Is there any advantage in writing a book like talking with the reader?

[CheertheSecond]

I saw quite a few books using this.

The main writer refers to themselves as "I", the reader as "you" and to both of them as "us".

The narration style overall feels like a story-telling book despite the book's subject being non-personal such as Einstein's general relativity or human anatomy. Is this narration style advantageous or it's just a writing style?

 

[Tempokai]

For a fictional story, no. For "educational purposes" 100%. I do it every time. You can do it if you want to make some "metafictional" story, but I don't recommend that, because it's inherently cringe.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

In first person narratives I'll sometimes do this - occasionally Kelly/Sparrow addresses the reader in Strange Awakening, and Jack Diamond knows he has an audience, even if he doesn't always "include them" - and in True Blue, The "between stories" narrator is having a conversation with the reader (but only between stories, not IN them).

 

[Anonjohn20]

The main writer refers to themselves as "I", the reader as "you" and to both of them as "us".

"The Screwtape Letters" was written like this. It's a fun read from the same guy who wrote "Narnia."

 

[Representing_Tromba]

"The Screwtape Letters" was written like this. It's a fun read from the same guy who wrote "Narnia."

That is a great one. Highly recommend!

A few classic Greek travelogues were written like this as well.

 

[zephyrtrillian]

I mean, it seems like a unique way to write a story. That might be worth it, just to flex your writing muscles in a new direction or to set yourself apart. But I feel like you should choose the way you write your story based on how it would be best told, you know what I mean? So if your story doesn't benefit from using that perspective, why use it?

 

[Clo]

One of my favourite movie, Kuffs with Christian Slater, does it all the time. And I love it.

Fate Weaver's Legacy, the protagonist Nana talks to the people watching her stream (even though she's Isekai'd), so we get an externalised You that also works very well for the reader.

I sometimes accidentally have my narrator use "you", but I try to rephrase those during edits. But that's just because I am picky about my narrator's voice.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Read anything by Soramimi Hanarejima, and it will all make sense.

Amazon.com

 

[CheertheSecond]

I think everyone is digressing. I am not talking about writing stories. I am talking about scientific books that are written this way.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I think everyone is digressing. I am not talking about writing stories. I am talking about scientific books that are written this way.

You really didn't explain in your original post that you were referring to scientific books. You simply brought up a scientific book as an example.
So you want to know if there is an advantage to writing a book of science, technology, etc., that incorporates a narration feel.
Absolutely, there's an advantage, especially if your audience is younger adult or even children. I read countless books in my day where the science was fed to us with narration, and it made me feel good knowing that someone, even if an invisible narrator, was explaining to me alone.
These books have a high efficiency of teaching and instruction.
So yes, there's a great advantage if you want to teach younger minds.

 

[lambenttyto]

I saw quite a few books using this.

It's an older style where the narrator breaks the fourth wall and addresses the reader directly. I love this, and some people calling it cringe, I would say they haven't read the right books where this narrative style is utilized correctly.

If you're interested in this, I would suggest reading old fairy tales. The narrator coming out and addressing the reader directly is generally used sparingly, but the overall story telling nature can be very personal. How we, take note that it distances the reader from the events of the story and focuses on the narrator. You'll want to practice to hone this style of narrative storytelling for sure.

I'm planning on writing some stories like this very soon.