Photo by Chris Abney on Unsplash
PAPER = Problem Area + Principles + Evidence + Recap
Problem Area
Chapters 1-2: Focus on a particular problem area. Explain why the problem matters. how it affects all, and why there are no good solutions out there.
Principles
Chapters 3-4: Lay out a principled framework. A set of principles to solve the problem that one could learn with practice. The principles are presented as a 4 point plan, 6 steps to follow, Cyclical loop, Pie chart with inner circlers, etc.
Evidence
Chapters 5-10: Dedicate one chapter for each principle/step described in the principled framework. Explain the principle in depth with a lot of real-life evidence/anecdotes that explain how effective and important it is to follow the principle. Share the results one would start to see following the principle.
Recap
Chapter 11-12: Recap the problem, principles, key takeaways, and next steps.
Note: Keep the length of each chapter roughly the same for consistency.
Example Frameworks:
Books following the above pattern that lay out principled framework to solve a problem area.
Atomic Habits (Cue → Craving → Response → Reward)
Hooked (Internal Trigger → External Trigger → Action → Reward → Investment)
Made to Stick (Simple-Unexpected-Concrete-Credible-Emotional-Stories)
Influencer ( Personal Motivation - Personal Ability - Social Motivation - Social Ability - Structural Motivation - Structural Ability )
Crucial Conversations (Start with Heart → Learn to Look → Make it Safe → Master My Stories → State My Path → Explore Other’s Paths → Move to Action)
Radical Candor (Relationships - Guidance - Team - Results )
Difficult Conversations (What Happened - Feelings - Identity Conversations)
The Four Steps To The Epiphany (Customer Discovery → Validation → Creation → Company Building)
Cold Start Problem (The Tipping Point → Escape Velocity → The Ceiling → The Moat)