On Writing Well

Writer and teacher William Zinsser sets out the principles of nonfiction writing, with advice for anyone who wants to learn to write or has to write to get through the day. He gives guidance for writing about people and places, science and technology, business, sports, travel, the arts and the writer's own life in memoir. Alongside technique, Zinsser takes on jargon, sexism in writing and the psychology of writer's block. Readers have valued it for sound advice, clarity and a warm style. The guide has sold more than a million copies.

Mark Manson said that of the many writing books he read before his first book, it was one of the two that stayed with him, though he found it a bit technical. Tim O'Reilly said his own principles were set before he read it, but that it captures much of what he believes about effective writing.