This is an essential book for everyone who wants to write clearly about any subject and use writing as a means of learning.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Elegant book on the importance of writing:
Zinsser's book is both an anthology and a narrative about his experience with the concept of "writing across the curriculum." He recounts how good writing in other fields helped break down his misconception that certain subjects were, at best boring, or at worst, unlearnable. He posits that writing is the best way for students to engage with material--any material. Through carefully selected reading examples and personal examples, Zinsser engages with the natural world, art, physics, music, chemistry,... more info
More an argument for writing in the curriculum than a writing guide:
The book is funny at times, and recounts a few interesting anectdotes. It seems dated to me though, as its purpose is to argue for the inclusion of writing instruction accross all subjects in the introductory undergaduate curriculum. This is no longer a novel idea, and many liberal arts colleges and universities already do this. Furthermore, Zinsser's argument is purely anectdotal, and focusses on demonstrating that professors, especially in the sciences, can indeed implement writing components in their... more info
The Perfect Complement to On Writing Well:
I read this book for both its subject matter and the bibliography. Zinsser leads the reader to good writing in the literature of mathematics physics and chemistry and more from disciplines thought of as other than suitable for writer fs. Zinsser shows by example that writing is not the sole domain of the humanities but across the spectrum of disciplines. He builds the case for writing across the curriculum, providing good models from fields as diverse as chemistry to music. Here is an engaging way to learn... more info
An "Admirable Complement":
For those who have read _On Writing Well_, the classic guide to writing better--meaning: clearer--prose, an excellent follow-up is this book, entitled _Writing to Learn: How to Write--and Think--Clearly About any Subject at All_. With such a title little needs to be said regarding the book's purpose and content. (It focuses on a variety of subjects, from philosophy all the way to chemistry, and shows how each can be written about in clear prose _for the benefit of the writer_.)
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