Book DNA’s template for:
“5 great books centered around a topic, theme, or mood.”
Thank you for sharing 5 great books centered around a topic, theme, or mood! Here are the details of my two-pronged strategy to help authors sell books and how it translates into features on BookDNA.com.
Please email the finished template to .
Please email us any questions (F.A.Q. here).
Thanks, Ben Fox
P.S. If you are a professor, it is essential that your list is not aimed purely at an academic audience. It needs to be accessible to smart, general readers. We want to help you sell your book by sharing your expertise and passion with a wider audience (click here for more info).
1. What is the title of your book recommendation list? This should clearly indicate the topic, theme, or mood of the 5 books you are sharing with readers.
Why is the title so very-very important?
I want to help you sell your book, and the title is how we attract the most-likely readers for your book to this list (so they can meet you and hopefully buy your book). If your book is a history book about World War 2 and you create a list about “the best fantasy books with elves,” that will not help you sell your book.
● Please email me if you want some personalized ideas for a list based on your book.
Click here for examples of what makes a great topic/theme/mood for your list, and here are examples.
● The best books to manage bloody depression
● The best fantasy novels that sweep you into a very strange world
● The best books that capture the magic of Galicia, Spain
● The best books on why the French seem to be in denial about their own history
● The best books about World War One that don’t have the same old story
● The best books about Abraham Lincoln from a fan and historian
● The best books on the most famous battles of the First World War
● The best war books that go beyond bombs: how war affects families
The title can be very broad, fun, and provocative. It is used to pull readers into your list.
The 5 Title Requirements (designed to increase interest in you and sell your book)
1. The title has to have a clear topic, theme, or mood. You are telling a story through these five book recommendations and must have a cohesive topic, theme, or mood that connects your picks.
2. The title is purely about the 5 books you picked, not your book. Your book is paired with your list like a delicious bottle of wine next to five scrumptious cheeses.
3. The title should be in a “best books” motif, but… it can be things like “the funniest,” “the most recent and groundbreaking,” “the best history books,” “the best science fiction books,” “the best children’s books”, (you get the idea). We use the “best” motif because 95% of book searches on Google include that phrase, and that is what readers want.
4. The title should be personalized and reflect your voice/personality.
My title is (using the “best books” motif I described above):
2. Which one of your books would you like us to feature alongside your list?
● We do not recommend featuring book #2 or higher in a series. We found that featuring book #2 or higher in a series massively lowered the click-through rate from readers. Readers only want to be pitched book #1, and here is more info.
● If you don’t want to feature a book, I can feature a podcast, YouTube channel, non-profit, newsletter, or almost any creative project.
Your book’s title:
Your name as you want it to appear:
3. How do you want us to describe your book to readers?
● Max of 125 words.
● Max of 2 paragraphs.
● Only include what your book is about; no blurbs, no reviews, and no awards. I am working on spots for those in the future.
Your book’s description (max 125 words over 2 paragraphs):
4. Please email me a photo or headshot to use on your profile.
● We only use photos or illustrations of your face. If you would prefer no picture, just mention that below.
● You may attach it to the email or include a URL to the picture here.
If you have a link to your photo, put it here:
5. Please provide a max of three links about you as an author to feature next to your profile.
Why only 3 author links?
We found that readers don’t click if there are more than 3 links (paradox of choice). I recommend focusing on the one to three links that create the most value for you and your readers.
These are limited to your website, blog, newsletter, YouTube channel (or an interview/presentation on YouTube), social media, your podcast (or an interview you did on a podcast), or an email to share publicly.
We don’t link to Goodreads, as I am unhappy with them.
Max of three author profile links:
1.
2.
3.
6. What is your 1st book recommendation?
● Thank you for your strong ethics and do not recommend your own books or books by a family member.
● It has to be a book. It doesn’t matter if the book is out of print. The books you pick can be a mix of non-fiction or fiction (if that fits your topic). We generally recommend not picking two books from the same author.
Book’s title and author:
Did you listen to this book as an audiobook (yes/no):
Did you read this as part of a book club (yes/no):
7. Why are you recommending this 1st book?
Why is Ben so crazy about this format?
I want your book recommendations to increase sales of your book. The only way they achieve that goal is if you share why you personally recommend this book (not a summary of the book). Your personality, expertise, and voice are what we are trying to show readers through your recommendation (and here is the sales data to prove it).
