There are seven standard structures for business books, including “Smashing the Paradigm,” “Borrowing from Other Fields,” and “We’ve Got Trouble.” A look at each, with examples from popular books.

Many bestselling business books begin in one of five ways: with a story about the book’s topic, with a story about the author, by demonstrating the situation/phenomenon the book discusses, by explaining necessary background, or with a dictionary definition. A look at each of these five approaches, with examples.