If you were to ask someone how long a book should be, they might respond with the classic adage, “How long is a piece of string?” Although this saying encapsulates the feeling that each book serves a different purpose and therefore length will vary greatly between books, it’s not a very useful or practical response for authors who are looking to publish a certain kind of book. For authors who wish to publish an academic book, knowing what length to aim for not only helps tighten your thesis, but it also ensures that audiences can follow your argument clearly without losing focus or attention.

In this article, we will discuss how long an academic book should be, focusing in particular on the suitable length of a monograph in scholarly publishing.

Monographs: what are they?

An academic book is typically a long-form publication catered to – but not necessarily limited to – audiences with an interest in the subject matter covered. An academic book can take various forms, such as an edited book, textbook, or monograph.

It will be easier to answer the question of how long an academic book should be if we focus primarily on the monograph. This is because the primary form of scholarly communication in academic book publishing is the monograph. Additionally, other forms, such as the edited book or textbook, tend to compile content from various other authors or branches of study, meaning the length is dependent on factors somewhat beyond the control of the editor.

A monograph is a scholarly publication focusing on a single topic or theme. It is the result of extensive research, usually undertaken over the course of years, by an author or a small group of authors. The aim of a monograph is to contribute an original perspective or theoretical framework to the author’s field(s).

For more information on the monograph, see our article on its definition, importance, and how to write one.

How long should your academic book be?

What causes confusion for authors looking to publish an academic book is that there is no universal answer to the question of how long it should be. The length may depend on various factors, such as scope of your research argument, extensiveness of revisions before publication, and publisher preferences.

It is useful to aim for an approximate length, however. That way, you can keep your argument concise and structured within a preconceived framework. A target word count will typically be agreed in your book contract and must be adhered to. MDPI Books recommends aiming for approx. 70–110 pages (or 35,000 to 55,000 words) for short-form monographs and approx. 250–300 pages (or 125,000 to 150,000 words) for long-form monographs.

Monographs vs journal articles

Whereas monographs are comprehensive, long-form works, academic journal articles are typically concise, prioritising speed of research dissemination and effective communication of ideas. MDPI journal articles are roughly 6 to 24 single-spaced pages, or between 3,000 and 12,000 words.

In contrast to journal articles, academic books such as monographs allow the author to tackle complex issues over a sustained reflection, providing a more reflexive and in-depth understanding of the topic at hand.

For more information on the distinction between these scholarly publication types, see our article on monographs vs. journal articles.

Publishing a monograph with MDPI Books

Have a manuscript for an academic book? MDPI Books is here to help you on the road to publication.

Submit a book proposal today to benefit from open access publication and global dissemination. By choosing MDPI Books, you ensure that your research experiences maximum visibility and impact in a competitive scholarly landscape.