7906 implied HN points • 28 Jan 23
📚 Literature Fiction Self-help Philosophy Nonfiction Motivation
  1. Tim Urban's book 'What's Our Problem?' offers insightful analysis on societal issues and how to combat polarization and tribalism.
  2. Nedra Glover Tawwab's 'Drama Free' provides valuable advice on handling family relationships, emphasizing the importance of mental health in families.
  3. Bill Hammack's 'The Things We Make' unravels the engineering behind human masterpieces, making engineering concepts accessible even for those who don't love math.

What Are You Reading?

Knowledge Problem • 196 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
📚 Literature Fiction Nonfiction Essays
  1. The author had a good reading year in 2023, enjoying a variety of books and essays.
  2. The author recommends interesting works in fiction, nonfiction, and essays, sharing insights on different topics and genres.
  3. The author highlights the joy and value found in specific books, like 'The Individualists' and 'The Corporation and the Twentieth Century'.

I have a book coming out!

Notes from a Small Press • 27 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
📚 Literature Authors Books Publishing Essays Nonfiction
  1. The book 'Best of the Rust Belt' features personal essays from a region often labeled the Rust Belt, showcasing diverse perspectives and voices.
  2. The book aims to shift the narrative of the Rust Belt region, moving away from stereotypical coverage during election cycles to more nuanced, authentic storytelling.
  3. The creation of the book was a collaborative effort involving multiple editors, writers, and contributors, emphasizing the importance of community and collective storytelling.

The most common red flags I see in nonfiction book proposals by otherwise qualified authors

How to Glow in the Dark • 353 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
📚 Literature Nonfiction Authors Emotional Intelligence Writing
  1. The most common red flags in nonfiction book proposals by qualified authors indicate focusing on personal needs over audience.
  2. Fixing editorial problems at a higher level requires deep introspection and addressing emotional barriers.
  3. Recognizing signs like lack of emotional connection in book proposals may signal the need for emotional growth and self-understanding.
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Monday reading #1

well, actually • 196 implied HN points • 26 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Reading Writing Nonfiction Internet Art
  1. The articles discussed in the post are about Amish witches, deep sea dives, and EMDR therapy.
  2. The writers in the articles shared personal experiences and sought deeper understanding in their work.
  3. The structure of a braided essay, blending personal narrative with research and reporting, is a common format in contemporary nonfiction writing.

Moses On The Beach

Adjacent Possible • 126 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
📚 Literature Writing History Nonfiction
  1. Writing on different time scales can add depth and complexity to storytelling.
  2. Using varying time scales in storytelling can help explain the 'why' behind historical events.
  3. Long zoom storytelling should focus on forces that uniquely impact the events at the center of the story.

Ayn Rand on Writing Nonfiction

Grist Potentia • 19 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Nonfiction
  1. Ayn Rand promoted a vision of human potential and nature at the beginning of life.
  2. She defended capitalism, egoism, and reason, while opposing collectivism, altruism, and religion.
  3. Ayn Rand, originally Alisa Rosenbaum, chose to pursue a career in writing.

Book Review: "On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction" by William Zinsser 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 12 Apr 21
📚 Literature Review Writing Nonfiction Advice Examples
  1. The book provides practical advice that improves writing for any kind of work.
  2. The use of examples from American writers adds value, even though some readers may not be into the literary history aspect.
  3. The main message is that simple writing style doesn't mean a lack of intelligence; in fact, it can be powerful.