diff --git a/ara/api/serializers.py b/ara/api/serializers.py
index d7d0f815..015f0af0 100644
--- a/ara/api/serializers.py
+++ b/ara/api/serializers.py
@@ -21,13 +21,10 @@ from ara.api import fields as ara_fields, models
 
 
 class DurationSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
-    """
-    Serializer for duration-based fields
-    """
-
     class Meta:
         abstract = True
 
+    # For objects that occur over a period of time
     duration = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -37,35 +34,358 @@ class DurationSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
         return obj.ended - obj.started
 
 
-class FileSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+class ItemCountSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     class Meta:
-        model = models.File
-        fields = "__all__"
+        abstract = True
 
+    # For counting relationships to other objects
+    items = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_items(obj):
+        types = ["plays", "tasks", "results", "hosts", "files", "records"]
+        items = {item: getattr(obj, item).count() for item in types if hasattr(obj, item)}
+        return items
+
+
+class FileSha1Serializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        abstract = True
+
+    # For retrieving the sha1 of a file's contents
     sha1 = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
-    content = ara_fields.FileContentField()
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_sha1(obj):
         return obj.content.sha1
 
-    def get_unique_together_validators(self):
-        """
-        Files have a "unique together" constraint for file.path and playbook.id.
-        We want to have a "get_or_create" facility and in order to do that, we
-        must manage the validation during the creation, not before.
-        Overriding this method effectively disables this validator.
-        """
-        return []
+
+#######
+# Simple serializers provide lightweight representations of objects without
+# nested or large fields.
+#######
+
+
+class SimpleLabelSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Label
+        exclude = ("description", "created", "updated")
+
+
+class SimplePlaybookSerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Playbook
+        exclude = ("arguments", "labels", "ansible_version", "created", "updated")
+
+
+class SimplePlaySerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Play
+        exclude = ("uuid", "created", "updated")
+
+
+class SimpleTaskSerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Task
+        exclude = ("tags", "created", "updated")
+
+
+class SimpleResultSerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Result
+        exclude = ("content", "created", "updated")
+
+
+class SimpleHostSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Host
+        exclude = ("facts", "created", "updated")
+
+
+class SimpleFileSerializer(FileSha1Serializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.File
+        exclude = ("content", "created", "updated")
+
+
+class SimpleRecordSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Record
+        exclude = ("value", "created", "updated")
+
+
+#######
+# Nested serializers returns optimized data within the context of another object.
+# For example: when retrieving a playbook, we'll already have the playbook id
+# so it is not necessary to include it in nested objects.
+#######
+
+
+class NestedPlaybookFileSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.File
+        exclude = ("content", "created", "updated", "playbook")
+
+
+class NestedPlaybookHostSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Host
+        fields = ("id", "name", "alias")
+
+
+class NestedPlaybookResultSerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Result
+        exclude = ("content", "created", "updated", "playbook", "play", "task")
+
+    host = NestedPlaybookHostSerializer(read_only=True)
+
+
+class NestedPlaybookTaskSerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Task
+        exclude = ("playbook", "created", "updated")
+
+    tags = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(read_only=True)
+    results = NestedPlaybookResultSerializer(read_only=True, many=True)
+    file = NestedPlaybookFileSerializer(read_only=True)
+
+
+class NestedPlaybookRecordSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Record
+        exclude = ("playbook", "value", "created", "updated")
+
+
+class NestedPlaybookPlaySerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Play
+        exclude = ("playbook", "uuid", "created", "updated")
+
+    tasks = NestedPlaybookTaskSerializer(read_only=True, many=True)
+
+
+class NestedPlayTaskSerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Task
+        exclude = ("playbook", "play", "created", "updated")
+
+    tags = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(read_only=True)
+    results = NestedPlaybookResultSerializer(read_only=True, many=True)
+    file = NestedPlaybookFileSerializer(read_only=True)
+
+
+#######
+# Detailed serializers returns every field of an object as well as a simple
+# representation of relationships to other objects.
+#######
+
+
+class DetailedLabelSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Label
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    description = ara_fields.CompressedTextField(read_only=True)
+
+
+class DetailedPlaybookSerializer(DurationSerializer, ItemCountSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Playbook
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    arguments = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(default=ara_fields.EMPTY_DICT, read_only=True)
+    labels = SimpleLabelSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
+    plays = NestedPlaybookPlaySerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
+    hosts = SimpleHostSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
+    files = SimpleFileSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
+    records = NestedPlaybookRecordSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
+
+
+class DetailedPlaySerializer(DurationSerializer, ItemCountSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Play
