Ten Things Academic Books Need

1. An authoritative author and an experienced content editor
2. A generative premise that logically unfolds into a clearly organized Table of Contents
3. Accessibly written text in the author’s own words, not a string of quotes
4. Reference to primary source material
5. Laser-beam focus on appropriate audience
6. A helpful and adequate index
7. Handsome reader-friendly page layout and design
8. Quality, error-free book production
9. Key journal reviews
10. An appreciative readership