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Simple and Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers
A fter a lifetime of writing and editing prose, Jacques Barzun has set down his view of the best ways to improve one's style. His discussions of diction, syntax, tone, meaning, composition, and revision guide the reader through the technique of making the written word clear and agreeable to read. Exercises, model passages both literary and casual, and hundreds of amusing examples of usage gone wrong show how to choose the right path to self-expression in forceful and distinctive words.
291 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
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About the author
Jacques Barzun
141 books207 followersWorks of French-American educator, author, and historian Jacques Martin Barzun include
Darwin, Marx, Wagner
(see Charles Robert Darwin, Karl Marx, and Richard Wagner) (1941) and
The American University
(1968).
He presented ideas and culture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques...
He presented ideas and culture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 24, 2021
I’ve had this book on my to-read list for a long time, because it’s frequently referenced by other books I’ve read about writing. How sad (and surprising), then, that when I finally read it, I actually disliked it. “Simple & Direct” is a great title—it’s the general theme of a lot of what I teach my students and what apply when working with my writing clients. But another apt title for this book would be “Condescending & Curmudgeonly.” Throughout the book, Jacques Barzun assumes that if you don’t write well, you are an ignorant, thoughtless person who doesn’t deserve any of his time. Other writers-on-writing are also curmudgeonly—to some extent, it’s a posture that has gone with the territory for a long time—but they’re also winsome and funny: William Zinsser is the prime example, and Bryan Garner and others also come to mind. Barzun is not amusing; he’s just pretentious.
This is not to say there’s not good writing advice in the book. Though I didn’t learn anything new from Simple & Direct, it was a good refresher on some of the basics. And some of the exercises at the end of each section are helpful. But too often the examples Barzun gives are wildly outdated. Here’s one such gem:
This is the fourth edition of Simple & Direct, published in 2001 (originally published in 1975), and it makes me sad to think that Barzun spent, apparently, decades of his life being constantly annoyed at what he regarded as unclear, imprecise writing. The catchy title and long history of this book have kept it in print twenty years after its final revision, but I believe it’s time to let this one go. It has served its purpose, but there are now many, many better books about writing. Zinsser’s On Writing Well is dated but still great; Garner’s Modern English Usage is indispensable; and Gretchen McCulloch’s Because Internet is unbeatable for explaining current language and style changes.
This is not to say there’s not good writing advice in the book. Though I didn’t learn anything new from Simple & Direct, it was a good refresher on some of the basics. And some of the exercises at the end of each section are helpful. But too often the examples Barzun gives are wildly outdated. Here’s one such gem:
A choice of terms may depend on an intuitive perception of nuances and visualizing of scenes: “She tucked her arm affectionately in his.” The tucking of an arm is best done by the party in whose elbow the other’s hand is placed; “slipped her arm in his” gives the truer sense of the scene. (150)Dude, seriously?
This is the fourth edition of Simple & Direct, published in 2001 (originally published in 1975), and it makes me sad to think that Barzun spent, apparently, decades of his life being constantly annoyed at what he regarded as unclear, imprecise writing. The catchy title and long history of this book have kept it in print twenty years after its final revision, but I believe it’s time to let this one go. It has served its purpose, but there are now many, many better books about writing. Zinsser’s On Writing Well is dated but still great; Garner’s Modern English Usage is indispensable; and Gretchen McCulloch’s Because Internet is unbeatable for explaining current language and style changes.
May 20, 2013
To be honest I couldn't finish this. I'll try again another time. For a book on simple and direct writing it struck me as remarkably convoluted and flowery, not to mention snobbish. There are better style books out there.
July 6, 2018
Funnily enough, I didn't find Barzun that great of a writer, although he certainly isn't a bad one. But the general thrust of his advice—write with a clear idea in mind, choose your words with care, don't overtax your reader—rings true. And it was humbling to discover that I have committed many of the literary gaffs of which he complains.
June 10, 2023
I haven’t finished this. It’s not bad, but also not something I feel compelled to read in my freetime.
June 11, 2023
( 3.5 )
Overall, a very interesting book with helpful tricks and tips. Some chapters are unnecessary and difficult to understand, but other than that, it´s simple and direct.
