I Wrote a 64-Page Book in 30 Minutes with AI (FirstBook AI Review)
There's an old saying in business that if you want to be seen as an authority on a subject, you need to write a book about it. But in the age of AI, what does that really mean? Today, I'm testing FirstBook AI, a tool that promises to help you write a complete book in under 24 hours. Currently available as a lifetime deal on AppSumo for $49, this tool raises interesting questions about the future of publishing and authority building.
Plan Details & Pricing [0:28]
FirstBook AI offers three pricing tiers:
- Tier 1 ($49): Write one book
- Tier 2: Multiple books option
- Tier 3 ($259): Write up to 10 books
Each book can include up to 8 main chapters and 24 total chapters. For this review, I opted for the basic tier to test the concept with a single book.
Book Creation Features [0:54]
The tool includes several key features:
- AI-powered outline generation
- Guided writing experience
- Writing coach functionality
- Long-format book writer
- Step-by-step process
- Optional support team assistance
Creating My Book [1:35]
I decided to write about "Digital Maximalism" – a concept challenging the popular notion of digital minimalism. The premise is that instead of avoiding technology, we should embrace its potential to improve our lives while being mindful of harmful applications.
The initial setup process involves answering several questions:
- Book title
- Primary goal (educate, guide, or inspire)
- Target audience
- Brief description
- Key problem or question
- Desired detail level
- Writing style preference
I chose an intermediate detail level and a storytelling writing style, targeting entrepreneurs as the primary audience.
Book Outline Review [4:38]
The AI-generated outline was surprisingly comprehensive. It created a structured approach with eight main chapters, each containing several sub-chapters. The outline addressed various aspects of digital maximalism, including:
- Introduction to the concept
- Evolution of technology in our lives
- Understanding the balance of helpful and harmful technology
- Implementation strategies
- Case studies and examples
Customizing the Outline [6:24]
One limitation I noticed was the basic nature of the outline editor. While you can modify the content, there's no built-in AI assistance for refining or expanding the outline. I ended up using Claude (an external AI) to help enhance the outline, specifically to add a section about maintaining human connections in a digital age.
The process of implementing these changes highlighted the need for better integrated AI assistance during the outline customization phase.
Blueprint vs Full Book [8:01]
FirstBook AI offers two options for book creation:
- Book Blueprint: Provides a detailed chapter-by-chapter roadmap for writing the book yourself
- Full Book: AI writes the complete book based on your inputs
The Blueprint option is ideal for those who want to maintain authenticity while getting a structured foundation. For this review, I chose the Full Book option to test the AI's capabilities.
Book Creation Features [0:54]
Writing Process [10:12]
Before the AI begins writing, you need to provide:
- An intro chapter draft to help establish your writing voice
- Personal anecdotes to be woven throughout the book
This step is crucial for maintaining authenticity and personality in the final product. The interface is minimalist, perhaps too much so, with limited documentation about the process or expected timeframes.
Final Result [11:41]
The AI completed my 64-page book in approximately 30 minutes – significantly faster than the advertised 24-hour timeframe. The output is available in multiple formats:
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Word
The final product showed several promising characteristics:
- Consistent voice throughout
- Integration of provided anecdotes
- Logical flow between chapters
- Comprehensive coverage of the topic
While there were some minor formatting issues (particularly with Markdown syntax), these were easily fixable.
Ethical Considerations [13:19]
The ease of AI book creation raises important ethical questions:
- Should AI-written books be published under human authorship?
- What defines authentic thought leadership?
- How do we balance efficiency with authenticity?
While the tool could be valuable for creating initial drafts or organizing thoughts, publishing a completely AI-generated book without significant human input feels ethically questionable.
Final Thoughts & Rating [14:16]
FirstBook AI earns a 7.3/10 rating. It's a well-implemented tool that delivers on its technical promises, but its existence raises complex moral questions about authorship and authenticity.
Best Use Cases:
- Creating initial book drafts
- Organizing thoughts and ideas
- Understanding book structure
- Getting past writer's block
The $49 lifetime deal could be worthwhile if you:
- Plan to use it as a starting point for genuine authorship
- Need help structuring your thoughts
- Want to understand book organization
However, I wouldn't recommend using it to generate books for immediate publication without significant personal input and refinement.
The tool represents both the potential and the pitfalls of AI in creative processes. While it can be a valuable aid in the writing process, it shouldn't replace the authentic human experience and expertise that makes a book truly valuable.
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