Click here for examples of what makes a great book recommendation, and here are some questions that might help you if you feel stuck.
● Did you not want to finish reading it because you didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters?
● Did you love the book because it helped you through an incredibly tough break-up?
● Did you find the plot so fantastic and gripping that you forgot to go to sleep?
● Did you learn something new about history and humanity?
● Did it teach you something and blow your mind?
● Did it help you deal with some past trauma?
● Did it make you happy, sad, or scared?
● Did it make you laugh?
The 5 Requirements (designed to increase interest in you and sell your book)
1. The recommendation should include many “I” statements and focus on why you personally loved this book and why you’re recommending it so strongly.
2. Start with the strongest summary line of why you love the book. We want to pull readers into your recommendation with a strong start.
3. Do not tell readers why they will like the book; tell them why you like the book. People hate it when you tell them to like something; instead, we use Gestalt psychology and show them why you like the book.
4. Minimum of 50 words (we recommend between 50 to 130 words). Readers are 2.1x more likely to click on your book if you have 50 to 130 words.
5. Do not summarize the book or plot; merely focus on why you love it. You can weave the plot into why you love it, but don’t rewrite a book’s description. And please do not reference your own books/characters in the recommendation.
Why did you love this book (check the 5 requirements):
8. What is your 2nd book recommendation?
● Thank you for your strong ethics; do not recommend your own books or those by a family member.
● It has to be a book. It doesn’t matter if the book is out of print. The books you pick can be a mix of non-fiction or fiction (if that fits your topic). We generally recommend not picking two books from the same author.
Book’s title and author:
Did you listen to this book as an audiobook (yes/no):
Did you read this as part of a book club (yes/no):
9. Why are you recommending this 2nd book?
The 5 Requirements (designed to increase interest in you and sell your book)
1. The recommendation should include many “I” statements and focus on why you personally loved this book and why you’re recommending it so strongly.
2. Start with the strongest summary line of why you love the book. We want to pull readers into your recommendation with a strong start.
3. Do not tell readers why they will like the book; tell them why you like the book. People hate it when you tell them to like something; instead, we use Gestalt psychology and show them why you like the book.
4. Minimum of 50 words (we recommend between 50 to 130 words). Readers are 2.1x more likely to click on your book if you have 50 to 130 words.
5. Do not summarize the book or plot; merely focus on why you love it. You can weave the plot into why you love it, but don’t rewrite a book’s description. And please do not reference your own books/characters in the recommendation.
Why did you love this book (check the 5 requirements):
10. What is your 3rd book recommendation?
● Thank you for your strong ethics; do not recommend your own books or those by a family member.
● It has to be a book. It doesn’t matter if the book is out of print. The books you pick can be a mix of non-fiction or fiction (if that fits your topic). We generally recommend not picking two books from the same author.
Book’s title and author:
Did you listen to this book as an audiobook (yes/no):
Did you read this as part of a book club (yes/no):
11. Why are you recommending this 3rd book?
The 5 Requirements (designed to increase interest in you and sell your book)
1. The recommendation should include many “I” statements and focus on why you personally loved this book and why you’re recommending it so strongly.
2. Start with the strongest summary line of why you love the book. We want to pull readers into your recommendation with a strong start.
3. Do not tell readers why they will like the book; tell them why you like the book. People hate it when you tell them to like something; instead, we use Gestalt psychology and show them why you like the book.
4. Minimum of 50 words (we recommend between 50 to 130 words). Readers are 2.1x more likely to click on your book if you have 50 to 130 words.
5. Do not summarize the book or plot; merely focus on why you love it. You can weave the plot into why you love it, but don’t rewrite a book’s description. And please do not reference your own books/characters in the recommendation.
Why did you love this book (check the 5 requirements):
12. What is your 4th book recommendation?
● Thank you for your strong ethics; do not recommend your own books or those by a family member.
● It has to be a book. It doesn’t matter if the book is out of print. The books you pick can be a mix of non-fiction or fiction (if that fits your topic). We generally recommend not picking two books from the same author.
Book’s title and author:
Did you listen to this book as an audiobook (yes/no):
Did you read this as part of a book club (yes/no):
13. Why are you recommending this 4th book?
The 5 Requirements (designed to increase interest in you and sell your book)
1. The recommendation should include many “I” statements and focus on why you personally loved this book and why you’re recommending it so strongly.
2. Start with the strongest summary line of why you love the book. We want to pull readers into your recommendation with a strong start.
