In the first few chapters Mr. Zinsser sounds like an old
fashioned English teacher, harping on the fundamentals and simplicity. The fact that he is right
made the message easier to absorb. In the latter chapters he focuses on different kinds of writing,
that is when he hooked me. Even if you never write a memoir, it is fascinating for me to read about
how people go about writing one. Now I am writing my own, for my own consumption, because the
process sounds like something that is enlightening and worth doing. The same is true for his chapers
on art critique, sports, humor, etc.

I have also gained a massive reading list from Mr. Zinsser,
now I am curious to a whole new world that I was not aware of and more importantly, I did not care
about. But he made me interested in these books because he made me curious about how these authors
are able to communicate their message so clearly.

In ON WRITING WELL he treats subjects like words, usage, the audience, the interview,
the ending, sports, criticism, humor and more. This is material he developed while teaching a course
in nonfiction at Yale and it's loaded with tips.

"Make a habit of reading what is being written
today," he says, "and what has been written before. But cultivate the best writers."

"Although
this is a book about writing," he goes on, "it is not meant just for writers...Its points are valid
for all the people who have to do some writing just to get along in their job...many a career rises
or falls on th eability or inability of an employee to state an idea or a set of ideas clearly and
concisely."

Whether you're a writer or not, you write. This book can teach you to do it
effectively and with style. It should be beside everyone's computer.

Throughout the book you learn that writing is indeed a craft
that can be learned. Zinsser points out the most important patterns and techniques of successful
writers so that you can follow their lead. This book is still one of the most recommended texts for
people just beginning to learn to write and with good reason, it should be on the bookshelf of
anyone serious about writing.

Zinnser teaches common sense. He is critically
fair and gives you enough reasons why he thinks the way he does.

Zinnser has a healthy attitude
toward his writing. He relates writing to a serious job that only hard work and a clear mind can
produce powerful and respectible work. At the same time, he lets you in on how to have fun along the
way.