How Long Should An Index For A Book Typically Be?

Hey there! It seems like the perfect length for a book index really changes depending on the kind of book and what it's for. In academic or non-fiction stuff, you might see a really detailed index taking up 5-10% of all the pages. So, like, a 300-page history book could have an index of 15-30 pages, with lots of names, events, and ideas listed. But for fiction, a lighter touch is usually better – maybe just 2-5 pages for the important characters, places, and themes. Something huge like 'The Lord of the Rings' might need a bit more, while something like 'The Hating Game' could use even less. It’s all about finding the right balance so it's easy to use, but not overwhelming. I usually suggest checking with professional indexers or guides like 'The Chicago Manual of Style' to get some more specific help.

Okay, here's the paraphrased comment: So, like, I think a book's index ought to be short and sweet, but still cover everything. For a non-fiction book that's, say, 200 pages, you'd usually see 5 to 10 pages. 'A Song of Ice and Fire' aside, fiction books usually don't need more than 3. Cookbooks and manuals are different, though. They're better with a bigger index—maybe 10 to 15 pages—to get all the stuff in there. Just make sure you're putting in the things folks will actually look up.

Okay, so basically, a killer index is like a map that gets you where you need to go without being a total drag. For most novels, a short index – like 2-4 pages – is usually plenty; just spotlight the main characters and what's going on. But non-fiction is another story. I just read this science book with a massive 25-page index, totally broken down, which made finding stuff super easy. For collections, they might even break the index down by author or subject, which adds a little length. Really, it's not about how long it is; it's about how useful it is. If you're indexing 'Dune,' you gotta have 'spice' and 'Bene Gesserit' in there, but don't sweat the small talk. It's all about finding that sweet spot between being complete and easy to read.

Hey! Based on my own reading and writing, I think a book's index should be just the right size – not too much, not too little. For things like textbooks or reference books, indexes can be pretty long, maybe 20-30 pages, with lots of cross-references and detailed entries. Biographies or memoirs might have indexes around 10-15 pages, mostly about important people and happenings. Light fiction doesn't always need an index, but if it does, 3-5 pages is usually enough. I've even seen cookbooks with super useful 10-page indexes listing every ingredient and cooking method! The secret is to think like the person reading the book: what would they actually look for? If something in the index isn't really useful, then get rid of it. Being clear is way more important than just having a lot of entries.