Why Do We Write & Read The Books That We Do?

Authors write books for many reasons: God told them to; they want people to learn from their experiences; they have resources to help others; they want to entertain others; it’s their legacy or a passion project; they believe they have a grasp of the truth that others should embrace; it’s cathartic and therapeutic; to improve lives or change the world; to start or support a movement; and on and on and on.  

In addition to the many reasons an author writes what they do, there are as many reasons why readers read the books that they do. How do we marry the two and line up the author with the exact type of reader that would match perfectly? 

Readers consume books for a wide variety of reasons, including the following: 

·         To learn something that they want to know

·         To consume knowledge in a random but curious way

·         It was assigned by school

·         It is needed due to work or one’s personal life, ie a book that explains how to do something. 

·         To escape to a life, place, or world so different from theirs

·         To laugh and be entertained

·         To explore new ideas or ways of living 

·         To compensate for something missing in their life 

·         To understand history 

·         To pursue a deeper understanding of a faith 

·         To see beautiful images/art  

The list goes on. 

Authors write for a reason and readers read for a reason. There’s a need or a desire that must be fulfilled by both sides.  

With the millions of books that are published each year - and the tens of millions published in previous years - we have two problems: 

1. How do we, as a authors, find a way to write a book that is better than what’s been published?

 

2. As a reader with all of these competing titles, how do we discover what exists and select the best option? 

Many people buy books that are recommended to them, either from professional reviewers, a friend or family member, or a trusted source. We also need to have a discovery process through other means -- social media, speaking engagements, advertising, book awards - as well as be able to randomly stumble upon a book online or in a store.

 

But what truly drives one to make a purchasing or reading decision? Are really good books going unread while far less deserving ones are getting lots of attention?

 

Are writers merely writing books that they want to write - or are they looking to truly fill a need or close a void?

 

Do writers even know of or take in account the competing books in their genre when penning their story?

 

For authors to succeed, they will need to market their book aggressively, whether the books is good or bad, or even if it’s needed or not. That’s the tricky thing.

 

More books that are unnecessary, not good, or not any better than existing ones are crowding the marketplace and causing readers to buy books that in the end, are not serving them best. It will take greater self-control on the part of writers not to release mediocre or inferior books - and it will take more consumer education and awareness of how to evaluate their options and to seek out the better books.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 4.5 million pageviews. With 5,300+ posts over the past 14 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs  by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/