Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t Book Summary - Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t summary

Why That Is and What You Can Do About It

4.1 (153 ratings)
20 mins

Brief summary

Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t by Steven Pressfield is a writing guide that emphasizes the importance of storytelling in capturing readers' attention. It offers tools for creating compelling narratives and avoiding common pitfalls that turn readers off.

Topics
Table of Contents

    Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t
    Summary of 9 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 9

    Nobody wants to read your shit, unless it’s exceptionally good.

    If you’ve just put the finishing touches on your novel or screenplay, after months or even years of hard work, you might be at the stage where you’re nervous and excited about how readers are going to react.

    Well, here’s your first piece of advice: don’t get too excited, because odds are nobody wants to read your writing.

    The author works in advertising, and even when he gets a commercial made, no one wants to see it. People hate commercials and avoid them however they can!

    We grow up thinking there is an audience for our work, since teachers and other students read our writing in school – but that’s only because they’re either being paid or forced to read it.

    The reality is, people have other things to do. Most parents are less than eager to read their kid’s newest blog post or Harry Potter fan fiction.

    A big reason for this is that most writing just isn’t very good. So, if you’re a young author looking for your big break, this doesn’t mean that all is lost – it just means that your writing needs to be exceptionally good.

    Now, you may think that “good” writing means clever phrasing or high-minded literature, but that’s not the case. The good writing that will give you the best chance of capturing and holding people’s attention will be clear and easy to understand.

    You don’t want to bore people, so make sure your work is either suspenseful and scary, beautiful and tragic or just plain fun; in other words, don’t spend a hundred pages describing the existential crisis a character experiences over his breakfast. You want to create writing that people won’t be able to put down.

    What most people find difficult is learning to write for someone other than themselves. So, instead of focusing on what you find fascinating, spend time thinking about the interests of your potential readers.

    While you might find the migration patterns of turtle doves fascinating, if you want to develop a readership, you need to find a way of injecting romance, adventure or tragedy into that subject.

    Want to see all full key ideas from Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t?

    Key ideas in Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t about?

    Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t (2016) is a guide to the ins and out of writing, whether it’s a book, a screenplay or advertising material. Making a living writing isn’t an easy thing to do, especially since the last thing a busy person wants to do is read some poorly written manuscript. But with these helpful tools and the insight of a 30-year veteran of the industry, you can be on your way to writing the kind of captivating work that people love to read.

    Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t Review

    Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t (2016) by Steven Pressfield dives deep into the world of writing and offers valuable insights that will resonate with aspiring writers and professionals alike. Here's why this book is worth your time:

    • With its practical strategies and advice, the book provides actionable steps to help writers overcome obstacles and improve their craft.
    • By incorporating real-life examples and personal anecdotes, Pressfield keeps readers engaged and inspired throughout the book.
    • The book's no-nonsense approach and refreshing honesty make it a compelling read that is anything but boring.

    Best quote from Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t

    When you understand that nobody wants to read your shit, you develop empathy.

    —Steven Pressfield
    example alt text

    Who should read Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t?

    • Writers of all kinds seeking advice
    • Advertisers in need of inspiration
    • Screenwriters who don’t know which story to tell

    About the Author

    Steven Pressfield is a best-selling writer who has worked in advertising, screenwriting and as an author of both fiction and nonfiction. His books include The Legend of Bagger Vance, which he also turned into a screenplay for the movie of the same title starring Will Smith and Matt Damon. His experiences and advice on writing can be found on his popular blog, stevenpressfield.com.

    Categories with Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t

    Book summaries like Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    33 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t FAQs 

    What is the main message of Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t?

    Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t emphasizes the importance of understanding the needs and desires of your audience in order to create compelling and engaging content.

    How long does it take to read Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t?

    The reading time for Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in less than 15 minutes.

    Is Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t is a must-read for aspiring writers and creators. It offers valuable insights and practical advice on how to captivate your audience.

    Who is the author of Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t?

    Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t is written by author Steven Pressfield.

    What to read after Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • On Writing Well by William Zinsser
    • Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose
    • Wired for Story by Lisa Cron
    • Write Your Book in a Flash by Dan Janal
    • Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
    • The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr
    • The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga
    • Anatomy of a Breakthrough by Adam Alter
    • Nobody Cares About Your Career by Erika Ayers Badan
    • Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino