Winner of the 1996 Prix du Rayonnement de la langue et de la litterature francaises, Academie francaise Their model of 'classic prose' ... elegantly captures the differences between vigorous and turgid writing.
Steven Pinker, New York Times Book Review [I]n the hands of a good instructor and students who have a solid foundation in writing, the book could ... Read morebe quite empowering.
Choice [T]his book has value for the technical communicator who has an interest in style, and teachers who teach style in their classes. Thomas and Turner are right about the current crop of books that essentially ignore this way of writing, and their discussion of styles can be valuable to a fuller understanding of the relationship between thought and dress.
Tom Warren, Technical Communication Praise for the first edition: Whether they can spark a revival in classic writing is uncertain, but Thomas and Turner serve their topic well. A good choice for the serious stylist and those learning the craft.
Library Journal Praise for the first edition: Thomas and Turner engagingly delineate the attributes of a classic style of writing... In the second half, Thomas and Turner cite examples of classic style in excerpts from the writing of well-known literary figures.
Booklist Praise for the first edition: Every once in a while a book comes along with the power to alter permanently the view of a subject you thought you knew well. For me this year, that book is Clear and Simple as the Truth.
Denis Dutton, Philosophy and Literature Praise for the first edition: [For] the mature student, this is indeed a classic. For the connoisseur, it is indispensable.
Thomas D'Evelyn, Boston Book Review Praise for the first edition: An acclaimed new reference manual.
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