Introduction to a Non-fiction book - What to include?

I don't know that there's a "right" answer for your questions Levi. In my mind, an introduction gives the author a chance to address the reader directly, in a less formal manner. It can be used to give the reader a "peek behind the scenes" at how the book came to be. You could explain how you became interested in the subject and the type of research you did - sort of laying out the background for what's to come.

I don't know if you've found a publisher yet but if/when you do, the editor assigned to you will help you flesh it out if need be.

Good luck.

Introduction to a Non-Fiction book - What to include

Where do you put the introduction? Does it go behind the table of contents or ahead of it? Where does the page numbering start? In reviewing books, it seems like there is no positive standard, thus some confusion exists. Thanks for any reply.

Re introductions, if they're functioning as prefaces they might be page-numbered with small Roman numerals; otherwise I think they begin on page 1. (On the other hand, my experience has been that publishers want the ms. submitted without page numbers, which solves the problem neatly unless you're self-publishing, in which case you can number the pages as you like.)

Sometimes a preface explains the history of the book, while the introduction consists of a superficial (in a good sense) review of the contents, and/or to provide any background info readers will need that won't be explored significantly in the text. If your agent or editor thinks what you've labeled an introduction should be called/used as something else, they'll let you know.

Put the book together the way you think it ought to be. You yourself will revise when you've got a completed draft to look at, and the editor will probably make suggestions too.

Hang in there!

Ashleen