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Fnord
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06 Oct 2011, 11:03 pm

I'm starting this thread so that WP members would have a thread for recommending (not necessarily reviewing) books that they've actually read.

You remember books, don't you? Sheets of paper with printing on them? A hundred or so of these sheets of paper bound along one edge and between two covers of a denser material? Manually operated? Books?

Anyway...

Two books to recommend for opinionated bloggers and writers, and for those who simply wish to improve their writing and reasoning skills:

1. "Elements of Style" - ISBN-10: 020530902X | ISBN-13: 978-0205309023 | Publication Date: August 2, 1999 | Edition: 4th
You know the authors' names (Strunk & White). You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself. This is The Elements of Style, the classic style manual, now in a fourth edition. A new Foreword by Roger Angell reminds readers that the advice of Strunk & White is as valuable today as when it was first offered. This book's unique tone, wit and charm have conveyed the principles of English style to millions of readers. Use the fourth edition of "the little book" to make a big impact with writing.

2. "Asking the Right Questions" - ISBN-10: 0205111165 | ISBN-13: 978-0205111169 | Publication Date: July 9, 2011 | Edition: 10
Used in a variety of courses in various disciplines, Asking the Right Questions helps bridge the gap between simply memorizing or blindly accepting information, and the greater challenge of critical analysis and synthesis. Specifically, this concise text teaches how to think critically by exploring the components of arguments--issues, conclusions, reasons, evidence, assumptions, language--and on how to spot fallacies and manipulations and obstacles to critical thinking.

With both of these books beside your computer, you too can become an irrefutable bastion of Truth and Reason, just like me! :wink:

... well, maybe just a better communicator (but you have to read the books first). :D


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cathylynn
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07 Oct 2011, 12:04 am

just a good historical (biafra) fiction read: "half of a yellow sun"



Apera
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07 Oct 2011, 1:30 am

I currently have the latest version of that first one sitting on this desk... meaning to read it...

I've read plenty of books, but I would certainly not recommend them all. I'm talking about you, City of Lights.

One book I NEED to recommend is A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Actually have re-read it at least once, to check on some things. At any rate, when I saw that episode of hannah montana (embarrassing, but I do get bored sometimes) where miley lied and lily fell and broke her leg, my blood ran cold. I couldn't help thinking that a kid's show had turned into Lord of the Flies. At any rate, it was an early (relatively speaking) insight into the depths of human relationships.

Maybe I will think of more later.


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07 Oct 2011, 4:49 am

Fnord wrote:
1. "Elements of Style" - ISBN-10: 020530902X | ISBN-13: 978-0205309023 | Publication Date: August 2, 1999 | Edition: 4th
You know the authors' names (Strunk & White). You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself. This is The Elements of Style, the classic style manual, now in a fourth edition. A new Foreword by Roger Angell reminds readers that the advice of Strunk & White is as valuable today as when it was first offered. This book's unique tone, wit and charm have conveyed the principles of English style to millions of readers. Use the fourth edition of "the little book" to make a big impact with writing.
I haven't read this book before (majored in Maths in the university, took a lot of Science classes in high school). Got an illustrated version recently. Haven't cracked it open yet, but I hope to use it to improve my business writing. :)