This blog has been like being in a long-term relationship. I have learned a lot, been the recipient of many kind words (and a few subscribers), written 68 posts, and had fun. Readers, too, seem to have enjoyed what I offered—a mix of journalism criticism, book reviews, editorials on current events, and posts on work productivity. Yet where is the relationship going?  

In the last eight months, I have doubled down on finishing my book proposal and looking for a job instead of writing posts. That’s a bad sign for this blog. Indeed, I have not been able to make money or receive links and have not asked readers to donate. As a result, I feel stuck in a relationship going nowhere, not toward marriage or brighter tomorrows.  

This is not to say I’m abandoning the concept of writing a blog about non-fiction writing. I can offer expertise to writers and reporters, whether it’s interviewing members of Congress, doing archival research, or devising an effective daily schedule for writing a book or a long-term project.  

What I can offer readers 

Yet I think I offer more value to book readers and academics, especially those interested in religion, politics, U.S. history, business, true crime, sociology, journalism, and nonfiction narratives. For the past five years, on average I have read 27 books a year, a figure that while nowhere near that of professional pod casters and bibliophiles is significantly larger than the typical American. And I have reviewed books professionally. 

As faithful readers will recall, I reviewed books on this blog in late 2022 and early 20223. What will be different is a ranking system: the best 500 or 1,000 nonfiction books.  

The public liked books by movie critics Rogert Ebert and Leonard Maltin that ranked the top films. Why won’t they like a site that ranks the top books? Specialists may claim that such lists are crude, and while they have a point, lists also save time for non-specialists. We humans can only do and read so much.  

In any event, thanks for reading and if you have thoughts about this blog’s future, please let me know in the comments below. 

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