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Book Index Examples

Explore real examples of professional book indexes across different genres. Learn what makes a great index and discover best practices from published works.

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5 Genres
Real examples
6,000+
Sample entries
Pro Tips
Best practices

Professional Index Examples

Real examples from published books showing best practices in action

Non-Fiction Business Book

"The Digital Transformation Handbook"

324 pages
1,247 entries

Business strategy book covering digital transformation, technology adoption, and organizational change.

Sample Index Entries:

Agile methodology, 45-52, 89-94, 156-160
Cloud computing → see also SaaS, Infrastructure
adoption strategies, 67-72
cost considerations, 73-78
security implications, 234-240
Digital leadership, 23-28, 145-151
Employee training → see Learning and development
Innovation culture, 178-185
barriers to, 186-189
fostering, 190-196
ROI measurement, 267-275
Technology stack, 89-96, 234-241

Key Features:

  • Extensive cross-referencing between related concepts
  • Sub-entries organized logically by subtopic
  • See also references link related terms
  • Page ranges for extended discussions

Academic History Book

"Medieval Trade Routes: Commerce and Culture"

456 pages
1,893 entries

Scholarly work examining trade relationships between medieval European and Asian civilizations.

Sample Index Entries:

Byzantium, 45-67, 123-145, 234-256
trade agreements, 78-82
cultural exchange, 156-162
Silk Road, 23-45, 89-112, 178-201
northern route, 67-73
southern route, 74-81
Marco Polo's journey, 145-151
Spice trade, 201-234
cinnamon, 205-208
pepper, 208-215
saffron, 215-220
Venice, 134-167, 256-278
Doge's Palace, 145-148
merchant families, 189-195

Key Features:

  • Comprehensive coverage of people, places, and concepts
  • Hierarchical organization of related subtopics
  • Specific page references for key discussions
  • Cross-cultural terminology properly indexed

Technical Programming Guide

"Modern JavaScript Development"

278 pages
892 entries

Comprehensive guide to JavaScript frameworks, tools, and best practices for web development.

Sample Index Entries:

API design, 123-134
RESTful principles, 125-128
GraphQL implementation, 129-134
Async/await syntax, 67-73, 145-151
Components → see React components, Vue components
Debugging tools, 189-201
browser DevTools, 190-194
Node.js debugging, 195-201
ES6 features, 23-45
arrow functions, 28-31
destructuring, 32-37
template literals, 38-42
Testing frameworks, 234-267
Jest, 236-248
Cypress, 249-256

Key Features:

  • Code-specific terminology and syntax references
  • Grouped related programming concepts
  • Tool and framework comparisons indexed
  • Version-specific feature documentation

Fiction Novel

"The Clockmaker's Daughter"

412 pages
347 entries

Historical fiction novel spanning multiple time periods with complex character relationships.

Sample Index Entries:

Characters:
Adelaide Hartwell, 23-45, 67-89, 134-156
Benjamin Clockworth, 12-34, 78-101, 201-234
Eleanor Fitzgerald, 56-78, 123-145, 267-289
Locations:
Blackwood Manor, 34-67, 145-178
the tower room, 45-48, 156-160
hidden passages, 67-71, 234-238
Victorian London, 89-123, 201-245
Themes:
Family secrets, 23-28, 134-140, 267-275
Time and memory, 45-52, 178-185
Love and loss, 78-85, 201-208, 245-252

Key Features:

  • Character-focused organization for easy reference
  • Location indexing with specific areas detailed
  • Thematic concepts indexed for literary analysis
  • Selective indexing focusing on significant mentions

Cookbook

"Mediterranean Flavors: A Culinary Journey"

298 pages
1,156 entries

Collection of Mediterranean recipes with cultural context and cooking techniques.

