Updated 11 July 2025
Table of contents
You’ve just finished reading a 300-page novel for class, and now your teacher wants a one-page summary. Your mind goes blank. Should you retell the plot? Share your opinion? Include your favorite quote?
No! Just breathe in and breathe out. Then ask yourself, what is the summary of the book, and why is it so important?
A book summary is a concise overview of a book’s main points. It captures a book’s key ideas, major events, and themes in your own words, without your personal opinions or interpretations.
Today, EduBirdie will walk you through each stage of writing a book summary, from choosing the main points to polishing your first draft into a well-written book summary!
And if you ever find yourself stuck or out of time, you can turn to EduBirdie’s best book review writing service for expert help.
Let’s get started!
Before you start writing summaries, it’s essential to understand one key distinction: not every assignment about a book is a summary. Let’s break it down clearly:
| Type | What It Focuses On | Tone | Key Question Answered |
| Summary of a book | What does the book say? | Objective | “What happens or what are the main points?” |
| Analysis | What does the book mean? | Interpretive | “Why does it matter? What are the deeper ideas?” |
| Review | Is the book effective or enjoyable? | Subjective | “Is it good? Would I recommend it?” |
A summary of a book example would include the key elements like the main character, the central theme, and major events. Keep it neutral. A strong summary is written mostly in your own words, focusing on the original text’s main idea and supporting details.
A summary about a book doesn’t begin when you type the first sentence. It starts the moment you open the book.
Learning ‘close reading’ turns reading into preparation.
Close reading is a method of textual analysis that involves carefully examining a text, often a specific passage, to understand its meaning and how it achieves its effects. The best advice we can give you to master the technique is to take notes as you go. Use a notebook, margin notes, or digital highlights to track useful details.
Want to make summary writing easier? After each chapter, write a one-sentence summary in your own words. These sentences will become the foundation of your final book overview.
Now that you’ve read the book and taken notes, it’s time to turn your preparation into a structured and clear piece of writing. This section will walk you through each step, from your opening sentence to your final draft.
Begin your summary of a book by introducing the work in a single, direct sentence. This tells the reader what kind of work you’re summarizing and sets the tone for the rest of your writing.
Use this simple structure: “[Title] is a [genre] book by [Author’s Name] that explores…”
For example: Atomic Habits is a self-help book by James Clear that explores how small habits can lead to major personal and professional changes.
This introductory sentence gives your summary context and shows that you understand the book’s topic, genre, and author’s intent.
Next, identify the core of the book. If it’s fiction, this means focusing on the main character and the central conflict or goal. If it’s nonfiction, focus on the author’s thesis statement and what they want the intended audience to learn.
The story follows Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire who pursues a lost love in a world of illusion and wealth.
In Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki argues that financial literacy and independent thinking are essential for building wealth.
This is the largest part of your summary of book. Here, you describe what happens in fiction or explain how the argument unfolds in nonfiction. If you’re summarizing a story, follow the beginning, middle, and end structure. If it’s nonfiction, focus on how the supporting arguments build the author’s case.
Now that you’ve covered the ‘how to start a book summary’ and main structure of the book summary, it’s time to add depth. This step shows your ability to recognize the underlying ideas and the most important points that give the text meaning.
In fiction, highlight central themes like love, justice, identity, or betrayal. For example:
‘The novel explores themes of guilt and redemption, showing how past mistakes can shape a person’s future.’
For nonfiction, briefly mention one or two pieces of supporting evidence that strengthen the author’s ideas.
Use the “Is It Vital?” test:
Ask yourself, does this detail help the reader grasp the book’s core message? If not, cut it. Your goal is not to retell but to summarize.
Avoid falling into the trap of detailed summaries or commentary. Keep it tight. A story summary of a book example should remain objective and structured, offering just enough context for understanding.
A summary of a book must have a sense of closure. This doesn’t mean repeating everything you’ve said. It means ending with the result of the narrative or the author’s final insight.
‘In the end, the protagonist chooses self-acceptance over revenge, finding peace in solitude.’
‘The author ends by encouraging readers to build habits gradually, emphasizing that long-term consistency creates real change.’
This step balances and completes your summary. The reader should feel they’ve gained a full understanding of the main arguments and structure without needing to read the original text.
Writing the first draft is only part of the process. Besides, a great book summary depends on editing. Thus, set aside your draft, return with fresh eyes, and go through this checklist:
Writing a book summary is never one-size-fits-all. Fiction and non-fiction demand different approaches, and knowing how to adapt is essential for crafting a clear and useful summary. But it is easy:
Even students with good intentions can fall into common traps when writing a summary of the book. The table below outlines frequent mistakes and how to fix them.
| Don’t Do This | Do This Instead |
| Including every minor detail, sub-plot, or side character | Focus on the main plot (fiction) or core arguments (non-fiction). |
| Lifting phrases or several paragraphs directly from the text | Write in your own words. A strong book review exercise shows understanding, not replication. |
| Adding phrases like “I loved the ending” or “This part was boring” | Stick to facts. Leave analysis and opinions for reviews, not a summary. |
| Writing disjointed ideas with no logical connection | Use transition words (e.g., “then,” “as a result,” “in conclusion”) to create flow. This leads to a well written summary. |
Keep this table in mind when writing a summary of a book example. Avoiding these pitfalls ensures your writing stays objective, structured, and useful, especially when preparing book summary examples for students.
Let’s put everything we’ve discussed into practice. Below is a model book summary using Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
Example Summary:
To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic novel by Harper Lee that explores racial injustice in the American South through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930s. The story centers around Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, a principled lawyer who defends Tom Robinson, a Black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. As Scout and her brother Jem navigate childhood, they confront prejudice, learn moral courage, and question the values of their community. The novel weaves together the personal growth of its characters with the broader themes of justice, inequality, and empathy.
Deconstruction:
Notice how this summary introduces the title, author, and setting right away. It identifies key characters (Scout, Atticus, Tom Robinson), outlines the main conflict, and touches on the theme of justice. The summary avoids unnecessary details and uses clear language that captures the story’s turning points.
Writing a summary of a book might feel overwhelming at first. However, like any academic skill, it gets easier with practice.
A well written summary is also a tool that will serve you far beyond school. It will help you digest dense material quickly and confidently express your understanding.
So, how can you get better? Start small. Try summarizing your favorite movie in a paragraph. Take a news article and reduce it to three bullet points. The more you practice, the more natural your work becomes. Keep in mind that summarizing is about comprehending, not about repeating!
In the end, remember that EduBirdie is always there to summarize a book for you! Good luck!
A summary of a book is a concise overview of its main points, including the central ideas, characters, and key events. Its purpose is to convey the big picture of the work clearly and efficiently.
Strong book summaries examples should include the title, the central idea or character, the key points, and the central theme. For non-fiction, they should also highlight the author’s thesis statement and supporting arguments.
Begin with a strong opening sentence introducing the title, author, and genre. Book summary example introduction: “In her non-fiction book Atomic Habits, James Clear explores how small habits shape long-term success.”
