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jasperburns's review
5.0
View my best reviews and a collection of mental models at jasperburns.blog.
billfulton's review
5.0
“Clutter is the disease of American writing,” says Zinsser, and in this book he provides a multitude of ways to cut down on the clutter and banish cliches from your writing.
He’s a workman-like writer who offers the skill of a craftsman and the passion of a lover. In practical, down-to-earth advice, he demonstrates simply how to write well. He also brings the passion of someone who loves what he does.
I thoroughly enjoyed the examples of writing he offered, both good and bad, and I was inspired by his dedication to writing and his insistence on the difference between good writing and meh.
I got bogged down in the chapters that dealt with the kinds of writing I’m not interested in, like technology and business writing. I should have just skipped them.
But all in all, it made me want to become a good writer.
Update:
After talking to my wife about this book and reading some reviews, I have a slightly tempered view. The criticism of the book is that it flattens writing and makes it dull in the interest of plain, simple writing. If you only took Zinsser's advice, you wouldn't have much room for creativity. Good point.
He’s a workman-like writer who offers the skill of a craftsman and the passion of a lover. In practical, down-to-earth advice, he demonstrates simply how to write well. He also brings the passion of someone who loves what he does.
I thoroughly enjoyed the examples of writing he offered, both good and bad, and I was inspired by his dedication to writing and his insistence on the difference between good writing and meh.
I got bogged down in the chapters that dealt with the kinds of writing I’m not interested in, like technology and business writing. I should have just skipped them.
But all in all, it made me want to become a good writer.
Update:
After talking to my wife about this book and reading some reviews, I have a slightly tempered view. The criticism of the book is that it flattens writing and makes it dull in the interest of plain, simple writing. If you only took Zinsser's advice, you wouldn't have much room for creativity. Good point.
mattaukamp's review
4.0
If you're new to writing, this is a great guide full of essential rules.
If you've read any other guides to writing or taken a single college-level writing class, you can probably give this a skip. It's mostly focused on some rules that you'll find most other places, rather than imparting and unique nuggets of wisdom
If you've read any other guides to writing or taken a single college-level writing class, you can probably give this a skip. It's mostly focused on some rules that you'll find most other places, rather than imparting and unique nuggets of wisdom
kristyhill's review
4.0
I love Zinsser's sense of humor. He offers some good, practical advice to writers, but I don't necessarily agree with all of it.