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    playbook = SimplePlaybookSerializer(read_only=True)
+    tasks = NestedPlayTaskSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
+
+
+class DetailedTaskSerializer(DurationSerializer, ItemCountSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Task
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    playbook = SimplePlaybookSerializer(read_only=True)
+    play = SimplePlaySerializer(read_only=True)
+    file = SimpleFileSerializer(read_only=True)
+    results = NestedPlaybookResultSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
+    tags = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(read_only=True)
+
+
+class DetailedHostSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Host
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    playbook = SimplePlaybookSerializer(read_only=True)
+    facts = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(read_only=True)
+
+
+class DetailedResultSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Result
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    playbook = SimplePlaybookSerializer(read_only=True)
+    play = SimplePlaySerializer(read_only=True)
+    task = SimpleTaskSerializer(read_only=True)
+    host = SimpleHostSerializer(read_only=True)
+    content = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(read_only=True)
+
+
+class DetailedFileSerializer(FileSha1Serializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.File
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    playbook = SimplePlaybookSerializer(read_only=True)
+    content = ara_fields.FileContentField(read_only=True)
+
+
+class DetailedRecordSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Record
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    playbook = SimplePlaybookSerializer(read_only=True)
+    value = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(read_only=True)
+
+
+#######
+# List serializers returns lightweight fields about objects.
+# Relationships are represented by numerical IDs.
+#######
+
+
+class ListLabelSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Label
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    description = ara_fields.CompressedTextField(
+        default=ara_fields.EMPTY_STRING, help_text="A text description of the label"
+    )
+
+
+class ListPlaybookSerializer(DurationSerializer, ItemCountSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Playbook
+        exclude = ("arguments", "created", "updated")
+
+    labels = SimpleLabelSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
+
+
+class ListPlaySerializer(DurationSerializer, ItemCountSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Play
+        exclude = ("created", "updated")
+
+    playbook = serializers.PrimaryKeyRelatedField(read_only=True)
+
+
+class ListTaskSerializer(DurationSerializer, ItemCountSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Task
+        exclude = ("created", "updated")
+
+    tags = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(read_only=True)
+    play = serializers.PrimaryKeyRelatedField(read_only=True)
+
+
+class ListHostSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Host
+        exclude = ("facts", "created", "updated")
+
+    playbook = serializers.PrimaryKeyRelatedField(read_only=True)
+
+
+class ListResultSerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Result
+        exclude = ("content", "created", "updated")
+
+    playbook = serializers.PrimaryKeyRelatedField(read_only=True)
+    play = serializers.PrimaryKeyRelatedField(read_only=True)
+    task = serializers.PrimaryKeyRelatedField(read_only=True)
+    host = serializers.PrimaryKeyRelatedField(read_only=True)
+
+
+class ListFileSerializer(FileSha1Serializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.File
+        exclude = ("content", "created", "updated")
+
+    playbook = serializers.PrimaryKeyRelatedField(read_only=True)
+
+
+class ListRecordSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Record
+        exclude = ("value", "created", "updated")
+
+    playbook = serializers.PrimaryKeyRelatedField(read_only=True)
+
+
+#######
+# Default serializers represents objects as they are modelized in the database.
+# They are used for creating/updating/destroying objects.
+#######
+
+
+class LabelSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Label
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    description = ara_fields.CompressedTextField(
+        default=ara_fields.EMPTY_STRING, help_text="A text description of the label"
+    )
+
+
+class PlaybookSerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Playbook
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    arguments = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(default=ara_fields.EMPTY_DICT)
+    labels = LabelSerializer(many=True, default=[])
 
     def create(self, validated_data):
-        file_, created = models.File.objects.get_or_create(
-            path=validated_data["path"],
-            content=validated_data["content"],
-            playbook=validated_data["playbook"],
-            defaults=validated_data,
-        )
-        return file_
+        # First create the playbook without the labels
+        labels = validated_data.pop("labels")
+        playbook = models.Playbook.objects.create(**validated_data)
+
+        # Now associate the labels to the playbook
+        for label in labels:
+            playbook.labels.add(models.Label.objects.create(**label))
+
+        return playbook
+
+
+class PlaySerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Play
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+
+class TaskSerializer(DurationSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = models.Task
+        fields = "__all__"
+
+    tags = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(default=ara_fields.EMPTY_LIST, help_text="A list containing Ansible tags")
 
 
 class HostSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
@@ -99,28 +419,30 @@ class ResultSerializer(DurationSerializer):
     content = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(default=ara_fields.EMPTY_DICT)
 
