Books open doors to new ideas, stories, and facts. But writers and publishers need to protect themselves too. That’s where book disclaimers come in – those small bits of text at the start of a book that set clear rules about how the book should be used.
Maybe you’re writing your first book, or perhaps you’ve written many but never felt sure about your disclaimer. You want something that keeps you safe without scaring your readers away. Good news – you don’t need fancy legal talk to create a solid disclaimer.
We’ve put together 15 sample disclaimers that you can use right away or change to fit your needs. Each one is written in plain English that both you and your readers will understand.
Book Disclaimer Samples
Here are fifteen disclaimer samples for different types of books. Feel free to use these as starting points for your own book project.
1. Fiction Novel Disclaimer
“This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are either products of the author’s mind or are used in a made-up way. Any likeness to real people, living or dead, or actual events is totally by chance.”
This basic fiction disclaimer makes it clear that your story isn’t about real people or events. It helps protect you from claims that you based characters on real individuals. This works best for novels, short stories, and other made-up tales.
2. Memoir With Changed Names
“This book tells true stories from my life. To protect privacy, I’ve changed some names and details about people and places. While the events happened as I describe them, certain facts have been altered.”
For life stories where you want to tell the truth but also keep some people private, this disclaimer works well. It lets readers know that while the main story is true, you’ve made small changes to protect others. Perfect for memoirs and personal stories.
3. Self-Help Book Disclaimer
“This book gives tips based on my own study and life. It is not meant to replace advice from doctors, therapists, or other experts. Please talk to the right professionals before making big changes to your health, money, or life plans.”
This keeps you safe when giving advice that might affect someone’s health or life choices. It shows you care about readers but know your limits. Use this for books about mental health, fitness, money, or personal growth.
4. Cookbook Safety Notice
“The recipes in this book have been tested in my kitchen but results may be different in yours. Always check that food is fully cooked and safe to eat. People with food allergies should read all ingredient lists with care.”
Food can be tricky with allergies and safety concerns. This disclaimer reminds cooks to use good sense and be careful with the recipes. Great for cookbooks, food blogs turned into books, or any text with recipes.
5. History Book Accuracy Statement
“I have tried my best to get the facts right in this book. I used many trusted sources in my research. Still, our understanding of history keeps changing as we find new facts. Any mistakes are my own.”
For non-fiction history books, this shows you did your homework while admitting that no history book can be 100% perfect. It shows honesty and care for facts, which builds trust with readers of history and other fact-based books.
6. Religious or Spiritual Book Disclaimer
“The ideas in this book come from my own spiritual path and study. They are not meant to replace your own beliefs or the teachings of your faith group. Please use what helps you and set aside what doesn’t match your own spiritual journey.”
This gentle disclaimer respects that spiritual beliefs are very personal. It helps avoid conflict with readers who might have different views. Works well for books about faith, spirituality, and personal religious experiences.
7. Investment Guide Warning
“This book shares ideas about money and investing based on what worked at the time of writing. Markets change fast, and what worked yesterday might not work today. This is not personal financial advice. Please talk to a money expert before making any investment choices.”
Money advice can be risky to give. This disclaimer makes it clear that markets change and that you’re not promising results. Essential for any book dealing with stocks, real estate, cryptocurrency, or other investments.
8. Medicine and Health Book Notice
“The health tips in this book are for information only. They are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any health problem. Always talk to your doctor before trying new health plans, taking supplements, or changing your care plan.”
Health advice needs special care. This disclaimer helps keep readers safe and protects you from claims about medical advice. Use this for books about health, wellness, natural remedies, or medical topics aimed at regular readers.
9. Children’s Book Parent Advisory
“This book was written for children ages 8-12. Some younger children might need a grown-up to help them with certain ideas or words. Parents and caregivers should review this book first if they have concerns about the content.”
Kids’ books need age-appropriate content, but not all kids are the same. This disclaimer puts parents in control and shows you care about matching the right book to the right child. Great for middle-grade books or those with slightly harder topics.
10. Academic Book Citation Notice
“I have tried to properly credit all sources used in this work. If any credit is missing, please let the publisher know so it can be fixed in future printings. This book may be quoted in academic papers with proper citation.”
This disclaimer shows respect for other scholars’ work while protecting your own. It also gives clear permission for academic use. Perfect for textbooks, research books, and other works meant for students and teachers.
11. Travel Guide Time Sensitivity
“The information in this travel guide was correct at the time of writing. However, businesses close, prices change, and attractions may alter their hours. Please check current details before making travel plans based on this book.”
Travel information gets outdated fast. This disclaimer manages reader expectations and prevents disappointment when they find that cute café you mentioned closed last year. Essential for all travel guides and books.
12. Photography Book Copyright Notice
“All photographs in this book are copyrighted by the author unless stated otherwise. No images may be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without written permission from the copyright holder.”
Visual books need special protection. This disclaimer sets clear rules about using your photos or artwork. Use this for photography books, art books, and illustrated works where images are a main selling point.
13. Political Opinion Book Fairness Statement
“The views in this book are my own and do not speak for any group or organization I may be linked to. I have tried to be fair in my analysis, but all writers have their own viewpoints that shape their work.”
Politics can be touchy. This disclaimer shows honesty about having opinions while trying to be fair. It also keeps your views separate from any groups you belong to. Good for political analysis, commentary, and opinion books.
14. Craft or DIY Book Safety Warning
“Some projects in this book use tools that can be dangerous if used wrongly. Always follow safety rules, wear proper safety gear, and work in a safe space. Children should only do these projects with adult help and watching.”
DIY books can lead to hands-on activities with real safety risks. This disclaimer stresses the need for care and proper supervision. Important for craft books, woodworking guides, home improvement manuals, and other how-to books.
15. General All-Purpose Book Disclaimer
“This book is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not giving legal, financial, or other professional advice. If expert help is needed, please use the services of a qualified professional. Any use of this book’s information is at the reader’s own risk.”
When you’re not sure what disclaimer you need, this covers the basics. It works for most non-fiction books where you share knowledge but don’t want to be seen as an expert giving personal advice. A good catch-all for many types of books.
Wrapping Up
A good book disclaimer doesn’t need to be filled with legal words that make readers’ eyes glaze over. As you’ve seen from these samples, simple and clear language works just fine to protect your work and set the right expectations with your readers.
The best disclaimer for your book will depend on what kind of book you’re writing and what risks you need to address. Feel free to mix parts from different samples above to create something that fits your exact needs.
Before you publish, it might still be worth having a quick chat with a publishing expert or lawyer who knows about books. They can help make sure your disclaimer covers everything it should for your specific situation.