The best guidance I have read. I did not know that writing could be improved with so many simple changes.

The other reviews I have read showered praise on Stein for his book on writing. I guess they either write fiction or would like to in future. The topic of fiction is the focus for the bulk of the book. I downloaded the book for the nonfiction writing advice that the book claimed to contain. I downloaded the book for a project in nonfiction I am working on. I am not a author. The book does not address nonfiction unless you classify nonfiction as strictly the domain of biographical and journalistic types of writing.

There are many interesting things going on that have nothing to do with either of those two subjects. If I tried to apply Stein's information to my project I am confident it would produce a work for ideas set three decades into the past. Not what I sought. Therefore the book is a zero for me in terms of why I downloaded it. I give it two stars only becuase the fiction work in it could possibly help someone else.

I just wonder which nonfiction writers Stein thought would be his audience for this book? I would think biographical and journalistic writers would have had already had plenty of writing education. It is the rest of us who seek to write nonfiction that require help.

It's the best book I ever read about the craft of writing.

He gives amazing tips about the use of language to emote.

The narrator did a perfect job.

I indeed listened in one sitting.

Didn't like the lack of transition between the chapters (I would prefer to have some seconds between then).

This book, although I am admittedly only at the end of chapter 2 is exactly and precisely what I've been looking for, it really is a great read, the narration is incredibly well paced, clear, and concise. The apparent lack of a section on "writing for ones audience" really puts me off and I warn amatuer writers such as myself that this is a subject of serious importance for any writing. However, I really am enjoying this book and can already tell, even though I've only scracthed the surface of it, that it will be an invaluable tool in helping me to develop my own writing. It is a serious, great, and well written book, once you get past the sometimes arrogant opinions of course. :)

Stein incredibly arrogant. He tells us we should read John Grisham’s “The Firm” for an example of poor writing. Good writers on the other hand notice little things like the sexual interplay between fathers and their adolescent daughters, mothers and adolescent sons at square dances. If you can ignore his self-serving and sometimes ludicrous comments like the one about square dances, the book has some excellent information for aspiring writers.