Imo, 99.9% books aren't worth reading. If a book's value can be captured within its cliff notes, then it should have been a long form blog to begin with. Of the 0.1% worth reading, a majority are hard to actually finish. IE. Textbooks. Informative but doesn't become more than the sum of its parts.

This leaves the ones that can be read, and are worth reading. The absolute best. These books have a few common traits.

1. Literary value akin to music. The sheer joy of the act of reading. Pure entertaintment.

2. Philosophy. Everything is philosophy. But good philosophy is felt through a book before it is even stated.

3. Anecdotes that hit beyond standard tropes. Unique anecdotes either in scale, investment or anomalous structure that carry you to the philosophical conclusion.

4. Compression and focus : what not to write and how express it. Often, this is the biggest shortcoming of almost good books written a compilation of great ideas.

I have consistently found these 4 to be the best way to evaluate the value of a book for me. Everything else is secondary.