Distinguished author Phillip Lopate, editor of the celebrated anthology The Art of the Personal Essay, is universally acclaimed as “one of our best personal essayists” (Dallas Morning News). Here, combining more than forty years of lessons from his storied career as a writer and professor, he brings us this highly anticipated nuts-and-bolts guide to writing literary nonfiction. A phenomenal master class shaped by Lopate’s informative, accessible tone and immense gift for storytelling, To Show and To Tell reads like a long walk with a favorite professor—refreshing, insightful, and encouraging in often unexpected ways.
To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“[To Show and To Tell] gives away all his trade secrets – a thoughtful guidebook for writers of literary nonfiction.” (New York Times Book Review)
“One of the best guides to writing nonfiction I've read.” (The Cleveland Plain Dealer)
“Sophisticated… Lopate, a consummate and piquant essayist,…draws on his extensive teaching experience in this expert, anecdotal, funny, and frank guide to writing “intelligent, satisfying, engaging literary nonfiction.” Even in a how-to book, Lopate can’t help but write lithe and sparring personal essays… Never one to accept received wisdom, Lopate encourages writers to go beyond the safe, facile, and sentimental.” (Booklist)
“One of the Earls of Essay returns with a collection that illustrates both his knowledge of the genre and his considerable skill in practicing it… A useful collection of bracing thoughts and sinuous sentences.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“At last--a reliable guide to the signature genre of the age. Phillip Lopate's tour of literary nonfiction includes brilliant and helpful considerations of the essay and memoir, placing them and their vexing questions in clear cultural context. Impossible now to imagine a nonfiction course that does not include To Show and To Tell in its syllabus. This is the rule book. But it's much more than a "craft book" for writers. It's a delight in itself, a fascinating exploration for readers, for anyone wondering why personally voiced nonfiction is so popular. The range is impressive, and the voice here is immediate, fresh, witty, winningly honest. An indispensible book.” (Patricia Hampl author of The Florist's Daughter)
“Shrewd, revealing, dexterous, skeptical, provocative, restless, wry, necessary.” (Laura Kipnis author of Against Love and How to Become a Scandal)
“The work of a master, To Show and To Tell is beyond compare, for it embodies a poetics of literary nonfiction that takes into account all the crucial aspects, elements, and issues of the craft. Thus it's the essential text for anyone who seeks to enjoy, to understand, or to write nonfiction.” (Carl H. Klaus author of The Made-Up Self: Impersonation in the Personal Essay)
“One of the best guides to writing nonfiction I've read.” (The Cleveland Plain Dealer)
“Sophisticated… Lopate, a consummate and piquant essayist,…draws on his extensive teaching experience in this expert, anecdotal, funny, and frank guide to writing “intelligent, satisfying, engaging literary nonfiction.” Even in a how-to book, Lopate can’t help but write lithe and sparring personal essays… Never one to accept received wisdom, Lopate encourages writers to go beyond the safe, facile, and sentimental.” (Booklist)
“One of the Earls of Essay returns with a collection that illustrates both his knowledge of the genre and his considerable skill in practicing it… A useful collection of bracing thoughts and sinuous sentences.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“At last--a reliable guide to the signature genre of the age. Phillip Lopate's tour of literary nonfiction includes brilliant and helpful considerations of the essay and memoir, placing them and their vexing questions in clear cultural context. Impossible now to imagine a nonfiction course that does not include To Show and To Tell in its syllabus. This is the rule book. But it's much more than a "craft book" for writers. It's a delight in itself, a fascinating exploration for readers, for anyone wondering why personally voiced nonfiction is so popular. The range is impressive, and the voice here is immediate, fresh, witty, winningly honest. An indispensible book.” (Patricia Hampl author of The Florist's Daughter)
“Shrewd, revealing, dexterous, skeptical, provocative, restless, wry, necessary.” (Laura Kipnis author of Against Love and How to Become a Scandal)
“The work of a master, To Show and To Tell is beyond compare, for it embodies a poetics of literary nonfiction that takes into account all the crucial aspects, elements, and issues of the craft. Thus it's the essential text for anyone who seeks to enjoy, to understand, or to write nonfiction.” (Carl H. Klaus author of The Made-Up Self: Impersonation in the Personal Essay)
About the Author
Phillip Lopate is the author of more than a dozen books, including three personal essay collections, Bachelorhood, Against Joie de Vivre, and Portrait of My Body, and Waterfront. He directs the graduate nonfiction program at Columbia University and lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I admire Phillip Lopate's work, but I was very disappointed by this book. This is essentially a collection of occasional pieces Lopate has written over the years, not a true guide to "the craft of literary nonfiction." I expected a book that was conceived as a book. I much prefer the recently released Good Prose by Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By N. Maclean
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Philip Lopate's insightful remarks about the importance of thoughtful reflection in recalling and telling about the events of our past, hopefully bringing some hard-won wisdom to the portrait of the I-character that we re-create from distant memory that is not only reflective, but rings true. The chapter on retrospective analysis and double perspective of the recalled I-character, with all her strengths, frailties, bravado, high spirits and foolishness, was a great help to me in my current work. Throughout this very entertaining, clearly written, intelligent, thought-provoking and challenging volume, Dr. Lopate challenges us to commit to read more books and by more accomplished writers. learning from the great writers so that we may begin to increase in confidence and craftsmanship and begin to write at the very highest level at which we are capable. Write the truth with thoughtful reflection, rather than glib stylistic gimmickry, and you will write well, he advises. And his words strike a chord that rings true. No artifice. Just the well crafted, thoughtful telling and showing of the events, places (their locations, history, character, architecture, quirkiness),senses,and supporting cast of characters that surround the I-character in your memoir of a significant period of time in your life.. I highly recommend this book.
