Non-fiction readers/writers - How much backstory?

[LifeTransformer]

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.

 

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[ZF Lee]

I suppose business books can be divided into THREE categories. The assumption is that the business books covered are not academic, i.e full of theoretical crap that only works in a fairy-tail perfect world
1. Technical business books. They are specialised on a certain concept, be it stocks offering, online marketing, management, accounting, product development, etc. A backstory has to be kept to a minimum, with the BEST APPLICABLE examples to be put forth.

I might consider TMF as a technical as it formulates an effective concept of Fastlane, Slowlane and Sidewalk...which are core entrepreneurship themes in its raw form but somehow no one put them in a more appealing way

2.Autobiographies. Picture it as a goldmine of experiences where you choose the best gleams you desire. Best books to look at would be Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson and even Founders at Work. Backstory can be discussed in detail, but it has to lead to key situations where you found answers and solutions.

3. Motivationals. I don't think it's purely business, but somehow the corruption of the book industry has doomed it
I'm.....not going to say anything on it. Some of them are like Rich Dad Poor Dad....How to get rich by Felix Dennis...

 

[LifeTransformer]

I suppose business books can be divided into THREE categories. The assumption is that the business books covered are not academic, i.e full of theoretical crap that only works in a fairy-tail perfect world
1. Technical business books. They are specialised on a certain concept, be it stocks offering, online marketing, management, accounting, product development, etc. A backstory has to be kept to a minimum, with the BEST APPLICABLE examples to be put forth.

I might consider TMF as a technical as it formulates an effective concept of Fastlane, Slowlane and Sidewalk...which are core entrepreneurship themes in its raw form but somehow no one put them in a more appealing way

2.Autobiographies. Picture it as a goldmine of experiences where you choose the best gleams you desire. Best books to look at would be Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson and even Founders at Work. Backstory can be discussed in detail, but it has to lead to key situations where you found answers and solutions.

3. Motivationals. I don't think it's purely business, but somehow the corruption of the book industry has doomed it
I'm.....not going to say anything on it. Some of them are like Rich Dad Poor Dad....How to get rich by Felix Dennis...

Good points. Doesn't quite help me clarify it though.

I'm looking for the sweet spot (maybe there isn't one, could just be personal tastes), and also examples of good and bad backstory if possible.

Any more thoughts or comments on this one?

 

[ZF Lee]

Good points. Doesn't quite help me clarify it though.

I'm looking for the sweet spot (maybe there isn't one, could just be personal tastes), and also examples of good and bad backstory if possible.

Any more thoughts or comments on this one?

Sweet spots vary according to the audience. Can they get what they need?
Money gurus like Kiyosaki beat around the bush or just cover the kiddy basics while legitimate qualified individuals like MJ provide actionable tools to be selected.

 

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[LifeTransformer]

Sweet spots vary according to the audience. Can they get what they need?
Money gurus like Kiyosaki beat around the bush or just cover the kiddy basics while legitimate qualified individuals like MJ provide actionable tools to be selected.

I think you're going off somewhere else now, although I agree with what you're saying.

Maybe I need to provide an example to clarify, here's something off the top of my head (I.E. It may suck).

Example 1 (what I would say is bad backstory):

I was sitting in a fast food place in the centre of Barcelona with Janet, we were talking about how many of the patrons were obese and were wondering why? As we watched the people waddle to the counter to collect their calories, it suddenly dawned on us, like we'd each been hit over the head with a brick; What these people needed was to utilize some negative visualization techniques.

Why I think it's bad: Barcelona? Okay, couldn't this have happened anywhere? Who's Janet? Why the brick bit?

That may read nice (doubt it though I wrote it fast) but there's too much irrelevancy there for my taste.

Example 2 (Better/shorter backstory, in my view):

Me and a friend were sat in a fast food restaurant, we were talking about how many of the patrons were obese. What dawned on us was that these people could utilize some negative visualization techniques. Yadda yadda yadda, here's how to use them.

Why I think it's better: Shorter, to the point, gets me to the action faster.

This is what I'm asking about here. Don't really need opinions on kiyosaki (although I do agree with you, there's plenty of others like him).

 

[MJ DeMarco]

How much backstory in a non-fiction book is too much? More specifically a business book.

I think there should be a balance.

People didn't buy your business book to read a memoir or an autobiography.

However, people want enough back story to know that you have some war stories and experiences to be actually coming from a point of credibility.

In other words, give enough backstory to lend credibility to your book, but not so much it starts to come off as bragging or in the autobiography territory.

I can't remember which book I recently read (I stopped) but the guy kept rambling on-and-on about his experience when it was already clear he had a lot of experience -- it just became bragging and name-dropping with no real value or purpose.

 

[LifeTransformer]

I think there should be a balance.

People didn't buy your business book to read a memoir or an autobiography.

However, people want enough back story to know that you have some war stories and experiences to be actually coming from a point of credibility.

In other words, give enough backstory to lend credibility to your book, but not so much it starts to come off as bragging or in the autobiography territory.

I can't remember which book I recently read (I stopped) but the guy kept rambling on-and-on about his experience when it was already clear he had a lot of experience -- it just became bragging and name-dropping with no real value or purpose.

Been having trouble with the forum today for some reason. Didn't mean to leave a blank reply...

I think that is what I'm looking for too as a reader. I want something of a backstory, but relevant backstory.

Also backstory that adds credibility is a great point! Hadn't quite thought of it in that respect.

Maybe there's a checklist for backstory elements; add it only if:

• It is relevant.
• Adds credibility.
• Adds humor (YMMV, depending on the book).
• Doesn't brag.
• Is not repetitive.

If you remember the book, would love to know which one it was so as to avoid it .

 

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