Overall, a very interesting book with helpful tricks and tips. Some chapters are unnecessary and difficult to understand, but other than that, it´s simple and direct.
June 9, 2019
I've been revisiting some of the books that helped me get started. Simple & Direst offers a ton of useful advice, altho it's ain't necessarily the easiest book to get thru.
December 4, 2022
The authorial tone is rather snobbish, and some of the advice is preferential, even a bit silly.
I do appreciate that the book works through writing from small to big: how individual words work together, to how phrases and sentences work together, and later how paragraphs work together. He gives examples of awkward sentences and discusses how they went awry, and he also provides longer samples of skilled writing. But it's all a bit uneven, rant-y, and disorganized.
Still, not the first writing advice book I would recommend.
If you want a book with advice about common writing errors, read The Elements of Style.
If you want a book about good writing in general, read On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction.
I do appreciate that the book works through writing from small to big: how individual words work together, to how phrases and sentences work together, and later how paragraphs work together. He gives examples of awkward sentences and discusses how they went awry, and he also provides longer samples of skilled writing. But it's all a bit uneven, rant-y, and disorganized.
Still, not the first writing advice book I would recommend.
If you want a book with advice about common writing errors, read The Elements of Style.
If you want a book about good writing in general, read On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction.
Read
August 31, 2023The most pretentious book I've ever read. Barzun is really, really into using words correctly. I disagreed with him at multiple points, but you have to respect the man's attention to detail. Mostly fun. Far too long.
February 3, 2025
Took a pass on this one after about 30 pages. I didn’t mind the author’s tone concerning bad writing; if it’s true, it’s true. I *sometimes* miss the days when people could say what they thought without fretting over whom it might offend.
Unfortunately, the information is so dated that it adds unnecessary confusion to the already dense material. He mentions how the word “dimension” was used incorrectly in popular mainstream media, but I found no problem with it. That’s when I realized the book was written in the 70s. The definition of dimension must have changed since then. Perhaps I don’t possess the most up to date version.
The remainder of the content appeared to be basic information that I’m already familiar with, hence the DNF. It was probably a great book in its own time, though.
Unfortunately, the information is so dated that it adds unnecessary confusion to the already dense material. He mentions how the word “dimension” was used incorrectly in popular mainstream media, but I found no problem with it. That’s when I realized the book was written in the 70s. The definition of dimension must have changed since then. Perhaps I don’t possess the most up to date version.
The remainder of the content appeared to be basic information that I’m already familiar with, hence the DNF. It was probably a great book in its own time, though.
June 13, 2022
Hated it.
December 24, 2013
Oddly bloated for a book about simple writing.
October 24, 2015
Some good take-always about things not to do, but a lot of this book felt stuffy and out-dated.
November 28, 2016
SIMPLE AND DIRECT is anything but.
August 3, 2023
A little while ago I was telling my writer buddy about Steve Pressfield’s Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t.
“It’s good,” I said.
“Maybe,” he replied. “But I’ve had enough tough love.”
I know what he means. Writing is a daunting task, even under the best of conditions. It seems that the more you write, the more aware you become of your errors, your faults, the impossibility of writing perfect prose. This is to say nothing about the near-impossibility of breaking through, making it as a professional writer, dealing with rejection and indifference. Having someone stand over your shoulder and bark about how you just split that infinitive or how your subordinate clauses are rife with solecisms doesn’t make it any easier to carry on.
It was much easier in the beginning, when it was more intuitive and I wasn’t aware of my limitations, or the emergent awareness of new limitations every time I surmounted the old ones. And there’s something to be said for writing being the best way to teach oneself how to write better. The old adage, “Those who can’t do, teach,” was never true, but that’s only because the border between doing and teaching is a blurred one. Every time you do, you teach yourself. And if you’re a good teacher you may be able to impart some of what you learned to someone else, in turn saving them some trouble.
That’s the idea, anyway.
And there are some manuals that not only assist writers, but inspire them. They also contain such great insights that they actually manage to shave years off the apprenticeship of the wannabe writer. Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight taught me quite a bit about perceiving the story in toto, while Theo Cheney’s Getting the Words Right did the most for my writing at the granular level.
