A fascinating braid of personal guidance and practitioner interviews . . . Habib[’s] counsel, presented with the clear-eyed pragmatism (but none of the cynicism) of an industry veteran, stands out in a congested market of books on writing . . . even the published author, will . . . find value in these pages. . . . An invaluable resource for aspiring and professional writers alike.”—Kirkus
“Alia Hanna Habib is the best literary agent any writer could ask for and I feel immeasurably lucky to have her in my corner. Alia knows the publishing industry better than anyone. Her expertise, thoughtfulness, and brilliance have changed my life. Her debut book, Take It From Me, is a masterclass in showing aspiring writers how to approach and navigate the publishing process. It is an invaluable resource. If you are looking to publish your own nonfiction project, this will become the most important book in your library.”—Clint Smith, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How the Word is Passed
“Aspiring authors couldn’t hope for a better guide to writing and publishing a non-fiction book. Take It From Me is a map, a tool-kit, and a trove of information that demystifies the publishing process written with humor, warmth, and smarts.”—Betsy Lerner, author of The Forest for the Trees
“Nonfiction publishing is a world of strange customs and opaque folkways, where it can feel impossible for outsiders to understand how things work. Until now, when Alia Hanna Habib is here to shrewdly, wisely, and hilariously demystify the whole process and deliver all the inside dope. I can’t be the first to say this, but I really, really wish I had this book when I was starting out.”—Robert Kolker, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road
“Take It From Me feels like a conversation with your smartest, most honest friend in publishing—funny, incisive, and all-in on helping your nonfiction dream take flight. Alia Hanna Habib doesn’t gate-keep—she invites you in, offering the most practical, no-nonsense roadmap I’ve seen for nonfiction writers. Straight talk, sharp insight, and a deep generosity of spirit. Essential reading.” —Adrienne Brodeur, bestselling author of Wild Game
“At times Take it From Me feels almost novelistic—with human drama, history, and the possibility of achieving something that, once mystical, now becomes reassuringly concrete. Habib is a warm, funny, inspiring guide through a process that is rarely treated with such scrutiny and respect.”—Rachel Aviv, New York Times bestselling author of Strangers to Ourselves
From the literary agent behind some of today's most successful authors comes a narrative guide geared specifically to the needs of aspiring and working nonfiction writers, demystifying the world of publishing and offering a practical roadmap to getting your book published
Alia Hanna Habib remembers what it was like to be on the outside of the publishing world, looking in. Arriving in New York, a first-generation college student with a love of reading and loads of ambition, she hadn't any idea how to break into the business of books. Now, years later, in her career as an agent, she hears from prospective clients who, whether they're experts at the top of their fields or wholly new to the writing game, consider finding success in publishing to be a mysterious and daunting endeavor. Ever determined to flout the stereotype of agent as gatekeeper, however, Habib is prepared to hand emerging writers the key.
Drawing on wisdom from her star-studded list of clients, including Hanif Abdurraqib, Merve Emre, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Judy Batalion, in Take It from Me Habib provides context and clarity to each step of the publishing process, from the germination of a book idea to finding an agent to represent it, from crafting an engaging proposal to navigating the perils of publicity. Readers will find real-life samples of her authors' pitch letters and book proposals, as well as templates writers can use when querying agents or promoting their work on social media. She also incorporates the advice of trusted industry colleagues-attorneys, accountants, editors, publishers, publicists, and more-gifting readers with a full team of experts to answer all the questions they've had about the publishing world, but were too afraid, or didn't know, to ask.
Essential for both the aspiring novice and the seasoned professional, Take It from Me is a guidebook writers will return to again and again. At times laugh-out-loud funny, at others brutally honest about her own experiences in publishing, and in life, Habib offers a clear-eyed look at the challenges facing today's aspiring nonfiction writers and then gives them the comprehensive, expert guidance they need to put those roadblocks in the rearview mirror.
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Alia Hanna Habib remembers what it was like to be on the outside of the publishing world, looking in. Arriving in New York, a first-generation college student with a love of reading and loads of ambition, she hadn't any idea how to break into the business of books. Now, years later, in her career as an agent, she hears from prospective clients who, whether they're experts at the top of their fields or wholly new to the writing game, consider finding success in publishing to be a mysterious and daunting endeavor. Ever determined to flout the stereotype of agent as gatekeeper, however, Habib is prepared to hand emerging writers the key.
