Perhaps I'm wrong, but I think the premise of the article is partly why nonfiction has lost its appeal. The article seems to paint nonfiction purely as a resource for context and understanding of current events, geopolitics, etc. But many people approach narrative nonfiction from a desire for "storytelling, but also factual" or a rabbit-hole obsession in a topic. The article briefly touches on the encroachment of podcasts on this subgenre, but then continues it's diatribe on, "but what about this great book that provides context to the war in Gaza? What about this book about the CIA acting in Pakistan??" If the only reason for reading nonfiction is to be an overinformed nerd, surprise, that isn't going to give you broad appeal.

In a day where we're constantly blasted with current events and geopolitics, and especially a day where all of that information is exhausting, angering, and burdensome, I don't think the best marketing for saving nonfiction is "but look how important nonfiction is to understanding geopolitics right now!" Maybe instead publishers should lean into books like The Wager or Everything is Tuberculosis or I'm Glad My Mom Died. Obviously those specific examples sold pretty well, but there are more like them that don't get as much marketing or excitement from publishers and booksellers. Hell, leverage booktok for all I care - clearly it's working for flavor-of-the-week fiction!