Simple and Direct by Jacquez Barzun has much to recommend it, and some may be inspired by its advice and improved by its lessons. But it didn’t work very well for me. For starters, the tone is a bit pedantic, and every few pages or so it grows chiding, sometimes a bit condescending. And despite the author’s cautions about becoming a pedant, he can be quite pedantic at times. Does anyone besides Barzun really bridle at a term like “fanzine”? It seems perfectly serviceable to me.
After awhile I began to feel like a student having his knuckles repeatedly and smartly rapped by the teacher’s ruler.
Some may benefit from this “tough love” approach, a much higher-browed version of Pressfield’s sobering wakeup call in Sh*t. But, like my buddy I mentioned earlier, I’ve had enough tough love. And frankly advice.
I think that the best way to learn going forward is to try, fail, pick myself up, and fail better the next time out. I need to start ignoring the experienced and educated old masters, find that young kid I once was who thought he could do no wrong.
You, naturally, may feel entirely different about this book, which only makes sense. You’re probably at a different point in your maturation as a writer. Simple and Direct’s style would probably work best in a classroom environment, rather than as an aid for the independent autodidact. Especially if said-writer intends to be a fictioneer rather than someone writing history or professional copy.
“It’s good,” I said.
“Maybe,” he replied. “But I’ve had enough tough love.”
I know what he means. Writing is a daunting task, even under the best of conditions. It seems that the more you write, the more aware you become of your errors, your faults, the impossibility of writing perfect prose. This is to say nothing about the near-impossibility of breaking through, making it as a professional writer, dealing with rejection and indifference. Having someone stand over your shoulder and bark about how you just split that infinitive or how your subordinate clauses are rife with solecisms doesn’t make it any easier to carry on.
It was much easier in the beginning, when it was more intuitive and I wasn’t aware of my limitations, or the emergent awareness of new limitations every time I surmounted the old ones. And there’s something to be said for writing being the best way to teach oneself how to write better. The old adage, “Those who can’t do, teach,” was never true, but that’s only because the border between doing and teaching is a blurred one. Every time you do, you teach yourself. And if you’re a good teacher you may be able to impart some of what you learned to someone else, in turn saving them some trouble.
That’s the idea, anyway.
And there are some manuals that not only assist writers, but inspire them. They also contain such great insights that they actually manage to shave years off the apprenticeship of the wannabe writer. Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight taught me quite a bit about perceiving the story in toto, while Theo Cheney’s Getting the Words Right did the most for my writing at the granular level.
Simple and Direct by Jacquez Barzun has much to recommend it, and some may be inspired by its advice and improved by its lessons. But it didn’t work very well for me. For starters, the tone is a bit pedantic, and every few pages or so it grows chiding, sometimes a bit condescending. And despite the author’s cautions about becoming a pedant, he can be quite pedantic at times. Does anyone besides Barzun really bridle at a term like “fanzine”? It seems perfectly serviceable to me.
After awhile I began to feel like a student having his knuckles repeatedly and smartly rapped by the teacher’s ruler.
Some may benefit from this “tough love” approach, a much higher-browed version of Pressfield’s sobering wakeup call in Sh*t. But, like my buddy I mentioned earlier, I’ve had enough tough love. And frankly advice.
I think that the best way to learn going forward is to try, fail, pick myself up, and fail better the next time out. I need to start ignoring the experienced and educated old masters, find that young kid I once was who thought he could do no wrong.
You, naturally, may feel entirely different about this book, which only makes sense. You’re probably at a different point in your maturation as a writer. Simple and Direct’s style would probably work best in a classroom environment, rather than as an aid for the independent autodidact. Especially if said-writer intends to be a fictioneer rather than someone writing history or professional copy.
June 15, 2017
I feel somewhat abashed giving a book by the superb Jacques Barzun only two stars, but according to the authoritative site Goodreads (or "goodreads" as it wants to be known on its own page), two stars equates to "it was okay," and since Simple and Direct was okay, two stars it gets. I'm not really sure what the ultimate function of this book is: surely it's not a textbook for classroom use, as entire hordes of young people posing as students collectively work through revising sentences with diction they've never heard (perhaps the original audience was familiar with his language, but none today); I certainly did not feel impelled to work through the exercises on paper - I was fine thinking through them while reading them. Toward the end Mr. Barzun gives us an extended survey of punctuation, but inscrutably he defines colons in contradistinction to his own usage throughout the book.
