How to Write, Speak and Think More Effectively

by Rudolf Flesch

Book Overview

Srep by step, page by page, this fascinating books gives you a complete course in the art of communication. Features exercises, examples, detailed analyses, tests and and answers that point the way to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451167635
• ISBN13: 9780451167637
• Release Date: September 1963
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Brilliant Book on Writing

Flesch elegantly explains the principles of effective writing. The excellence of the book has a lot to do with Flesch's rendering of one of his rules for effective writing--Don't be too brief. That's a tricky tenet, but when trying to understand a difficult subject like effective writing, Flesch's full-bodied explications are completely appropriate. The book also contains something that few non-texts include--exercises.

This book belong in each bibliothek

1.1 Résumé of the book "This (practical) book about plain talk gives you a scientifically tested system to improve writing, speaking and thinking"* this is the explanation combined out of two main arguments of the author. The "Secret of plain talk" is the pause between the sentences. His main aim is to fight against our graphophobia. "To be better understood you don't need to live out or change your ideas: you have to excel" argues Flesch. 1.3 Main lessons 1.3.1 Apply the rules of informal writing As an executive one of the main tasks is to be well understood by giving clear messages. The writing style of Plain English is the basic of writing, speaking and thinking more effectively. The rules of informal writing are based on short and personal sentences with simple root words. To become a Fluent Writer (being direct, simple, brief, vigorous and lucid) you have to research, take notes and organize enough materials to be able to write 250 words in fifteen minutes without pauses or hesitations. 1.3.2 Raise and control readability You will raise and control your readability by focusing on the ten rules promoted by Flesch. In addition to the rules of informal writing, you will have to focus on the reader/audience and on the purpose of the writing. Anecdotes will make the text interesting. The punctuation will keep the text easy and quick to read. Keep in mind that readers need to remember what they have read and recap the main message for greatest impact. "The most important job is editing". Editing should be done the day after writing. As well as correcting punctuation, editing includes the implementation of a readable typography. In using the manual (or electronic) Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid score you will follow the progress of your writing style. You will have to achieve sixty to seventy for Reading-Ease score and eight for the Flesch-Kincaid grade level to be on a standard level. Readability formulas (especially the Flesch-Kincaid one) have become industry standards. This formula is available for more than 16 languages. 1.3.3 Problem-solving steps Flesch gives us two steps to solve a problem. First you will search for the factor that can be changed and "pry it loose". Secondly you will survey your memory for a pattern that normally doesn't match the situation. Use the 30 question checklist designed by Flesch to solve any problem. 1.3.4 Use and practice clear thinking Flesch said "remember that bright ideas are often wrong and must be tested". As an executive the main task is clear thinking and decision-making. By using Flesch's steps you will use clear thinking enough that it becomes a habit. "We have only our experience to think with" attests Flesch. The main difficulty is to separate the ideas from the words. With translating "the ideal form for intellectual exercise" you will learn how to separate the ideas from the words (see the diverse translation forms. Flesch suggests using the "20 questions game" to narrow the field of solut

Key to curbing verbosity

I found this volume superlative in its advocacy of clear and concise thinking. To be honest, I did have a tendency to be overly verbose, perhaps as a way of covering up certain intellectual insecurities. This is common among autodidacts, who are keen to offer unasked for displays of their learning and of their lexical range. This book shows you that lexical ostentation is no substitute for thought, and that intelligent people will always see through such obfuscations.

Thumbs up

This book learned me good so thad Ime now a rilly gud wrider it really tawt me how to rite gud and Ime the best wrider yull ever see thats the awnest truth. But, seriously, folks, this is a fine and accessible and readable book. And the 2nd half has fascinating and helpful tips on how the mind works, and how you can get yours to work better. Published in 1946 (and updated since) it is still in print, which is testament to its quality. It's vital reading.

How Johnny Should Write !

Rudolf Flesch was one of (if not) the first to realize that effective written communication differs from what we learn in "English" courses. This classic book teaches pragmatic written communications in an easily readable style! Further, Flesch introduced the "fog index" to quantify the readability of a manuscript! These concepts are the bases of effective journalism and modern technical (scientific) writing. This book is the "touch-stone" to communication in technical/journalistic writing!