What makes a good subtitle?
I've written a lot about book titles (see 10 Business Book Questions: Q1. What is the title of your business book?) but not specifically about subtitles. I make the distinction as while the title can refer to the whole, it generally means "main title". For me, the main title is how you would refer to the book and the biggest part of its identity, i.e. Meet with Impact.
But a?subtitle is what appears after the colon, i.e Meet with Impact: 40 visual tools for productive meetings and engaging workshops. It's an extra opportunity to explain the premise or style of the book. A valuable few extra words to ensure the reader fully understands how the book works and potentially clinch the sale. It's a big part of metadata that should be part of your book's packaging and identity.
Here are some popular types of subtitles from the bestselling business books of 2022 in the UK. As ever some of these are fashionable, some are perennial, and some are adventurous:
So if any of the above types of subtitles appeal to you, here are some more tips on how to craft a good subtitle:
领英推荐
The Pearson Business Book Club
The Pearson Business Book Club?is open to all who would like to learn more about our business books or a particular topic, and the webinars are free to attend. You can also view the on-demand videos of previous sessions on the Book Club website.
October's Business Book of the Month?is Going Digital by Lyndsey Jones and Balvinder Singh Powar. The webinar is on What works, and what doesn't, in business transformation projects. To attend the webinar on Thursday 26 October 2023, at 2 pm?(UK time), please register at https://pearson.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8D-ZQsCjTYyJnM4S_aDp8A#/registration.
Going Digital is a practical and revealing guide for anyone dealing with transformation, whatever their business or sector. Understand how to deliver digital change at the coalface, alongside the relevant management theory. Organised thematically and covering AI, diversity, crises, and other topics, each chapter covers the story arc of what businesses have done to address disruption. You will also learn what worked (and what didn’t) from case studies including companies such as the FT, Renault, Nissan, CNN, UBS and others.
"Here is the essential guide to how managers should adapt their businesses to the digital revolution. Written by a journalist who was the driving force behind the shift from print to digital in the Financial Times newsroom, the book offers many examples of how to change mindsets and work practices - and keep employees on board." Lionel Barber, Editor of the Financial Times 2005-2020
Lyndsey Jones is a publishing consultant, strategic advisor and coach working with media companies across Africa and Europe on the digital transformation of their newsrooms, from operations to content strategy. She is also a keynote speaker, guest lecturer and business mentor.
Balvinder Singh Powar is Professor and Business Mentor at IE Business School and an experienced trainer, giving sessions on Leadership, Change Management, Innovation & Entrepreneurship globally.
Just Published / Noteworthy books
How to Be a Complete and Utter F**k Up by Steve McDermott is your ultimate ANTI life coach. Be warned: whatever you do, don’t do the opposite of what you learn here or else you’re in serious danger of making some positive changes and leading a more successful life.
Turning the concept of self-improvement on its head, this book brings together 47 and a half leading ideas in personal and business development and offers a total antidote to the motivational, gung-ho, over-enthused tone of all the usual self-improvement guides.
Delivered in fast, easily digestible chunks, in a style that makes you laugh while you learn, this book offers tongue-in-cheek advice about what not to do to ensure certain failure in every aspect of your life. From not having any goals, to not getting advice from people you’ve never met or who are dead, to not taking personal responsibility for your life and results, every idea, strategy, suggestion and story is guaranteed to propel you into the slow lane of total inadequacy and has been tested with thousands of real people.
Steve McDermott has been established as one of the UK's top motivational speakers and his personal brand is growing. His work includes being a motivational speaker, coach, trainer and consultant.
"Hidden behind the fun, this book will actually inspire you to be the best you can be even in seemingly impossible circumstances." Liz Willis FCIPD FInstLM , Group Director of Learning and Organisation Development, Caring Homes
What am I reading?
I'm getting a lot from How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. Something that's struck me is how the author refuses to use "microaggression" anymore and prefers the term "racist abuse" because that's what it is. This makes so much sense to me.
Finally
Do you have any ideas or suggestions for future newsletters? Did I strike a chord with anything in this newsletter? Is there a business book you've enjoyed recently that you'd recommend? Add a comment or email me at [email protected].
Full of proven tips and practical insights Eloise. Thank you
Great post Louise. Probably the best book subtitle of all time was the subtitle that the creative #genius Paul Arden gave his book 'It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be' back in 2003 which was: 'the world's best-selling book by Paul Arden.' i.e. at the time it was his only book, and it was not yet a best-seller (in the official sense), however, Arden's clever play on words made people assume that it was, and as a result his subtitle went on to become a 'self-fulfilling prophecy.' (Reference: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/paul-arden-ain-t-life-a-pitch-84445.html)