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gracescanlon's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.25
Easy to read, with concise examples for each idea presented either within the prose or in the separate, specific example sections.
atulchin's review against another edition
2.0
Heavily indebted to recent psychological literature, for example Jonathan Haidt. It's much more focused on rhetoric and wringing people's emotions, less on how to make people think and have good ideas. Certainly many people are irrational and aren't moved by facts or ideas, but I'd rather see good rhetoric married to good thinking. Otherwise it seems very cynical.
bootman's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome book! Definitely has some strategies I’m going to implement into my writing
grendels_mother's review against another edition
This is not at all a book that will teach you how to be a more persuasive writer. Instead, it is a memoir (name-dropping session) of a remarkably unremarkable life and career.
You can find a more useful guide on writing on a Buzzfeed listicle, and the listicle won’t take as long. Speeding it up didn’t help; she never gets to the point…which should be persuasive writing, right?
If I can persuade just one person to not spend their time, money, and energy on this book, then I may have actually learned something from this book.
You can find a more useful guide on writing on a Buzzfeed listicle, and the listicle won’t take as long. Speeding it up didn’t help; she never gets to the point…which should be persuasive writing, right?
If I can persuade just one person to not spend their time, money, and energy on this book, then I may have actually learned something from this book.
zhzhang's review against another edition
5.0
It is such a useful yet though-provoking book!!! The author not only lists the things that we need to do in order to write persuasive essays but also elaborate the reason why persuasion is hard even though it is still achievable.
1. Listen to People
2. We believe what we believe
3. Respect your audience. Learn to be empathetic
4. Don't get into fights.
5. Play on feelings.
6. Understand moral values.
7. Emphasize your similarities.
8. What do you know?
9. Surprise your reader.
10. Be specific
11. Tell stories.
12. Facts aren't magic.
13. Facts do matter.
14. Abandon jargon.
15. Prune ruthlessly.
The above 15 principles summarize how we persuade people, either in person or in writing.
The author also touched upon the writing itself, especially in persuasive essay. Be specific and focus are the two main points. Blending with personal experience, the writing will let the reader feel connected.
1. Listen to People
2. We believe what we believe
3. Respect your audience. Learn to be empathetic
4. Don't get into fights.
5. Play on feelings.
6. Understand moral values.
7. Emphasize your similarities.
8. What do you know?
9. Surprise your reader.
10. Be specific
11. Tell stories.
12. Facts aren't magic.
13. Facts do matter.
14. Abandon jargon.
15. Prune ruthlessly.
The above 15 principles summarize how we persuade people, either in person or in writing.
The author also touched upon the writing itself, especially in persuasive essay. Be specific and focus are the two main points. Blending with personal experience, the writing will let the reader feel connected.