How to Publish Thesis as a Book

In most cases, you will need to do significant restructuring and rewriting to make your thesis readable and interesting to a general or academic audience. Here is a step-by-step guide to convert your thesis to a book:

Revising and Restructuring Your Thesis:

A thesis is written for an academic audience with a narrow focus and formal tone. To appeal to wider readerships, elaborate on key concepts, clarify jargon and include lively anecdotes or case studies (Germano, 2014; Rane et al., 2024). For instance, eliminate excessive specificity or redundancy, rearrange chapters to improve flow, and reword sections to make the book more accessible and engaging. 

Identifying Your Target Audience:

Your thesis may have been directed at other academics, but your book might attract students, professionals, or the general public. Knowing your audience influences the tone, depth, and style, academic readers may require technical language, while a general audience benefits from simplified concepts and storytelling.

Choosing the Right Publisher:

If your book is targeted toward scholars and researchers, you can publish the book through a reputed academic publisher, like Routledge or Springer. If you’re aiming for a general readership, trade publishers would be a better fit. Given this, take notice of whether the publisher is well-aligned with your goals and has a convenient distribution channel for your book to reach the community you want to address.

Negotiating a Publishing Contract:

Once a publisher shows interest, you’ll get a contract detailing terms like royalties, advances and rights. Read carefully the clauses on copyright, distribution, and revisions. Negotiate for terms conducive to you, including higher royalties or freedom to control the book’s look and marketing.

Editing and Proofreading:

Editing turns your thesis into a book (Murray, 2017; Rane et al., 2024). Developmental editing enhances the structure and content, copyediting polishes grammar and style, and proofreading corrects final errors. Professional editing enhances quality and boosts publication success.

Designing the Book:

Your book's design, including the cover and layout, is key to attracting readers. Collaborate with your publisher’s design team or hire a professional if self-publishing to ensure a visually appealing, readable, and marketable book.

Marketing and Promotion:

Marketing is essential for reaching your audience and getting sales. Collaborate with your publisher on a plan that includes social media, book launches, interviews, etc. Establish a web presence with a website or blog, connect with readers on social media and at industry conferences. Great marketing propels your book in terms of visibility and success.

Distribution and Sales:

Distribution translates into attracting readers for your book. Publishers distribute it through bookstores, online retailers, libraries. Self-publishers often use platforms like Amazon or IngramSpark. Offer print and digital formats for wider access. Track sales and feedback to improve future projects.

 

Top 10 Thesis to Book Publishers

Following are the ten reputed publishers known for converting theses into books, each offering unique benefits and focusing on different academic disciplines:

Cambridge University Press:

A prestigious academic publisher, Cambridge University Press is renowned for its scholarly works. They are interested in converting high-quality theses into books, particularly those that advance a field or fill a significant gap in the literature. Cambridge provides a rigorous peer review process and has a wide distribution network, ensuring academic works receive substantial visibility.

Oxford University Press (OUP):

Known for its rigorous selection process and high editorial standards, OUP publishes across a wide range of subjects. They focus on works that contribute to ongoing scholarly conversations at a high level of scholarship. Publishing with OUP can greatly enhance a scholar's profile in their field due to the press's esteemed reputation and global reach.

Palgrave Macmillan:

Specializing in the humanities and social sciences, Palgrave Macmillan is well-regarded for its approach to turning theses into books that are accessible to a broader academic audience. They offer a responsive editorial team and provide extensive guidance on revising a thesis into a monograph that meets the expectations of the global market.

Routledge:

As part of the Taylor & Francis Group, Routledge publishes books in a broad array of disciplines. They are particularly interested in theses that can be revised into books aimed at scholars and higher education students. Routledge assists authors in reshaping their detailed research into more broadly applicable and marketable books.

Springer:

This publisher is prominent in the fields of science, technology, and medicine, and is also expanding into the social sciences. Springer is known for its efficient publishing process and strong support for open access books, making it an attractive option for authors wishing to reach a large audience quickly.

Brill:

Focusing on the humanities and social sciences, Brill is known for its books on critical subjects and niche areas. They support authors through a meticulous editorial process and specialize in extensive scholarly works, often converting detailed theses into comprehensive academic books.

University of Chicago Press:

Highly respected in the academic community, this press publishes works across a wide range of disciplines. They are particularly noted for their contributions to the humanities and social sciences. The University of Chicago Press is recognized for its editorial excellence and commitment to transforming theses into influential academic books.

Duke University Press:

Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach, Duke University Press is particularly receptive to theses that push the boundaries of traditional disciplines. They specialize in the humanities and social sciences and are a good fit for works that challenge conventional wisdom.

MIT Press:

Focusing on science, technology, and architecture, MIT Press is renowned for publishing works that make complex topics accessible and engaging. They are particularly interested in theses that have the potential to influence not only academics but also practitioners in relevant fields.

Bloomsbury Academic:

With a strong focus on the humanities and social sciences, Bloomsbury Academic values works that blend research with creativity. They are open to experimental formats and interdisciplinary studies, making them a fitting choice for theses that are visually oriented or that incorporate diverse media.

 

To explore more, see How to Get Citations for Your Open-Access Book

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I turn my thesis into a book?

Yes, many authors successfully convert their theses into books, but they undergo significant editing to make them more accessible to a broader audience. Academic theses tend to be dense for the general reader, so restructuring and rewrites are needed.

Can I publish my thesis as an open-access book?

Yes! Some publishers (like Springer and MIT Press) offer open-access options so that your book is available to wider audience for free while maintaining academic credibility.

What are the key steps to turn my thesis into a book?

Revise content, define your audience, choose a publisher, edit, design, market, and distribute.

How should I revise my thesis?

Simplify language, restructure chapters, remove redundancy, and add case studies.

Who is my target audience?

Academics, students, professionals, or general readers, adjust style accordingly.

What should I check in a publishing contract?

Royalties, copyright, distribution, and revision rights—negotiate favourable terms.

How should I design my book?

A compelling cover and well-structured layout attract more readers.

How do I market my book?

Use social media, book launches, author websites, and industry conferences.

Should I self-publish or go traditional?

Traditional offers prestige and distribution, while self-publishing gives control.

 

References

Germano, W. (2014). From dissertation to book. University of Chicago Press.

Murray, R. (2017). Ebook: How to write a thesis. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).

Rane, N. L., Choudhary, S., & Rane, J. (2024). How to Publish Academic Books: A Guide to Publishing Monographs, Edited Volumes, Textbooks, and Theses. Deep Science Publishing.