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

Do you remember your favorite teacher or professor? The one who made you want to learn the subject? This book is like that. It's entertaining. I couldn't put it down.

Wow! On Writing Well The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction is a book that should be in every writers/authors library.

The book is easy to read and there is no clutter. As a reader, I want to get to know the author. William Zinsser definitely has a style I will not soon forget!Diabetes Can Be Sweet . . . Once You Bury It

When I bought this book I had already read it. When it arrived, I read it again. As in the first round, I thought the same could be said in much less. It is paradoxical, because the book argues against clutter. This could sound as criticism, but it is not. It is just the price you have to pay in order to get a book published. No one would print a book of thirty pages.

This being said, I add that the ideas written in this book are the ones which any scientific or technical writer must bear in mind. They should be the standard in anybody's mind. Diverging from them is possible and sometimes successful, but risky unless the writer is especially trained or gifted for language. In summary: buy this book. It's worth its price.

In case you don't want to, I sum it up for you: straight words, short number of them, short sentences with as few subordinates as possible and revision and rewriting above all... and some justifications and variations on this philosophy. If you need to be convinced or are curious about why, or simply want examples of all kinds, buy the book.

This book is a good read and offers some solid advice. It doesn't teach writing, but rather offers tips to keep in mind while writing. I feel that some parts of the book are hypocritical, especially when Zinsser uses some tougher vocabulary, but you cannot expect a teacher, writer, and editor to write a book in "see spot run" style, which is what I'm discovering to be the basis of the negative reviews. I don't feel the book offers enough methods to improve writing, especially when it comes to how to reduce clutter. In order to follow the tips and advices Zinsser offers, you have to think and word hard. For $14.95 or less, this book is definitely worth it. This book is easy to understand (even if you're a high school student), with an overall simple, yet unique language and style. The insight it offers is priceless regardless of what profession you are in. Read it, enjoy it, remember it! =]

Whether you are an amateur or professional writer, this book is a must. If you buy only one book on writing, make it On Writing Well. It is a treasure trove. I learned something on every page, and I have been writing professionally for more than 25 years.