Good Advice on Writing
Pulitzer Prize-winning language guru Safire and his brother Safir have collected the wise and witty words of famous authors from Aristotle to Zinsser, who comment succinctly and cogently on elements of writing from "Accuracy" ("One should always aim at being interesting rather than exact"--Voltaire) to "Writer's Block" (see "Doggedness"). Although the book is intended as a reference, its quotable gems are for rereading and reflecting. The reader/writer can find solid advice (not surprisingly often contradictory), humor, and inspiration on each page. Now, what to write? Look under "Subject" and find E.B. White's recommendation: "A writer should concern himself with whatever absorbs his fancy, stirs his heart, and unlimbers his typewriter." This book is a treat for wordsmiths everywhere. BOMC and Quality Paperback alternates.- Cathy Sabol, Northern Virginia Community Coll. Lib., ManassasCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.