A short nonfiction book could be called a number of different things, depending on its length and purpose. Generally speaking, a short nonfiction book could be referred to as a novella, essay, memoir, e-book, guidebook, treatise, or even a pamphlet.
Novella: A novella is typically a story of 20,000-50,000 words and is typically focused on a single plot. Well-known examples of novellas include Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad or The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane.
Essay: An essay is a short-form piece of writing on a particular topic, typically ranging between 1,000 and 10,000 words. Examples could include “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson or “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau.
Memoir: A memoir is a personal reflection piece written by the author, typically focusing on their own life experience. Examples could include “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion or “This Boy’s Life” by Tobias Wolff.
E-book: An e-book is a digital version of a book, typically shorter than a novella. e-Books are usually 1,000-10,000 words, and are often used for informational purposes such as guidebooks, how-to books, or treatises.
Guidebook: A guidebook is usually a short book written to provide information to its reader on a particular subject. Guidebooks can include travel guides, how-to guides, user manuals, or even culinary guides.
Treatise: A treatise is a long and detailed study or discourse written on a specific subject. Treatises can be anywhere from 10,000-100,000 words, and typically have some sort of academic purpose.
Pamphlet: A pamphlet is a short publication of typically fewer than 1,000 words, usually used to state an opinion or teach a specific skill or lesson.
