--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think if you decide that any book is…" description: "\"I think if you decide that any book is about Only One Thing you're probably wrong. Even if that thing is in there.\" — Neil Gaiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/deb/neil-gaiman-29_book_i-think-if-you-decide-that-any-book-is-a_2922230.jpg" --- # I think if you decide that any book is about Only One… ![“I think if you decide that any book is about Only One Thing you're probably wrong. Even if that thing is in there.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/deb/neil-gaiman-29_book_i-think-if-you-decide-that-any-book-is-a_2922230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/deb/neil-gaiman-29_book_i-think-if-you-decide-that-any-book-is-a_2922230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/deb/neil-gaiman-29_book_i-think-if-you-decide-that-any-book-is-a_2922230.jpg) > “I think if you decide that any book is about Only One Thing you're probably wrong. Even if that thing is in there.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A book cannot be reduced to a single theme; it contains multiple layers and ideas. **In simple terms:** Books have many ideas, not just one. Key Takeaway Read for multiple perspectives. Themes literature interpretation complexity Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - reading clubs - academic analysis - creative writing - personal reflection Key Concepts multidimensionality holism Questions to Reflect On - What hidden themes have you missed? - How does focusing on one idea limit understanding? A Different Perspective Focusing on one theme may oversimplify the work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Wrong thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-thing/) ## Related quotes > [“Every Moment of your life is a new Page in your Book. Some Sentences you can’t change, even whole Pages. But you decide how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-eaton/every-moment-of-your-life-is-a-new-page-in-your-book-some-sentences/) John M. Eaton > [If you are pointing out one of the things a story is about, then you are very probably right; if you are pointing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/if-you-are-pointing-out-one-of-the-things-a-story-is-about-then-you/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Something inside of me tells me that being homosexual is probably wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/something-inside-of-me-tells-me-that-being-homosexual-is-probably/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [As much as you think you know me, you're probably wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-much-as-you-think-you-know-me-you-re-probably-wrong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The things which are close to you can leave you sometimes but the BOOK is that thing which is more close to you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhira/the-things-which-are-close-to-you-can-leave-you-sometimes-but-the/) Dhira > [No matter how many compromises were made along the way, no matter what happens in the future, a book is a thing to behold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/no-matter-how-many-compromises-were-made-along-the-way-no-matter-what/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [A book is one kind of an art form and a film is a different art form. I think as a writer you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/a-book-is-one-kind-of-an-art-form-and-a-film-is-a-different-art-form/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [In fiction there can be no appeal to any authority outside the book itself. . . . the thing has to look true, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-lubbock/in-fiction-there-can-be-no-appeal-to-any-authority-outside-the-book/) Percy Lubbock > [Every writer hopes his or her book will be its own thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kostova/every-writer-hopes-his-or-her-book-will-be-its-own-thing/) [Elizabeth Kostova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kostova/) > [I have so little patience with the whole Y.A. book thing. As far as I'm concerned, you either read books for children or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/i-have-so-little-patience-with-the-whole-y-a-book-thing-as-far-as-i-m/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [I never really got the book together for the thing, so I had all the songs and the characters. But by the time we'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-never-really-got-the-book-together-for-the-thing-so-i-had-all-the/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“A great book is a thing of mystery and beauty; it has the power to move you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-leckman/a-great-book-is-a-thing-of-mystery-and-beauty-it-has-the-power-to/) [Neil Leckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-leckman/) > [ “Yes, something \[book\] to transport your mind from where and who and what you are. Everyone needs that. A time or two in my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/yes-something-book-to-transport-your-mind-from-where-and-who-and-what/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I got my iPad, and I'm trying to buy books on that, but I kind of like a book. At the end of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-got-my-ipad-and-i-m-trying-to-buy-books-on-that-but-i-kind-of-like/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [You did the wrong thing, to the right girl...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-did-the-wrong-thing-to-the-right-girl/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think if you decide that any book is about Only One Thing you're probably wrong. 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