 
-class LabelSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+class FileSerializer(FileSha1Serializer):
     class Meta:
-        model = models.Label
+        model = models.File
         fields = "__all__"
 
-    description = ara_fields.CompressedTextField(
-        default=ara_fields.EMPTY_STRING, help_text="A text description of the label"
-    )
+    content = ara_fields.FileContentField()
 
+    def get_unique_together_validators(self):
+        """
+        Files have a "unique together" constraint for file.path and playbook.id.
+        We want to have a "get_or_create" facility and in order to do that, we
+        must manage the validation during the creation, not before.
+        Overriding this method effectively disables this validator.
+        """
+        return []
 
-class TaskSerializer(DurationSerializer):
-    class Meta:
-        model = models.Task
-        fields = "__all__"
-
-    tags = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(default=ara_fields.EMPTY_LIST, help_text="A list containing Ansible tags")
-
-
-class SimpleTaskSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
-    class Meta:
-        model = models.Task
-        fields = ("id", "name")
+    def create(self, validated_data):
+        file_, created = models.File.objects.get_or_create(
+            path=validated_data["path"],
+            content=validated_data["content"],
+            playbook=validated_data["playbook"],
+            defaults=validated_data,
+        )
+        return file_
 
 
 class RecordSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
@@ -131,32 +453,3 @@ class RecordSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     value = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(
         default=ara_fields.EMPTY_STRING, help_text="A string, list, dict, json or other formatted data"
     )
-
-
-class PlaySerializer(DurationSerializer):
-    class Meta:
-        model = models.Play
-        fields = "__all__"
-
-    hosts = HostSerializer(read_only=True, many=True)
-    results = ResultSerializer(read_only=True, many=True)
-
-
-class SimplePlaySerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
-    class Meta:
-        model = models.Play
-        fields = "__all__"
-
-
-class PlaybookSerializer(DurationSerializer):
-    class Meta:
-        model = models.Playbook
-        fields = "__all__"
-
-    arguments = ara_fields.CompressedObjectField(default=ara_fields.EMPTY_DICT)
-    files = FileSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
-    hosts = HostSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
-    labels = LabelSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
-    tasks = SimpleTaskSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
-    plays = SimplePlaySerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
-    records = RecordSerializer(many=True, read_only=True, default=[])
diff --git a/ara/api/tests/factories.py b/ara/api/tests/factories.py
index 196a1c47..ded94db1 100644
--- a/ara/api/tests/factories.py
+++ b/ara/api/tests/factories.py
@@ -15,11 +15,15 @@
 #  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 #  along with ARA.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+import logging
+
 import factory
 
 from ara.api import models
 from ara.api.tests import utils
 
+logging.getLogger("factory").setLevel(logging.INFO)
+
 # constants for things like compressed byte strings or objects
 FILE_CONTENTS = "---\n# Example file"
 HOST_FACTS = {"ansible_fqdn": "hostname", "ansible_distribution": "CentOS"}
diff --git a/ara/api/tests/tests_playbook.py b/ara/api/tests/tests_playbook.py
index 39756dea..b3a0c6a4 100644
--- a/ara/api/tests/tests_playbook.py
+++ b/ara/api/tests/tests_playbook.py
@@ -65,11 +65,6 @@ class PlaybookTestCase(APITestCase):
         self.assertEqual(1, request.data["count"])
         playbook = request.data["results"][0]
         self.assertEqual(playbook["ansible_version"], expected_playbook.ansible_version)
-        self.assertEqual(len(playbook["files"]), 0)
-        self.assertEqual(len(playbook["hosts"]), 0)
-        self.assertEqual(len(playbook["tasks"]), 0)
-        self.assertEqual(len(playbook["records"]), 0)
-        self.assertEqual(len(playbook["plays"]), 0)
 
     def test_delete_playbook(self):
         playbook = factories.PlaybookFactory()
diff --git a/ara/api/views.py b/ara/api/views.py
index 24df87ea..ebb09acd 100644
--- a/ara/api/views.py
+++ b/ara/api/views.py
@@ -35,35 +35,74 @@ class InfoView(viewsets.ViewSet):
 
