I want to believe that most people do have a book in them. But, since anyone can now simply use prompts to generate a nonfiction book in hours, I'm forced to draw some boundaries. Everyone might have a book in them, but it takes a little something extra to actually make that book worth reading.
There are three considerations when actually getting the book out of yourself, and a further four questions I want you to ask yourself before you do.
The considerations:
Your own health and well-being as the prospective writer.
The benefits of the readers who will find your book.
How your book contributes to the ecosystem of other writers and experts in your area of expertise.
These considerations aren't so heavy in fiction—that's an area where you can have fun telling stories and using your imagination (although it comes with its own set of considerations and cautions that are outside the scope of this episode). As a nonfiction writer, however, you have a little more responsibility.
The book that is in you could be incredible, but that doesn't mean it's ready to come out fully formed and speaking in complete sentences. This series will help you make an informed choice and lay out a vision for the way for you to make your mark on the world.
7 Aug 2026
Episode 91: How Books Are Destroyed
Yes, everyone is mad about Anthropic chopping up millions of books, but here's the, well, million dollar question. Are you mad on more than just aesthetic grounds? Are you mad about what's happening to the world's knowledge and access to it…or is this just about paper and ink?
Em talks about how your bookish heroes destroy books every day, why what Anthropic did is (extremely technically) legal, and why other AI execs are using this bad press to make you think they're strawberry shortcake.
Photo by Limi change (https://unsplash.com/@limichange?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/a-box-filled-with-lots-of-books-on-top-of-a-table-2JeiMmwds40?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
8 Jul 2026
Episode 90: Stand All the Way Back
A rant on how a reader behavior survey taken over the space of one month was conflated into an indictment on readers and—bafflingly—libraries. Emily discusses why fingers are being pointed in these particular directions and where they maybe should be pointed instead.
Photo by (https://unsplash.com/@joshua_hoehne?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)Joshua Hoehne (https://unsplash.com/@joshua_hoehne?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on (https://unsplash.com/photos/selective-photography-of-stop-signage-WPrTKRw8KRQ?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/selective-photography-of-stop-signage-WPrTKRw8KRQ?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
20 ratings
Contact Hybrid Pub Scout Podcast
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Hybrid Pub Scout Podcast?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
