Tracy Kidder

Richard Todd

The Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author of House and the editor of Atlantic Monthly share stories from their literary friendship and respective careers, offering insight into writing principles and mechanics that they have identified as elementary to quality prose.

The Art of Nonfiction

Good Prose

Belle

I'm not sure complaining about bad grammar and the changing English language was a great way to end this book. After reading You Are What You Speak a while ago, I lost a lot of respect for people who insist on grammar being unchanging, and judge those who speak "incorrectly," thanks to their natural tendency to imitate the language they hear around them. I'm all for using language correctly as a writer, but not at all for prescribing its use to those who aren't interested.

Anyway, despite all that there were some interesting tidbits in this book about structuring a piece of writing, editing and being edited, and some useful ideas about memoir writing. I barely understood any of the chapter on essay writing, so got very little out of that, but overall not a bad book for someone looking for advice and ideas from experienced writers.

Good Prose The Art of Nonfiction

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