3. Do not tell readers why they will like the book; tell them why you like the book. People hate it when you tell them to like something; instead, we use Gestalt psychology and show them why you like the book.
4. Minimum of 50 words (we recommend between 50 to 130 words). Readers are 2.1x more likely to click on your book if you have 50 to 130 words.
5. Do not summarize the book or plot; merely focus on why you love it. You can weave the plot into why you love it, but don’t rewrite a book’s description. And please do not reference your own books/characters in the recommendation.
Why did you love this book (check the 5 requirements):
14. What is your 5th book recommendation?
● Thank you for your strong ethics; do not recommend your own books or those by a family member.
● It has to be a book. It doesn’t matter if the book is out of print. The books you pick can be a mix of non-fiction or fiction (if that fits your topic). We generally recommend not picking two books from the same author.
Book’s title and author:
Did you listen to this book as an audiobook (yes/no):
Did you read this as part of a book club (yes/no):
15. Why are you recommending this 5th book?
The 5 Requirements (designed to increase interest in you and sell your book)
1. The recommendation should include many “I” statements and focus on why you personally loved this book and why you’re recommending it so strongly.
2. Start with the strongest summary line of why you love the book. We want to pull readers into your recommendation with a strong start.
3. Do not tell readers why they will like the book; tell them why you like the book. People hate it when you tell them to like something; instead, we use Gestalt psychology and show them why you like the book.
4. Minimum of 50 words (we recommend between 50 to 130 words). Readers are 2.1x more likely to click on your book if you have 50 to 130 words.
5. Do not summarize the book or plot; merely focus on why you love it. You can weave the plot into why you love it, but don’t rewrite a book’s description. And please do not reference your own books/characters in the recommendation.
Why did you love this book (check the 5 requirements):
16. Who are you, and why do you have expertise or a passion for the topic/theme/mood of the book list you created?
● We use this to pull readers into your list, so it is very important. This shows why you have passion for this topic/theme/mood, along with who you are.
● Here is a great example:
● I’ve been fascinated by the universe since childhood. My parents took me to the countryside in rural Nova Scotia, where the stars shone with wondrous intensity. At first, I borrowed books about space and the universe from our local library for fun; now, as a full-time science writer, I read these books to stay informed about the latest ideas shaping our understanding of the cosmos. I also review them on BookLab, a podcast I host together with science writer Amanda Gefter. I hope you enjoy the books on this list as much as I have!
3 Requirements
1. Please write this in 1st person.
2. Max of 110 words and 1 paragraph.
3. Focus on why you are passionate about the topic, theme, or mood of your list.
Why are you passionate about the topic, theme, or mood of this list (this can show your expertise and background, but the main focus is your passion):
17. By sending me this book recommendation submission, you vow on your honor that you have read all the recommended books and that these are 5 of your favorite reads.
As we have grown, a few bad actors have tried to take advantage of our platform, and I want to make this crystal clear.
18. By sending me this book recommendation submission, you vow that you have not used A.I. to write any part of these recommendations.
As you can imagine, that is not something we allow, and I’ve learned I have to say this explicitly. Our recommendations are for humans, by humans.
19. And lastly, legal :).
By sending me this book recommendation submission, you give me perpetual, exclusive rights to publish the text of the book recommendations. And non-exclusive rights to publish everything else you give me, in perpetuity. In return, I will forever promote you and one of your books alongside the book recommendation list.
What does this mean?
● The text of the book recommendations you write is given exclusively to Book DNA, and no one else is allowed to use them. We are fine if you recommend these books on another website. We just want the text of the book recommendation you wrote to appear only on Book DNA.
● For things like your photo, your bio/passion statement, book description, and URLs, you grant me the right to publish them (non-exclusively, of course).
Please let me know if you have any questions. I try to make this super simple.
Why do I ask for exclusive rights to the text of the book recommendations?
● Google has a duplicate content penalty, so I want to ensure we are the only place on the internet where the book recommendations are published. Otherwise, it could hurt our website and all the authors who take part.
● I also have a long-term idea to freely license these book recommendations to indie bookstores and libraries for use in their physical spaces (and to get you more publicity and sales). And I need exclusive rights to do this.
Please email the template back to me at when you finish :). If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Here are the details of my two-pronged strategy to help authors sell books and how it translates into features on Book DNA.
Thanks,
Ben Fox