 class LabelViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
     queryset = models.Label.objects.all()
-    serializer_class = serializers.LabelSerializer
+
+    def get_serializer_class(self):
+        if self.action == "list":
+            return serializers.ListLabelSerializer
+        elif self.action == "retrieve":
+            return serializers.DetailedLabelSerializer
+        else:
+            # create/update/destroy
+            return serializers.LabelSerializer
 
 
 class PlaybookViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
     queryset = models.Playbook.objects.all()
-    serializer_class = serializers.PlaybookSerializer
     filter_fields = ("name", "status")
 
+    def get_serializer_class(self):
+        if self.action == "list":
+            return serializers.ListPlaybookSerializer
+        elif self.action == "retrieve":
+            return serializers.DetailedPlaybookSerializer
+        else:
+            # create/update/destroy
+            return serializers.PlaybookSerializer
+
 
 class PlayViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
     queryset = models.Play.objects.all()
-    serializer_class = serializers.PlaySerializer
     filter_fields = ("playbook", "uuid")
 
+    def get_serializer_class(self):
+        if self.action == "list":
+            return serializers.ListPlaySerializer
+        elif self.action == "retrieve":
+            return serializers.DetailedPlaySerializer
+        else:
+            # create/update/destroy
+            return serializers.PlaySerializer
+
 
 class TaskViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
     queryset = models.Task.objects.all()
-    serializer_class = serializers.TaskSerializer
     filter_fields = ("playbook",)
 
+    def get_serializer_class(self):
+        if self.action == "list":
+            return serializers.ListTaskSerializer
+        elif self.action == "retrieve":
+            return serializers.DetailedTaskSerializer
+        else:
+            # create/update/destroy
+            return serializers.TaskSerializer
+
 
 class HostViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
     queryset = models.Host.objects.all()
-    serializer_class = serializers.HostSerializer
     filter_fields = ("playbook",)
 
+    def get_serializer_class(self):
+        if self.action == "list":
+            return serializers.ListHostSerializer
+        elif self.action == "retrieve":
+            return serializers.DetailedHostSerializer
+        else:
+            # create/update/destroy
+            return serializers.HostSerializer
+
 
 class ResultViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
-    serializer_class = serializers.ResultSerializer
     filter_fields = ("playbook",)
 
     def get_queryset(self):
@@ -72,14 +111,39 @@ class ResultViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
             return models.Result.objects.filter(status__in=statuses)
         return models.Result.objects.all()
 
+    def get_serializer_class(self):
+        if self.action == "list":
+            return serializers.ListResultSerializer
+        elif self.action == "retrieve":
+            return serializers.DetailedResultSerializer
+        else:
+            # create/update/destroy
+            return serializers.ResultSerializer
+
 
 class FileViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
     queryset = models.File.objects.all()
-    serializer_class = serializers.FileSerializer
     filter_fields = ("playbook", "path")
 
+    def get_serializer_class(self):
+        if self.action == "list":
+            return serializers.ListFileSerializer
+        elif self.action == "retrieve":
+            return serializers.DetailedFileSerializer
+        else:
+            # create/update/destroy
+            return serializers.FileSerializer
+
 
 class RecordViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
     queryset = models.Record.objects.all()
-    serializer_class = serializers.RecordSerializer
     filter_fields = ("playbook", "key")
+
+    def get_serializer_class(self):
+        if self.action == "list":
+            return serializers.ListRecordSerializer
+        elif self.action == "retrieve":
+            return serializers.DetailedRecordSerializer
+        else:
+            # create/update/destroy
+            return serializers.RecordSerializer
diff --git a/ara/plugins/action/ara_record.py b/ara/plugins/action/ara_record.py
index bf230554..c47836d3 100644
--- a/ara/plugins/action/ara_record.py
+++ b/ara/plugins/action/ara_record.py
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
             changed = True
         else:
             # Otherwise update it if the data is different (idempotency)
-            old = record["results"][0]
+            old = self.client.get("/api/v1/records/%s" % record["results"][0]["id"])
             if old["value"] != value or old["type"] != type:
                 record = self.client.patch("/api/v1/records/%s" % old["id"], key=key, value=value, type=type)
                 changed = True