Not to harp on its deficiencies, but organization, another facet of writing upon which Mr. Barzun attempts to instruct us, is almost wholly useless in this work. True, it has distinct chapter headings covering divers aspects of writing, helpful enough, but beyond that ... utter chaos. Mr. Barzun traipses merrily from sub-point to sub-point, devoid of meaningful connection or reference-work ease of finding/accessibility/utility. Mr. Barzun gives us wonderfully trenchant tips on diction, tone, style, revision ... while you're reading through the book. Aside from a virtually meaningless index, we have no realistic way of using this book as a reference tool for attacking individual writing errors.
So read it ... once. Try to absorb as much as you can. Perhaps copy out the twenty basic rules for writing Mr. Barzun scatters throughout his pages for general guidelines of decent writing. Then ... give it to someone else. I doubt you're going to want to keep it for multiple uses.
Not to harp on its deficiencies, but organization, another facet of writing upon which Mr. Barzun attempts to instruct us, is almost wholly useless in this work. True, it has distinct chapter headings covering divers aspects of writing, helpful enough, but beyond that ... utter chaos. Mr. Barzun traipses merrily from sub-point to sub-point, devoid of meaningful connection or reference-work ease of finding/accessibility/utility. Mr. Barzun gives us wonderfully trenchant tips on diction, tone, style, revision ... while you're reading through the book. Aside from a virtually meaningless index, we have no realistic way of using this book as a reference tool for attacking individual writing errors.
So read it ... once. Try to absorb as much as you can. Perhaps copy out the twenty basic rules for writing Mr. Barzun scatters throughout his pages for general guidelines of decent writing. Then ... give it to someone else. I doubt you're going to want to keep it for multiple uses.
May 16, 2025
This book by Jacques Barzun must find a place in your library if you wish to improve as a writer. Not only must you read the book through once, but you must also open the book again, read through the material carefully, and do the exercises.
Also, read the passages from excellent writers he has inserted into each chapter.
A few reviewers believe he submerged the lessons in verbiage. While he may have been guilty of this ‘crime,’ I do not think the book’s style detracts from its merit. I will say, however, that you cannot skip through the pages with a song on your heart: his style demands concentrated reading.
Jacques Barzun’s book follows a logical flow. The author started with a chapter on simple diction and which words to use. Then, he added a chapter on linking: building logical connections between words. The third chapter focuses on style, and he emphasizes the importance of developing your style.
In the fourth chapter, he emphasizes the need for clarity: often, we use too many words, string them together carelessly, or adopt a pompous style, which makes writing incomprehensible.
The final two chapters focus on composition and revision. The last chapter, on revision, is too short. ‘All writing is rewriting,’ as many critics state. If he had given us detailed guidelines or illustrated the lessons with examples, this book would have become even better than it is today.
Also, read the passages from excellent writers he has inserted into each chapter.
A few reviewers believe he submerged the lessons in verbiage. While he may have been guilty of this ‘crime,’ I do not think the book’s style detracts from its merit. I will say, however, that you cannot skip through the pages with a song on your heart: his style demands concentrated reading.
Jacques Barzun’s book follows a logical flow. The author started with a chapter on simple diction and which words to use. Then, he added a chapter on linking: building logical connections between words. The third chapter focuses on style, and he emphasizes the importance of developing your style.
In the fourth chapter, he emphasizes the need for clarity: often, we use too many words, string them together carelessly, or adopt a pompous style, which makes writing incomprehensible.
The final two chapters focus on composition and revision. The last chapter, on revision, is too short. ‘All writing is rewriting,’ as many critics state. If he had given us detailed guidelines or illustrated the lessons with examples, this book would have become even better than it is today.
March 6, 2024
This book is for adults. Or more accurately, it's not for the capricious. It will not hold your hand, but only instruct; it does not aim to entertain but may do so anyway by virtue of its good sense and clarity of thought. It promotes the idea that one cannot be taught to write well--that is up to each man to learn on his own. It believes that good writing is the product of good thinking, not tricks and hacks. This book encourages each aspiring writer to help himself. For instance, the exercises encountered along the way are not supplied with "solutions," only hints. This will surely annoy the helpless, but the non-jittery reader will appreciate the chance to think for himself.
