Perhaps the men are all reading history, science and other serious nonfiction, in preference to made-up stories.

Small publishers, who are trying desperately to gain their share of attention for literary fiction and serious nonfiction, also have doubts.

Some in the literary world say the trend is debasing serious nonfiction.

Nonetheless, when it comes to serious nonfiction, that principle of saying something generally holds.

It was one of the best-known imprints specializing in serious nonfiction.

In 1985, Morris received what was at the time the biggest advance ever paid for a work of serious nonfiction: $3 million.

The unreliable narrator is a technique not found often in serious nonfiction.

But what has been virtually ignored - thank God - is updated, serious nonfiction.

And we'd find it difficult to publish serious nonfiction without that market.

The same is true for first novels, poetry, biographies and serious nonfiction.