I took indexing classes in library school. A nonfiction book is useless without an index, because without an index, you can’t access the information in the book. Btw, indexing is a skill you can learn and then freelance your indexing skills to authors. There are best practice rules for indexing.
Not gonna lie, the fire of indignance gets lit the instant I see there is no index. It's almost the first thing I do when i pick up a book, especially in deciding whether or not I buy it.
Comments
It's the author's way of ... you know ... reducing PORK.
(Retired academic)
What is happening to the world?
Other than increased fascism, attacks on everyone not toxically masculine…. Etc.
Indexes are so valuable!
Like, thanks for adding a homework assignment to my homework assignment.
Same with footnotes.
And they're also often the same ones with like 50-11 footnotes in a font for ants...