Lauren Ambielli

…similar and superior to the ones you’ve already noted. This happens in almost all nonfiction books. Authors repeat themselves, explain concepts in different ways, and use different analogies.

The extra padding can serve a useful purpose when done well. It enhances our understanding by demonstrating how a concept works and how it applies to real-world situations. But in most cases, it’s overdone — forcing us to wade through a mine full of junk to find a handful of gems.

Most nonfiction authors pad their books with superfluous content. Even the best books contain unnecessary anecdotes, examples, and explanations. It’s basic economics.…