The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you want to know how to use humor in writing? How do you make your humor sound natural rather than forced? The rule of thumb is that if you find something funny, include it. Just make sure you’re not trying to force humor into your writing because the readers will be able to tell. Here are some tips on how to add humor to your writing, from On Writing Well by William Zinsser.
Did Stephen Hawking believe in God? How are Hawking’s views of God similar to that of pantheistic religions? According to the late Stephen Hawking, God is unnecessary because science explains the universe better than religion. However, Hawking didn’t rule out the possibility of God—he said that “God” is the natural laws of the universe rather than a singular being. Here are Stephen Hawking’s ideas about God.
Are you thinking of reading On Writing Well by William Zinsser? Can the book help you improve your nonfiction writing skills? No matter your current skill level, William Zinsser believes anyone can practice the craft of writing. On Writing Well offers a back-to-basics approach, focusing on honing essential writing skills rather than trying to employ complex stylistic techniques. Here’s our On Writing Well review, including the book’s approach, critical reception, and impact.
Do you want to be a travel writer? What can you do to set yourself apart? The travel writing industry is booming. However, there are five common traps that travel writers fall into. If you avoid these traps, you will set your writing apart from the rest. Here are some tips to set yourself apart.
What did Stephen Hawking say about aliens in his book Brief Answers to the Big Questions? Did Hawking believe in the existence of extraterrestrials? According to famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, aliens most likely exist, but there’s a good chance humanity will never encounter them. This is because Hawking believed that extraterrestrial life is likely unintelligent and lacks the technology to communicate with others. Here’s an in-depth look at Stephen Hawking’s theories about aliens.
Do you write creative nonfiction? What can you do to spice your nonfiction piece up? In his book On Writing Well, William Zinsser explains that nonfiction writing doesn’t have to be flat and bland. You can write nonfiction in ways that will grip readers as much as fiction writing. From interviews to memoirs to sports writing, here’s how to add some flare to your nonfiction.
Are you a sportswriter or want to be one? Are you looking for sports writing tips? Sports writing is a form of nonfiction that reports on topics involving sports, such as athletes, games, and competitions. Zinsser notes two problems sportswriters face: making the story about them and flaunting their knowledge. Here’s why you should avoid both.
When resources run out on Earth, will humans move to another planet? Should they? What did famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking think? In his final book Brief Answers to the Big Questions, Stephen Hawking discusses space colonization. His conclusion was that humans need to colonize outer space because humans are running out of space on Earth, and because humans are at risk for extinction otherwise. Here’s why Hawking said humans should colonize space.
Do you struggle to keep consistent as you write? What are some things to consider to ensure your writing is consistent in terms of tone, argument, point of view, and tense? If you want to maintain consistency in your writing, you need to ask yourself these four guiding questions: What’s the main idea? What point of view will you use? What tense will you use? And what tone will you have? You must make these decisions ahead of time so you don’t lose focus part-way through. Here’s how to maintain consistency while writing.
Want to know how to steal like an artist? What steps can you follow to increase your creativity and start creating art? Steal Like an Artist is a brief primer on Austin Kleon’s top 10 pieces of advice for aspiring creatives. We’ve reorganized his 10 ideas into a four-step creative process beginning with the first step: organizing your life for maximum creativity. Here’s how to steal like an artist, according to Austin Kleon.