book-idea-validator — Claude Code skill: test a book idea
Stress-tests a nonfiction book concept against existing research. Tells you whether the thesis holds up before you write.
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill book-idea-validator -a claude-codeWhat book-idea-validator does
This skill takes a Book Concept Document from book-ideation and breaks it into individual claims. First it checks the eight elements are present: reader, transformation, core thesis, author angle, stakes, key concepts, enemy, promise. Miss one and it sends you back to fix the concept.
Work then runs in phases. Claims get extracted and confirmed, then a landscape scan maps who already covers this ground and where the gaps sit. For claims the scan can't settle, the skill writes research prompts you run yourself in Claude, Gemini or another tool, then bring the findings back. The last phase produces a Validation Report that rates each claim and lands on Go, Revise or Kill.
Along the way it maintains a Master Claim List, Landscape Scan Notes, Deep Research Log, competitor title analysis and a Decision Log. Templates for each live in assets/templates/. Nonfiction only. Expect pushback rather than flattery — Claude argues its case, but nothing moves forward without your approval.
What it helps with
- check whether your thesis survives contact with published work
- find gaps in the topic before outlining chapters
- build a list of claims the manuscript has to defend
- work out how your book differs from adjacent titles
- decide to kill the project while that's still cheap
Example prompts for the agent
- Here's my Book Concept Document — check whether all eight elements are there
- Pull the core claims out of this concept and show me which ones are weak
- Draft deep research prompts for the third claim
How to install book-idea-validator
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill book-idea-validator -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/book-idea-validator/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/book-idea-validator/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill book-idea-validator -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/book-idea-validator/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill book-idea-validator -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/book-idea-validator/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install robertguss/claude-code-toolkit book-idea-validator2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/book-idea-validator/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill book-idea-validator -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --path skills/non-fiction-book-factory/book-idea-validatorManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/book-idea-validator/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill book-idea-validator -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about book-idea-validator
How do I install book-idea-validator in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add robertguss/claude-code-toolkit --skill book-idea-validator -a claude-code. The skill lands in ~/.claude/skills/book-idea-validator/SKILL.md.
What does book-idea-validator do?
It splits a nonfiction book concept into claims, checks them against existing research, and returns a Validation Report recommending Go, Revise or Kill.
How does the research side work?
Two layers. Claude scans the landscape first; deeper research is yours to run with the prompts the skill prepares, and you bring the findings back for analysis.
