Customer Reviews

When Good People Write Bad Sentences: 12 Steps to Better Writing Habits

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read through the other reviews and I understand where they're coming from. Yes, the book is written like an alcoholic's 12 step program BUT Harris is kind of right. At first, I was almost confused as to whether it was a joke or not, but as I read further, I realized that the bad habits that writers have are actually base upon insecurities. Harris tells the reader to suck it up - quit caring so much about what other people might think of your writing - and write good srong sentences. Once you actually get to the 12 steps, I think there is some really useful information in there. I was not overpowered by techinical issues. Harris clearly and simply states what to look out for in your own writing. He actually lists them - which makes this a good reference manual to put on my desk. So the book is based on a joke (if that's what you want to call it). I found it funny. Even funnier, I saw myself in what he was saying.

This book was pretty humorous. I picked it up after I thought it would be kind of like Eats, Shoots and Leaves. It deals more with sentence structure, though (although some parts of it does deal with grammar).

Harris writes about our "inner child writer" and how it still has a lot of repressed feelings, which is why we lash out and write bad sentences. I didn't really consider myself a malescribe, but I can certainly understand the frustration and disappointment when you encounter one.

Although this book was informative and humorous, my only complaint was that it went a little too far. At times, parts of it seemed far-fetched and there was a bit too much exaggeration. I know this was supposed to be a humorous approch - but maybe less is more. For example, Harris states that malescribism can lead to depression, and even death. Well, I'd say very rarely.

Despite my one dislike about it, When Good People Write Bad Sentences is a humorous and informative read. Especially when you have malescribism. (Oops, was that supposed to be a sentence fragment?) :)

I have to tell you that I found this little book to be absolutely delightful and quite informative.

First though, I have to admire the author. Any person who writes a book addressing the correct way to write a language is leaving themselves open to all kind of cheap shots. Each time an author publishes such a book I am always stunned by the number of "experts" that seem to suddenly appear and attempt to tear the work to shreds. I suppose it is an ego thing with some people.

I am also always a bit hesitant to write a review on such books for the same reason. The last one I did cause at least two comments which more or less (in a very rude sort of way) telling me I should probably read the book again as I obviously had missed a lot of points. This criticism was just and truthful as I, more than any one I know, am fully aware of my shortcomings and ignorance of the English language. That is the reason I read and study books such as this. If I were already an expert, there really would be no need I should think.

Anyway...

This is a nicely done little work to help people write better, or at least correctly. The author has indeed used a quirky method as a hook in that he sets the entire book up as a 12 step program which should enable to break a writer's addiction to poor writing skills and such. I can see where this method may aggravate some people and indeed, even offend some, but the method the author used should not distract the reader from the essence of the book; the purpose. I personally had not problems with it. Then again, I do not take much very seriously, including myself.

And I must say that the author has given us some wonderful advice, helpful hints and tips and extremely useful information; information that many of us have not been exposed to since we left high school...if even then!

I found the writing to be refreshing, non technical, practical, humorous and very easy to understand. Now this is not a comprehensive course in English. The author has focused primarily on the sentences, the does and the don't. He addresses structure, correctness and readability and given the reader much to think about and ponder.

I personally (although you probably will not think so after reading this review) found it most helpful and I learned much and relearned much that I thought I knew but had never actually learned it or had long forgotten.

This is a good book. Give it a try.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

This book is a gold mine. I am reading it for the second time and I'm finding valuable information that had escaped me the first time around. It has helped me understand why I make the mistakes I make, and what steps to take to correct them. It's true that Robert Harris' approach is unorthodox and that it might put off a lot of readers. Don't give up. What he says makes perfect sense.

I LOVED this book!!!! I teach a Business Writing course and am always looking fresh approaches to the topic. I loved Robert Harris's book and ended up using (and duely referencing) several pieces from his 12-step program. I highly recommend this book!

Is it possible for a book on writing to be based on a joke? A single joke? If you're considering "When Good People Write Bad Sentences," then prepare yourself for a book that contains a running gag so hopelessly overdone you'll tire of it by about the tenth page.

Yes, folks, here's a writing book based on the jocular idea that bad writers are suffering from a form of victimization/addiction called "malescribism" that renders their grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure worthy of a twelve-step program. The sad fact is that a decent book on fixing those problems is buried under that cutesy idea.

That decent part consists of the general sentence-writing help you'll find in a hundred other books covering how to write better. So, in truth, the gag is all that distinguishes this book from others. In a trade size with less than 200 pages, the book also suffers from large amounts of white space. This could actually be only 150 pages in length if less generously spaced.

If you want to compose better prose or just write a comprehensible e-mail message, you could probably do worse--unless twelve-step jokes give you hives.

Yes, the title is a lame joke and the repeated 12-step references are an insultingly stupid gag that isn't even clever the FIRST time he tries it.

Moreover, the information is often wrong. Example: when pointing out the problem of prefixes such as bi- and semi-, he gets the definition of semiannual backwards and actually teaches the reader that it means "every other year", which is wrong! And he overlooks the important fact that biennial and biannual are two different things.

There are punctuation errors in the book along with errors about punctuation.

I just had to stop reading before the book was finished. I was starting to skip a lot, especially all the attempts at humor, and I feared accidentally absorbing some of his errors.

Finally, take a look at this. The one reviewer here who "LOVED this book!!!!" and who claims to "teach a Business Writing course" says she or he "ended up using (and duely[sic] referencing) several pieces from his 12-step program." I didn't finish the book. Is "duely" a new word the author suggested instead of good old-fashioned duly?