Does a book have to have a point?


To a large extent I'm very old school. I expect books to do something beyond simply collect a series of thoughts. I expect the author to develop those thoughts into a consistent whole. I hope I'll find references to research that backs up the claims the author makes. Unless the author is skilled enough to pull it off, I don't expect to read an opinion in one chapter, and then the opposite opinion in the next. "Or vice verse" is a wonderful ploy, but only when it's in the hands of a professional. On the other hand, these are qualities which I'm not only willing to accept in the associative writing of a web site or blog, they're qualities which I even hope to find in them.



Go to: Why don't you write a book?