The index question

One of the questions about The Blogging Church that needs to be answered this week is whether it should have an index. Most of you are avid readers and more than a few have written books yourselves. Do you have an opinion on this one?

My instinct is to not have one. There is a small expense involved (it is usually created by a professional), but the main reasons are: I rarely use an index, the chapters are very specific and self-contained, and I've read a number of non-fiction books recently that didn't have one.

On the other hand, an index is still quite common and I assume many people rely on it.

Here's your chance to be heard! What do you think? Yes or no?

Comments

[Brenton Balvin]

Guys I'm for an index. It is useful to help look up a topical. Especially if I get to the end and wonder, "What is RSS again?" Or "Where does Terry pastor?" An index, though I don't always use it, really helps me to find a story or topic or bit of info I want to use after I've finished the book. Looking forward to it.

[Kent]

My vote is no index. It seems like the chapters are already organized well enough.

[Matthew]

Absolutely! A book without an index is like the web without search. I have had them in all of my books and use them frequently in other's books.

[Eric]

By all means, you must have an index. Those of us who read quickly through books and go back later looking for specific points live and die by them.

[djchuang]

Something even more valuable than a printed index in the back of the book would be to put the book's index on this website along with additional resources referred to in the book. 1) Saves a few more pages of printing cost, 2) able to provide a more exhaustive index, 3) leaves it open to being interactive, 4) opens opportunity for commenting, tagging, blogging, and other Web 2.0 stuff. If editorial cost is a factor, a software like TExtract www.texyz.com could minimize cost and increase readers' value.

[Matt]

I lean towards yes, produce the index. I assume the book leans towards technology, benefits, trial and error stories, web communication, bulleted lists, focused topics and the like more than a fictional story book. So if that's true, that the book leans towards more of a technical nature than a story book, indexes are helpful. If you suspect that the book’s primary audience is very uneducated on the subject matter, again the index would be helpful. If you suspect your audience is simply furthering a knowledge base that already has a solid foundation, that might be a point for the no side. But of course you have to way the cost/value benefits. If the cost is insignificant, then I’d throw the easy yes. If the cost of the index is somewhat significant to significant, I might answer some more questions. Will having an index help sell more books? Will someone pick up the book, notice there is no index, and not purchase it…. or maybe purchase it but not recommend it? Who knows. Bottom line. I vote yes unless the cost of the index is uncomfortable to swallow.

[Lisa Mathews Fowler]

Add my vote to the yes column. Looking forward to the read.
LMF

[stephen shields]

anything that lowers the cost of information is useful. I suggest you include an index. I certainly rely on them heavily. I also like DJ's suggestion of putting it online.

[David Russell]

Index, yes. :) On the other hand, instinct can be priceless. So if you nix it, I can dig.

[Anne Jackson]

My vote is yes :)