How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022

Why (or why not) to write a book
How to write a book chapter or a book
Doing other writing for publication

There can be many good reasons to write a book. A monograph focusing on a specialized technical topic can aid fellow scientists. A handbook can assist scientists and those applying science. A textbook can greatly help students of science. A work of popular scientific nonfiction can interest and enlighten general readers, including scientists in fields other than your own.

There also can be good reasons not to write a book—or not to do so at present. In most fields of science, scientific papers (not books) are the currency of advancement. Thus, it can be unwise to spend time writing a book early in one’s career. Of course, writing a book takes much effort, so it should not be pursued without careful reflection first.

As for the monetary aspect: A widely used textbook or bestselling work of scientific nonfiction can net the author a nice sum. Most books in the sciences, however, earn the author relatively little—sometimes less than the author spent preparing the book. Thus, only if the psychological rewards would suffice should one embark on writing a book.