Those that perceive condescension in the author may not be accustomed to the discomfort of honest instruction. Those dismayed by "outdated" guidelines or expressions, have probably become too accustomed to shallow treatments of difficult subjects.
This is the perfect first book on rhetoric, and if its spirit and ideas are internalized, may prove to be the only such book one ever needs.
Those that perceive condescension in the author may not be accustomed to the discomfort of honest instruction. Those dismayed by "outdated" guidelines or expressions, have probably become too accustomed to shallow treatments of difficult subjects.
This is the perfect first book on rhetoric, and if its spirit and ideas are internalized, may prove to be the only such book one ever needs.
May 14, 2020
This book is simultaneously a radical call to arms for a “simple and direct” approach to all written language and an overwrought and pedantic style manual. It fails for me in both circumstances. I was hoping for something that taught “a rhetoric for writers” as an approach to writing itself, but instead I got a bloated Strunk & White. Every time you think he’s about to retreat to a macro level and get into something insightful, he drills back down into minutia that should be second hat to anyone mildly educated in grammar or style or etymology. Perhaps the remedial student or ESL learner would find some benefit.
November 6, 2018
- Every man has often found himself deficient in the power of expression, big with ideas which he could not utter, and unable to impress upon his reader the image existing in his own mind. —Dr. Johnson
- I sometimes think that writing is like driving sheep down a road. If there is any gate to the left or right, the readers will most certainly go into it. —C. S. Lewis
- here and there a touch of good grammar for picturesqueness. —Mark Twain
- I sometimes think that writing is like driving sheep down a road. If there is any gate to the left or right, the readers will most certainly go into it. —C. S. Lewis
- here and there a touch of good grammar for picturesqueness. —Mark Twain
May 9, 2019
You need to be very good in English to get the most of this book.
In my case, there were many words that I wasn't able to understand.
Sure, I learned from this book, but not as much as I hoped.
The other problem with this book is that it doesn't give the answers to the exercises, but only hints, which doesn't allow learning by example.
In my case, there were many words that I wasn't able to understand.
Sure, I learned from this book, but not as much as I hoped.
The other problem with this book is that it doesn't give the answers to the exercises, but only hints, which doesn't allow learning by example.
July 6, 2017
A writers' guide to rhetoric first published in 1975, Barzun begins with fiction and covers most of the aspects of writing well: fiction; tone; audience; purpose; meaning; editing; and revision. Although some sections are dated, there is still valuable information included.
December 15, 2021
dnf
the content of this book is anything but simple and direct. The design didn't help; all words, no room to browse or breath. No fun.
the content of this book is anything but simple and direct. The design didn't help; all words, no room to browse or breath. No fun.
November 30, 2022
Abandoned after 60 pages. Too dense for me. Can't get into it.
September 24, 2019
Overall, the book is accessible, but challenging. The author knows of what he writes. Yes, it is a little dated; however there is an edition from 2001 which I didn't see. This book is particularly meant for any who write prose, whether fiction or non-fiction. The author presents a lengthy, meaty chapter along with some exercises for the reader to try. At the end of each chapter, he gives an example of good writing from a variety of sources. At the end is an index of words, topics, and authors.
June 8, 2022
Simple and Direct is a rhetoric by Jacques Barzun meant for experienced writers who need broad guidance in key principles of writing rather than a review of the fundamentals like sentence mechanics and grammar. The book is divided into six parts: diction, linking, tone and tune, meaning, composition, and revision. The aim of the book is to instill a sensitivity to words into the reader, something Barzun must have felt elementary writing courses could not or did not provide.
Simple and Direct is worth reading despite its flaws. There is much useful advice and Barzun accomplishes his aim: to re-sensitive aspiring writers to words and their shades of meaning. This is not something that most rhetoric manuals or writing guides do. What most books that cover the subject contain are prescriptive rules such as “Write short sentences,” “Don’t use the passive voice,” and “Strike out all adverbs.” But prescriptive rules exist for a reason, and without them we might not have any definite standards, but for people who have been writing prose for years, the goal of making them think critically about words is a much more worthwhile pursuit than hammering in the advice that is handed out to anyone who wants to improve.
