Do most self-help books really need to be 'books'?

I’ve always had a deep love for books—not just for reading them but also for collecting them. One of my fondest dreams is to have my own private library. So, I’m naturally inclined to support the creation and dissemination of more books into the world.

Recently, a colleague and I were discussing self-help books, and he made an interesting remark: “Most of the actual content in a self-help book could be written on a single page—they’re unnecessarily long.” At first glance, this seemed logically sound. Yet, something about that statement didn’t sit right with me. I couldn’t fully articulate why, but I felt instinctively that reducing a book like Atomic Habits to a single-page summary would strip it of something essential. At that moment, however, I found myself agreeing with him, unable to express my disagreement clearly.

Later, I spent some time reflecting on the idea. It’s true that for nearly every self-help book I’ve read, I could summarize the key concepts on less than a page. So why do authors stretch these ideas into 250-300 pages? Was it purely a financial decision, considering the greater profit potential of a book versus a blog post? Was it about prestige—does publishing a full-length book give an author more credibility? Or perhaps it’s because readers tend to take a book more seriously than a brief online article, making the message more impactful?

While these explanations may play a role, I believe there’s a deeper reason that goes beyond marketing or format. Ultimately, I’ve come to this conclusion:

The Role of the Author Is to Facilitate Internalization

A good author’s job isn’t just to convey information but to guide readers through a process of internalization. This involves helping the reader move from mere understanding to truly connecting with the material on an emotional level and, ultimately, to believing in and acting on the ideas presented.

Internalization refers to the process by which knowledge or information becomes deeply ingrained, transcending surface-level understanding to become part of a person’s beliefs, values, and actions. It’s the transformation of external concepts into personal convictions or emotional truths.

An Example from Atomic Habits

One of the key concepts James Clear presents in Atomic Habits is the idea of marginal gains—the notion that small, incremental improvements in various areas can compound into remarkable results over time. If Clear had simply stated this concept and left it at that, he would have conveyed the information logically. However, as a reader, I might not believe in the power of marginal gains from such a brief statement. I would likely read it, acknowledge it, and then forget it.

To facilitate internalization, Clear provides a detailed, relatable example. He describes how, after years of poor performance, the British cycling team hired a new coach, Dave Brailsford, who focused on making tiny 1% improvements across the board—optimizing nutrition, improving bike ergonomics, and even experimenting with different pillows for better sleep. Over time, these seemingly small adjustments compounded into significant outcomes, leading to the team’s incredible success, including multiple Olympic medals and Tour de France titles.

As a reader, this real-world example helped me realize that it wasn’t talent or luck that led to the team’s success, but rather a deliberate process of marginal improvements. Through this story, I emotionally connected with the concept and saw how it could apply in my own life. The example moved me from simply understanding the idea to believing in its effectiveness.

This emotional and practical connection transforms the concept from an abstract theory into something I could implement in my own life. It’s in this process—this journey from understanding to belief—that the author successfully facilitates internalization for the reader.

Conclusion

This is why I strongly believe that self-help books need to be full-length books, not just single-page summaries. The additional pages are not mere filler; they serve to guide readers through the necessary steps of internalization. Without this journey, the concepts may be understood on a surface level, but they are unlikely to have the deep, lasting impact that a well-written book can provide.