Sheri Nelson Maclean, The Woodlands, Texas
Sheri Nelson Maclean, The Woodlands, Texas
10 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am someone who has been struggling with writing and editing my memoir for some time and I've read numerous books about the subject. This one stood out because I felt that Mr. Lopate was speaking directly to me. He nailed my fears and showed me the way out. I've got sticky notes plastered all over the book. If you are stuck with your memoir, take a good, long look at this book. Perhaps it will help you as it did me. Thank you, Phillip Lopate. I'm now going to read some of your other works. And get on with my memoir!
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book to compare writing styles and to get motivated again. It is a fine reference with lots of good advise.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Even if Lopate gives away all his trade secrets, his guidebook for literary nonfiction writers is skillfully elusive!
March 4, 2013
Format:Paperback
****
Nonfiction means that the stories are as true and factual as possible, readers expect and demand diligence. Best Nonfiction top ten list by writers included: The Education of Henry Adams, The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James, and Selected Essays, 1917-1932 by T. S. Eliot. The readers top ten list, on the other side, included: The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand, Economics in one Lesson by Henry Hazlitt, and More Guns, Less Crime by John R. Lott.
This changed my conception of nonfiction, so biography is as precise as particle physics, and essays by T. S. Eliot could be nonfiction. My best shot was still, to get directions from the best selling writer. Most nonfiction writers conduct research, but may then refer to direct sources to reveal defining and intimate details of your subject. This is the stuff that stands out and render unique work, memorable and 3D. As an Amazon, mostly nonfiction reviewer, I sought insight on "The Craft of Literary Nonfiction."
On Brevity: The Craft Essay', Cynthia Gaylord who left a career on Wall Street to pursue a lifelong dream of writing concludes, "Lacking sleep, as well as any true column-writing training, I stumbled upon the value of including in each piece a clear, straightforward sentence - usually at the end of the first paragraph - that explained my purpose. Summarizing my point in one sentence seemed to keep me from rambling, as well as its homely cousin, the rant."
I read Morris Dickstein NY Times review of the book, which I found insightful, if you read between the lines. He noted that Lopate started his writing career as a poet and novelist, but got noticed for writing his lively essays.... Read more ›
Nonfiction means that the stories are as true and factual as possible, readers expect and demand diligence. Best Nonfiction top ten list by writers included: The Education of Henry Adams, The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James, and Selected Essays, 1917-1932 by T. S. Eliot. The readers top ten list, on the other side, included: The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand, Economics in one Lesson by Henry Hazlitt, and More Guns, Less Crime by John R. Lott.
This changed my conception of nonfiction, so biography is as precise as particle physics, and essays by T. S. Eliot could be nonfiction. My best shot was still, to get directions from the best selling writer. Most nonfiction writers conduct research, but may then refer to direct sources to reveal defining and intimate details of your subject. This is the stuff that stands out and render unique work, memorable and 3D. As an Amazon, mostly nonfiction reviewer, I sought insight on "The Craft of Literary Nonfiction."
On Brevity: The Craft Essay', Cynthia Gaylord who left a career on Wall Street to pursue a lifelong dream of writing concludes, "Lacking sleep, as well as any true column-writing training, I stumbled upon the value of including in each piece a clear, straightforward sentence - usually at the end of the first paragraph - that explained my purpose. Summarizing my point in one sentence seemed to keep me from rambling, as well as its homely cousin, the rant."
I read Morris Dickstein NY Times review of the book, which I found insightful, if you read between the lines. He noted that Lopate started his writing career as a poet and novelist, but got noticed for writing his lively essays.... Read more ›
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Very thoughtful and helpful guidelines. Anyone who enjoys writing would benefit from reading this. This pretty well summarizes my reactions.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been actively working on a handful of personal essays for about a year. I took this book along to a spa/writing retreat and found myself fully engaged in every chapter. I was chagrined to read Lopate's observations about typical student topics (loss of parents, friend trouble), and then bucked up to read how to cover these topics well--and much more. Great, readable advice on writing.
By Witkind
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Lopate goes to the heart of one of the handy axioms that teachers of literary nonfiction beat into their students--"Show, don't tell." He emphasizes the importance of reflection in the personal essay and memoir. It's both telling and showing that help the writer arrive at a story that runs deep and true.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
All the text you need to begin writing
It is the Definitive text on how to write an excellent essay an what mistakes most novices make. What a book! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lora J. Keister
5.0 out of 5 stars
Writing nonfiction well manual
Good introduction for anyone interested in improving their nonfiction writing. Takes the reader step by step through different aspects of the written word.
Published 1 month ago by Richard L. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Winner!
excellent. insightful. helpful. provocative. terrific. Phillip Lopate applies his vast wisdom and experience to the challenges that struggling writers face.
Published 2 months ago by David Goodrick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highest recommendation
This primer for nonfiction aspirants -- genial, wise, often hilarious, endlessly useful -- is the best on the market. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Benjamin
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