Redeveloping a sensitivity to words is useful because its effect is much more impactful than any individual guidelines that elementary rhetorics may provide. If a writer has a firm understanding of their intention and their audience, they can choose the best words to express their thoughts, and they can accomplish their purpose. Also, they can make choices in context without following rules blindly, which means that if they develop their taste in words they can make informed stylistic decisions instead of relying on the all-too-common elementary advice.
Unfortunately, the book could have a clearer style. It goes without saying that this feature does not inspire any confidence in a rhetoric manual. Other style guides such as On Writing Well, by William Zinsser and the similarly named On Writing, by Stephen King are much more well-written and readable. Another issue is that some of the chapter titles are unclear. This problem is very noticeable in section 2: Linking. It took me a long time to figure out what section 2 is about while the titles and by extension goals of all the other chapters were clear.
The ideas in Simple and Direct are worth reading and learning. Despite its flaws, the aim of Jacques Barzun’s book is great and worthwhile, and Barzun accomplishes his goal of making his readers critical editors who can read over their writing and revise it well through being careful with words and exact in meaning.
Simple and Direct is worth reading despite its flaws. There is much useful advice and Barzun accomplishes his aim: to re-sensitive aspiring writers to words and their shades of meaning. This is not something that most rhetoric manuals or writing guides do. What most books that cover the subject contain are prescriptive rules such as “Write short sentences,” “Don’t use the passive voice,” and “Strike out all adverbs.” But prescriptive rules exist for a reason, and without them we might not have any definite standards, but for people who have been writing prose for years, the goal of making them think critically about words is a much more worthwhile pursuit than hammering in the advice that is handed out to anyone who wants to improve.
Redeveloping a sensitivity to words is useful because its effect is much more impactful than any individual guidelines that elementary rhetorics may provide. If a writer has a firm understanding of their intention and their audience, they can choose the best words to express their thoughts, and they can accomplish their purpose. Also, they can make choices in context without following rules blindly, which means that if they develop their taste in words they can make informed stylistic decisions instead of relying on the all-too-common elementary advice.
Unfortunately, the book could have a clearer style. It goes without saying that this feature does not inspire any confidence in a rhetoric manual. Other style guides such as On Writing Well, by William Zinsser and the similarly named On Writing, by Stephen King are much more well-written and readable. Another issue is that some of the chapter titles are unclear. This problem is very noticeable in section 2: Linking. It took me a long time to figure out what section 2 is about while the titles and by extension goals of all the other chapters were clear.
The ideas in Simple and Direct are worth reading and learning. Despite its flaws, the aim of Jacques Barzun’s book is great and worthwhile, and Barzun accomplishes his goal of making his readers critical editors who can read over their writing and revise it well through being careful with words and exact in meaning.
January 13, 2022
Chosen because I attempted read Barzun’s From Dawn to Decadence; his magnus opus on western civilization. Much like From Dawn defends western civilization’s splendor and value, Simple & Direct serves bulwark against bad writing. Barzun gives his take on diction, syntax, tone, meaning, composition, and revision to guide you like a college student through making your writing clear and pleasant to read. He also examples of bad writing and has a few soap box rants about the poor state of writing in our civilization. His exercises throughout helps you learn the key ideas and the ‘Time out for good reading’ passages exemplify how to instead of how not to.
November 4, 2015
This book is anything BUT simple and direct. This was a very difficult read and even though the author gave examples of jargon, misplaced or misused words, and unnecessary phrases, I don't feel like a better writer for having read it. I would have preferred to have "before and after" examples of clearly edited essays. Not entirely a bad book....just not for the layman.
November 15, 2014
This is a nice writing tutorial but not what I was looking for. Barzun takes a methodical approach, starting with words and working his way out to paragraphs and compositions. He includes writing and reading exercises, for practice. I would say it's pitched to undergraduate and graduate students.
Want to read
April 18, 2008Helps with sentence structure. Good for post-graduates.
March 24, 2009
Simple & direct: A rhetoric for writers (A Cass Canfield book) by Jacques Barzun (1975)
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