A few years ago, I set out to crack the code behind what made my favorite nonfiction writers so powerful. I wanted to know why their words stuck with me and what I could learn from them, as a writer. That journey turned into Writing to Be Understood: What Works and Why.

To my surprise, that research transformed the way I read nonfiction. The effect has lasted.

Now, whether I’m reading books that explain the unseen or expose the unexpected, I notice how the author catches and sustains my interest. TReading has become even more rewarding, and I can better recognize and choose the books I most enjoy.

The Curious Reader’s Field Guide to Nonfiction offers you a similar transformation in your reading.

A good field guide helps you identify things in the wild, while also alerting you to the range of possibilities you might encounter.

This book should do the same for the nonfiction reading landscape. It may encourage you to notice and track the things you most love about reading, or to make sense of an author’s choices, even if you don’t agree with them.

You’ll also find “Field Notes” pages for you to spot writing techniques in the wild and jot down your reactions. Keep a running record of your preferences in the Field Observations sections.

Who will enjoy this book?

This book is definitely not for everyone! It’s for the nonfiction geeks among us. Check it out if one or more of the following are true:

• You love reading nonfiction for personal growth and entertainment
• Your TBR pile is impossibly long and keeps growing
• You want to get better at finding the nonfiction books you’re going to love
• You pride yourself on recommending books to others

Will it really shift the way you read?

That depends, of course. But early readers report experiencing a similar transformation in their own reading.

What a great little book. It’s practical, sensible and inspiring. It’s changed the way I think about non-fiction. I feel like I am closer to knowing what I like and how to find it.

Helen Hilton, NetGalley and Goodreads reviewer.

And here’s another:

Could The Curious Reader’s Field Guide to Nonfiction by Anne Janzer have been written with me in mind? Sure feels that way…. Oh, how I loved this book! As a note taker, I will happily return to it again and again to observe any reading revelations in my reading life and to learn more about my preferred Nonfiction sub-genres.

Brenda C., NetGalley Reviewer

If it’s not for you, that’s fine! I’ll keep writing about writing. But if you’re a curious reader of nonfiction, check it out.

Where to find the book

If you already preordered through Kickstarter, you’ll be getting your copy and extras soon. Otherwise, you can now find it on all the usual places:

Buy it on Amazon

Order it from Bookshop.Org

Ask your local bookstore to order a copy

Buy the PDF directly from me

How will it affect your reading? I’d love to hear.