# Books, Be Nimble > Books, Be Nimble is an independent editorial publication for readers and indie authors: candid book reviews that are clearly labeled as opinion, practical self-publishing guidance with no get-rich promises, and habit-focused advice for reading more of what you love. Every piece states its criteria up front and separates fact from judgment. Books, Be Nimble publishes original, long-form guides about book reviews and indie publishing. Every article opens with a concise direct answer, is structured with clear headings and FAQs, and reflects mainstream expert consensus. ## Book Reviews - [Build a Book Review Rating System You Can Explain](https://booksbnimble.com/book-review-rating-system/): Build a book review rating system by defining every point on the scale, choosing three to five criteria, and stating how genre and intended audience… - [How to Compare Two Books Without Forcing a Winner](https://booksbnimble.com/compare-two-books/): To compare two books, begin with one shared question and describe each book's purpose, audience and scope on its own terms. - [How to Write a Book Review: A Simple 5-Step Framework](https://booksbnimble.com/how-to-write-a-book-review/): To write a book review, follow five steps: read actively and take short notes, identify what the book is trying to accomplish, open with the essentials… - [How to Review a Nonfiction Book Fairly](https://booksbnimble.com/review-nonfiction-book/): To review a nonfiction book fairly, identify its question, central claim, intended audience and method. ## Indie Publishing - [How to Choose a Trim Size for Your Book](https://booksbnimble.com/choose-book-trim-size/): Choose a book trim size by identifying how the book will be used, shortlisting dimensions currently supported by every intended printer, and laying out… - [Format a Manuscript for Self-Publishing](https://booksbnimble.com/format-self-published-manuscript/): Format a self-published manuscript by treating print and ebook as separate editions. - [How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book? Real Ranges](https://booksbnimble.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-self-publish-a-book/): Self-publishing a book typically costs $1,050-$3,400 when you hire professionals for the three services that matter most: copyediting ($700-$2,100), a… - [How to Beta Read a Book: Give Feedback That Helps](https://booksbnimble.com/how-to-beta-read-a-book/): To beta read a book, read the complete manuscript as a member of its intended audience and record where you felt engaged, confused, unconvinced, or… - [How to Choose a Book Editor Without Buying the Wrong Edit](https://booksbnimble.com/how-to-choose-a-book-editor/): Choose a book editor by first defining whether the manuscript needs developmental editing, line editing, copyediting or proofreading. - [How to Self-Publish a Book: 10 Steps From Draft to Launch](https://booksbnimble.com/how-to-self-publish-a-book/): To self-publish a book, finish and edit your manuscript, hire professional editing and cover design, format the interior files for ebook and print, then… - [How to Write a Book Blurb That Earns the Next Page](https://booksbnimble.com/how-to-write-a-book-blurb/): Write a book blurb by leading with the strongest hook, establishing the protagonist or intended reader, introducing the central conflict or problem,… - [ISBNs for Self-Published Books: Choose the Right Route](https://booksbnimble.com/isbn-self-published-book/): An ISBN identifies a specific book product, including its publisher or imprint, title, edition and format. - [Compare Print-on-Demand Services for an Indie Book](https://booksbnimble.com/print-on-demand-publishers/): Compare print-on-demand services using the exact book edition and market you plan to publish. ## Reading Life - [Create a Reading List That Helps You Choose](https://booksbnimble.com/create-personal-reading-list/): To create a reading list that helps you choose, record each title's source, your reason for wanting it, preferred format, current access, reading fit and… - [How to Read More Books: 12 Habits That Actually Stick](https://booksbnimble.com/how-to-read-more-books/): You read more books by making reading the easiest option in gaps you already have, not by finding new free time. - [How to Start a Book Club People Keep Attending](https://booksbnimble.com/how-to-start-a-book-club/): Start a book club by defining its loose purpose, inviting a manageable group, setting a recurring meeting time, and choosing an accessible first book with… - [How to Keep a Reading Journal You Will Reuse](https://booksbnimble.com/keep-reading-journal/): To keep a reading journal you will reuse, choose the future decision it should support, then give every book the same small entry: book and edition,… ## Full text for LLMs - [llms-full.txt](https://booksbnimble.com/llms-full.txt): every article as plain markdown in one file - Each article is also available as markdown at https://booksbnimble.com/.md ## Site - [About](https://booksbnimble.com/about/): editorial approach and standards - [All articles](https://booksbnimble.com/all/) - [Contact](https://booksbnimble.com/contact/)