Advice on writing a non-fiction book

TOKYO — I’ve written nine books in English and have started on my 10th. I’ve learned a few things along the way about writing and would like to share them with you today.

First, pick a subject you know about or want to know more about.

Search for a topic, one that asks a central question, like “What happened to the U.S. auto industry?” or “How does baseball reflect the Japanese national character?” “What role did crime play in the postwar history of Japan?” Every book needs an algorithm, a central thesis, an algebraic equation so to speak. One simple sentence that lays out what your book is about.