The best advice on songwriting I've ever heard was something Bob Dylan once said to Eric Bibb: "Remember to keep it simple. Forget all that fancy stuff." Of course, this works best once you're familiar with the fancy stuff.

The other best advice I've ever heard was to practice, as you would with any other skill.

Writing Better Lyrics gets five stars because it embodies that approach so well. The first chapter illustrates a method of writing that is sensory and immersive, and tells you to go practice. From there, you will learn about different approaches to rhyme (such as effective use of imperfect rhyme), metaphor, structure, point of view, and prosody. Ultimately the author encourages writing that flows naturally while avoiding common pitfalls, like cliches or superfluous detail.

The middle section is a little bit of a slog, as the sections on rhythm and rhyme are technical. But they're worth the patience and practice if you're willing to power through.

And one favorite quote of mine came from the last section, which was on co-writing but could have just as easily been about any writing: Don't be afraid to write crap. One crap idea can lead to a better one, then to an even better one. Crap, the author says, makes the best fertilizer.

Recommended for lyricists and linguists, who might also take an interest in the rhetorical devices explored in this book.