'Could've been a blog post' is an easy knee-jerk

Why books aren't the worst carrier of information

Picture this: you're engrossed in a conversation about books, and you mention your recent read, "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck." In response, you hear, "Could've been a blog post."

While it might have been my sentiment, I wouldn't go so far as to say I adore the book to the extent of doubting its very existence.

Nevertheless, the idea that "Could've been a blog post" is frequently tossed around isn't all that surprising. Many non-fiction books lay out their main thesis in Chapter 1 only to spend the next eight chapters reiterating examples without offering fresh insights.

Books are stickier than blog posts

When it comes to recommendations, consider this: how many books do you suggest to others versus how many blog posts? I hypothesise that people tend to recommend more books than blog posts.

I contend that, despite the absence of deepening, those additional chapters and examples have a lasting effect. This mostly goes for the category of books that focus on business tactics, leadership, self-help, and management: the non-intellectuals.

A typical blog post may be consumed in 15 minutes, and often to be forgotten within the hour. In contrast, a book demands at least a week, if not multiple weeks, to complete.

A book remains on your nightstand or tucked away in your bag, serving as a constant reminder. As mentioned earlier, true learning necessitates sustained engagement with the subject, an element often missing from a blog post.

Hence, there may be numerous books with straightforward and mundane premises. However, the very fact that they are presented in book form might assist many in retaining their core message.