Customer Reviews

On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

5 star:		(91)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I usually only write reviews for books I can praise. I actively avoid giving criticism about books that have, as this one does, a large and enthusiastic following. I feel compelled to write now because I think that many will not be as well served as they imagine after reading these reviews.

I think this book is popular for many understandable and, in themselves, good reasons. The writer is up-beat and optimistic. He supplies simple formulas for complex problems. He has both wit and charm. He supplies many funny stories. He makes fun of pompous academics and pedagogues. He is empathetic and warm. His instructions are personal, not distant or abstract. He requires little of the reader and avoids pesky formalities. For all these reasons, one should be attracted to a non-fictional book of reminiscence about writing. However, all these virtues are not those of a book teaching writing.

Indeed, many dislike books that try to teach writing because the majority are rigorous, boring, and impersonal. So, it is no wonder that against those demanding and dry texts this humane presentation appears as an oasis. However, it is a mistake to think that those emotional values make this a good writing text.

This book's relation with writing is much like a movie's relation with its topic: a narrative about a thing more than an instruction. For instance, "Field of Dreams" may make us happy, but it hardly is likely to make us better baseball players. Here most of Zinsser's time is expended in context, quotation of others, and folksy tale. These are topped off with a brief commands - "Go to it" - that have a cheerleader's enthusiasm and lack of content. He celebrates one style, his own, which is short and informal to the exclusion of the hundreds of others that have graced our language. He gives little help with formal discourse. He feels free to judge -- for instance scientists -- outside his field and beside the point. He makes numerous grammatical errors and seems to recognize the dash as the only punctuation. He generalizes egregiously about topics that are enormous and yet undefined, for instance "the human element."
In short, he is less an instructor and more a coach.

As I said, his many strengths have understandably broad appeal, but this book would be inadequate for the college classes I teach. You may not need such formal help and that is fine as long as you do not think it appears here.

On Writing Well, by William Zinsser, is meant to compliment The Elements of Style by Stunk and White. In Zinsser's own words "The Elements of Style is a book of pointers and admonitions: do this, don't do that. What it didn't address was how to apply those principles to the various forms that nonfiction writing and journalism can take."

Although the book is organized in four parts, the content could really be summarized in two categories:
· Writing principals, methods, and attitudes
· Guidelines for specific forms of nonfiction, including travel, humor, business, sports, arts, memoirs, and family history.

Subjects addressed include: rewriting, craft vs. art, humanity and warmth, clutter, simplicity, finding a style, clichés, rhythm, unity, tone, and attitude. All of these are covered with the insight of a successful writer having decades of experience.

The author works some biographical information and experiences into the text, but the focus of the material is on writing well. Given that the first edition was in 1976, some of the examples and attitudes are dated, but they also add to the charm of the book.

No recaps or exercises are included at the end of the chapters, but an index is provided for easy reference.

As the subtitle indicates, the book is specifically directed at nonfiction writing, but many of the concepts also apply to fiction. With over a million copies sold, and in its thirtieth anniversary edition, much of the information has already been worked into other writing guides. As envisioned by Zinsser, On Writing Well compliments The Elements of Style. Together, they make a great combination.

I read this book as part of a class on writing essays. The advice in it is apt, but it was too basic for the good writers in the group. The nonwriters, on the other hand, found it all amazing and startling stuff. I'd recommend it for those who have read enough to know what a complete sentence looks like but have never seriously written before and want to.

I purchsed this book because I was looking to write better at work (I'm a management consultant). As I began reading, I quickly realized that it was not the "don't put prepositions at the end of a sentence" (although, he actually debunks that somewhat)...Point being, I learned so much more about writing than I ever thought I would, and the benefits accrued immediately -- the following Monday, I could see the results already (and so could my Boss). And the book is a pleasure to read -- it makes you more conscious of how writer's write, making reading other author's less pleasurable now , or at least realizing their flaws more readily. I would highly recommend this book to those who want to be better writers, no matter their ultimate goal, and even those who just love reading, and want to better understand the craft of writing.

I had to read this book. It was on a book list for a course: otherwise I would not have picked it up. The book became like an afternoon tea time with a surpisingly beloved professor. Zinssor makes me want to write. In fact, reading this book makes me want to be a writer. What I expected to be dry was full of wit. What I expected to be pedantic, turned out to be humorously so. How does one laugh when reading about the use of commas or the overuse of cliches? Zinsser zings his readers with his writing style, often employing what he just told us not to do-with great results. Only a master writer can get away with that.

I recommend this book to anyone who thinks they already know how to write, or has stories knocking on inner doors eager to see the light of paper. Zinsser throttles habits that are comfortable but lame. This book makes the art of writing seemingly accessible, with realistic suggestions, corrections, inspirations. By the end, you will find yourself purchasing the next Zinsser title, in order to extend the delightful cup of tea you started with "On Writing Well."

More than 20 years ago I took a college English course that used On Writing Well. Back then I considered it the very best writing book I'd ever seen and I still do today. As a Journalism/English major and professional writer, I've seen plenty others but none compare. I think it's fantastic in its coaching, mentoring and exemplary writing. I recently bought the 30th Anniversary Edition and am glad to be renewing my acquaintance with this superlative guide. Thank you, Mr. Zinsser!

William Zinsser practices what he preaches. He tells you how you should write then invites you to relax and break the rules. I didn't think a book about writing could be done with such humor; I expected it to read like a dry style manual. This is my second reading and I'd suggest it to all writers; even business persons who write company policy, letters and emails.

I will re-read this book at least once a year. Whether you are just starting out or are a seasoned writer, this guide is clearly written and totally accessible. Buy it.

I love this book. It has a lot a simple tips about how to write better. I keep going back to the relevent chapter when I do any writting now to make sure I am writting well.

William Zinsser's book, On Writing Well, is a book to guide writers on how to write. Zinsser breaks this book up into four main parts; Principles, Methods, Forms, and Attitudes. Zinsser creates subcategories which are subjects that Zinsser feels writers might have trouble with or include different forms of writing. In each chapter there are examples given that shows the right way to do something and the wrong way. For instance he has a chapter called "Bits and Pieces" in which he shows the how to use a verb, adjective, and adverbs. This helps readers to see what common mistakes are and what would be the right way. One thing that I found great about Zinsser was that he made a major point, that when you write you should always be yourself.
Zinnser's language in this book is easy to follow. He doesn't use big words that you can't understand but uses everyday language. It was a easy book to read because you didn't have to think to much, because he explains everything.
The book is overall a good book. I found this book useful because it gave clear explanations and examples of different writings on that subject. In the chapter leadings and endings, he gave examples of different kinds of leadings and endings. Each chapter was helpful in its own way and it made you want to keep reading. I liked this book because it taught me about how to write different forms of writing and the appropriate ways of going about transitions, leading and endings, word usage, clutter, and style.