Sample Index Entries:

Ingredients:
Olive oil, extra virgin, 23-28, 45-67, 134-156
Tomatoes, 34-41, 78-92, 201-215
Roma tomatoes, 36-38, 205-207
San Marzano, 39-41, 208-210
Techniques:
Braising, 67-72, 145-150
Grilling vegetables, 89-94, 178-183
Pasta making, 123-134
hand-rolled, 125-128
machine method, 129-132
Recipes by region:
Greek dishes, 45-89
Italian classics, 90-156
Spanish tapas, 157-201

Key Features:

  • Ingredient-focused indexing with varieties
  • Cooking technique cross-references
  • Regional cuisine organization
  • Recipe difficulty and timing indexed

Key Indexing Principles

Universal principles that make indexes useful and professional

Comprehensive Coverage

Index all significant concepts, not just keywords

Example:

Index 'leadership styles' not just 'leadership'

Why Important:

Readers need specific, actionable entries

Logical Organization

Group related concepts under main headings

Example:

Group 'JavaScript → ES6 features → arrow functions' hierarchically

Why Important:

Creates intuitive navigation paths

Cross-Referencing

Connect related terms with see/see also references

Example:

'API → see also REST, GraphQL, Web services'

Why Important:

Helps readers discover related information

Consistent Terminology

Use the same term form throughout the index

Example:

Use either 'e-commerce' or 'ecommerce', not both

Why Important:

Prevents confusion and missed references

Reader-Focused

Think like your target audience when selecting terms

Example:

Include both 'machine learning' and 'AI' if readers use both

Why Important:

Matches how readers actually search

Quality Indicators

How to recognize and create high-quality professional indexes

Entry Density

Typically 3-5 index entries per page of content

✓ Good Example:

300-page book with 900-1500 entries

✗ Poor Example:

300-page book with only 200 entries

Impact:

Comprehensive coverage vs. gaps in findability

Cross-Reference Ratio

10-15% of entries should have cross-references

✓ Good Example:

100 main entries with 10-15 see/see also references

✗ Poor Example:

Index with no cross-references between related terms

Impact:

Connected knowledge vs. isolated entries

Sub-Entry Organization

Complex topics broken into logical sub-categories

✓ Good Example:

Marketing → digital marketing, content marketing, social media

✗ Poor Example:

Marketing, 23-156 (large page range without subdivision)

Impact:

Specific findability vs. overwhelming page lists

Page Reference Accuracy

All page numbers verified and accurate

✓ Good Example:

Terms link to actual discussions, not passing mentions

✗ Poor Example:

Page references that don't contain meaningful content

Impact:

User trust vs. frustration and abandonment

Before & After: Index Transformation

See the difference between amateur and professional indexing approaches

Poor Index Example

Business, 23-156
Marketing, 45-89, 134-201
Sales, 67-123
Strategy, 89-167
Technology, 12-234

Issues:

  • ✗Overly broad terms
  • ✗Large page ranges without subdivision
  • ✗No cross-references
  • ✗Missing specific concepts
  • ✗Unhelpful for readers

Professional Index Example

Business models
B2B strategies, 45-52
B2C approaches, 53-61
subscription models, 62-67
Digital marketing → see also Social media, SEO
content strategy, 78-85
email campaigns, 86-92
analytics and metrics, 93-98
Sales funnel optimization, 134-142
conversion rates, 136-139
A/B testing, 140-142

Benefits:

  • ✓Specific, actionable entries
  • ✓Logical sub-organization
  • ✓Helpful cross-references
  • ✓Manageable page ranges
  • ✓Reader-focused terminology

Genre-Specific Indexing

Different book types require different indexing approaches and focus areas

Academic Books

Focus Areas:

Authors and researchersTheoretical conceptsMethodologiesCase studiesStatistical data

Example Entry:

Qualitative research → phenomenology, 45-52; grounded theory, 53-61

Pro Tips:

  • Index all cited authors
  • Include methodology variations
  • Cross-reference related theories

Business Books

Focus Areas:

Strategies and frameworksCase studiesIndustry examplesMetrics and KPIsTools and software

Example Entry:

SWOT analysis, 78-85; see also Strategic planning, Competitive analysis

Pro Tips:

  • Focus on actionable concepts
  • Index company examples
  • Include framework components

Technical Books

Focus Areas:

Procedures and processesCode examplesTools and softwareError troubleshootingBest practices

Example Entry:

Error handling → try-catch blocks, 123-128; async errors, 129-134

Pro Tips:

  • Index error types and solutions
  • Include version-specific features
  • Cross-reference related functions

Fiction Books

Focus Areas:

Main charactersSignificant locationsPlot themesRecurring symbolsHistorical references

Example Entry:

Themes → redemption, 45-52, 134-140; family loyalty, 67-73, 201-208

Pro Tips:

  • Be selective - don't over-index
  • Focus on analysis-worthy elements
  • Include character relationships

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