The Art of Nonfiction

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Highlights

  • Never make the communication of your philosophy a special assignment—that belongs in theoretical articles only. (Location 624)
  • When you write, you must trust your subconscious, and more: you must allow your subconscious to be the sole authority in the universe. (Location 652)
  • state what you are going to demonstrate, demonstrate it, and then announce the conclusion. (Location 792)
  • Point 1: (Location 852)
  • “Introduction—express general reasons why I am dissatisfied and puzzled by Nixon’s behavior so far.” (Location 852)
  • you write under Point 2: “Nixon’s tax policy: I shall indicate how this represents a broken campaign promise, and why it is dangerous to pursue the same tax policy as that of the Johnson administration.” (Location 857)
  • under Point 3, write something like: “Nixon’s Vietnam policy: Briefly cover the essence of what was wrong with the Johnson policy. Indicate in what way Nixon seems to be continuing the same policy. Mention what indication he has given that he has no new approach.” (Location 860)
  • Point 4: “Welfare: He is reshuffling the various agencies without eliminating the improper services. He is vacillating with his ‘war on poverty’ and his constant welfare-state promises.” You might even include here: “I shall quote, for illustration, certain points.” (Location 863)
  • “Conclusion: I think we can give him more time; I am not yet sure that his administration will be bad, though I have serious doubts.” (Location 867)
    1. Definition of compromise: an adjustment of conflicting claims by mutual concessions. a. Need of basic principle as ground for proper compromise. b. Presuppositions of a valid compromise: i. Both sides have some valid claim and some value to offer. ii. Both parties agree on an underlying principle. iii. The subject of the compromise is a concrete, not a principle. (Location 989)
  • There are three basic requirements for a book review: ( 1 ) to indicate the nature of the book; (2) to tell the reader what its value is; and (3) to tell him briefly what its flaws are, if any. (I am speaking now of nonfiction books; I will cover reviews of fiction later. ) (Location 2500)
  • if you hesitate, it may be that your knowledge is broad and you have grasped numerous possibilities. (Location 2768)