Drawing on wisdom from her star-studded list of clients, including Hanif Abdurraqib, Merve Emre, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Judy Batalion, in Take It from Me Habib provides context and clarity to each step of the publishing process, from the germination of a book idea to finding an agent to represent it, from crafting an engaging proposal to navigating the perils of publicity. Readers will find real-life samples of her authors' pitch letters and book proposals, as well as templates writers can use when querying agents or promoting their work on social media. She also incorporates the advice of trusted industry colleagues-attorneys, accountants, editors, publishers, publicists, and more-gifting readers with a full team of experts to answer all the questions they've had about the publishing world, but were too afraid, or didn't know, to ask.
Essential for both the aspiring novice and the seasoned professional, Take It from Me is a guidebook writers will return to again and again. At times laugh-out-loud funny, at others brutally honest about her own experiences in publishing, and in life, Habib offers a clear-eyed look at the challenges facing today's aspiring nonfiction writers and then gives them the comprehensive, expert guidance they need to put those roadblocks in the rearview mirror.
Take It From Me: An Agent's Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career from Scratch
From the literary agent behind some of today's most successful authors comes a narrative guide geared specifically to the needs of aspiring and working nonfiction writers, demystifying the world of publishing and offering a practical roadmap to getting your book published
Alia Hanna Habib remembers what it was like to be on the outside of the publishing world, looking in. Arriving in New York, a first-generation college student with a love of reading and loads of ambition, she hadn't any idea how to break into the business of books. Now, years later, in her career as an agent, she hears from prospective clients who, whether they're experts at the top of their fields or wholly new to the writing game, consider finding success in publishing to be a mysterious and daunting endeavor. Ever determined to flout the stereotype of agent as gatekeeper, however, Habib is prepared to hand emerging writers the key.
Drawing on wisdom from her star-studded list of clients, including Hanif Abdurraqib, Merve Emre, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Judy Batalion, in Take It from Me Habib provides context and clarity to each step of the publishing process, from the germination of a book idea to finding an agent to represent it, from crafting an engaging proposal to navigating the perils of publicity. Readers will find real-life samples of her authors' pitch letters and book proposals, as well as templates writers can use when querying agents or promoting their work on social media. She also incorporates the advice of trusted industry colleagues-attorneys, accountants, editors, publishers, publicists, and more-gifting readers with a full team of experts to answer all the questions they've had about the publishing world, but were too afraid, or didn't know, to ask.
Essential for both the aspiring novice and the seasoned professional, Take It from Me is a guidebook writers will return to again and again. At times laugh-out-loud funny, at others brutally honest about her own experiences in publishing, and in life, Habib offers a clear-eyed look at the challenges facing today's aspiring nonfiction writers and then gives them the comprehensive, expert guidance they need to put those roadblocks in the rearview mirror.
Alia Hanna Habib remembers what it was like to be on the outside of the publishing world, looking in. Arriving in New York, a first-generation college student with a love of reading and loads of ambition, she hadn't any idea how to break into the business of books. Now, years later, in her career as an agent, she hears from prospective clients who, whether they're experts at the top of their fields or wholly new to the writing game, consider finding success in publishing to be a mysterious and daunting endeavor. Ever determined to flout the stereotype of agent as gatekeeper, however, Habib is prepared to hand emerging writers the key.
Drawing on wisdom from her star-studded list of clients, including Hanif Abdurraqib, Merve Emre, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Judy Batalion, in Take It from Me Habib provides context and clarity to each step of the publishing process, from the germination of a book idea to finding an agent to represent it, from crafting an engaging proposal to navigating the perils of publicity. Readers will find real-life samples of her authors' pitch letters and book proposals, as well as templates writers can use when querying agents or promoting their work on social media. She also incorporates the advice of trusted industry colleagues-attorneys, accountants, editors, publishers, publicists, and more-gifting readers with a full team of experts to answer all the questions they've had about the publishing world, but were too afraid, or didn't know, to ask.
Essential for both the aspiring novice and the seasoned professional, Take It from Me is a guidebook writers will return to again and again. At times laugh-out-loud funny, at others brutally honest about her own experiences in publishing, and in life, Habib offers a clear-eyed look at the challenges facing today's aspiring nonfiction writers and then gives them the comprehensive, expert guidance they need to put those roadblocks in the rearview mirror.
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Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940193220497 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Penguin Random House |
| Publication date: | 01/20/2026 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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