Complete Books Guide

Books encompass fiction, non-fiction, reference works, poetry, graphic formats, children's books, specialist titles and many other forms. A useful guide starts with what the reader wants to achieve or enjoy.

Major book^★ categories

Fiction includes stories such as literary fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, crime and thrillers. Non-fiction includes subjects such as history, biography, science, travel, cooking and practical guides. Poetry, graphic novels, illustrated books and reference works use different formats and reading^★ approaches. The category should help a reader narrow a large choice without implying that every book fits neatly into one box.

Choosing by reader and purpose

Consider age, interests, reading confidence, preferred format and the reason for reading. BookTrust guidance emphasises broad choice and a mixture of genres and formats when selecting books for children and young people. For adults, subject, tone, author and intended use are similarly useful filters^★.

Buying and identifying editions

Check the title, author, publisher, edition, format and condition before buying. ISBNs are useful identifiers: the International ISBN Agency explains that different product forms such as paperback and EPUB can have separate ISBNs. Use reliable bibliographic information when comparing editions, especially when a particular format or edition is required.