Short Version In Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World, Maryanne Wolf makes the argument that the digital world is transforming our reading brains, and not always for the better. Only by understanding these changes can we figure out how to navigate them and form a brighter future for a literate, and […]
Book Reviews and Recommendations
One of the greatest gifts someone can give you is a reference to a good book.
I read a large number of books - many as research for the books I write, others just because I love to read them. My topic areas include business and marketing, writing, and cognitive science.
These are links to the book review posts. Visit the Resources pages to find suggested readings for either writing or marketing.
Wired for Story: A Book Review
Short Version A story proves itself not on the paper but in the reader’s brain. In Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence, Lisa Cron offers valuable insights and practical advice for crafting better stories. Long Version: 3 Things I Love about This book (As […]
The 1-Page Marketing Plan: A Short Guide to Long-Term Success
Short version The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib is a concise, actionable compilation of great marketing advice. Long version Not everyone can distill complicated subjects into concise, understandable, and actionable information. Allan Dib can, though. He’s done it in this short but valuable work, The 1-Page Marketing Plan. The marketing industry is filled with wordy […]
Thoughts on the Creative Life: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Short Version This classic writing-related book was first published in 2015, but I only got around to reading it recently. Elizabeth Gilbert’s wonder-filled, “magical” approach to creativity would seem to be the antithesis of my cognitive-science-based approach, but I loved Big Magic and found it inspiring. You probably will as well. Long Version At […]
Books to Give the Writers in Your Life
Why do books make such great gifts? Let me count the ways: They don’t perish or go stale. They’re easy to wrap. If the recipient is a writer, you know they like reading. The right nonfiction book can have an impact on the recipient’s life – the gift that truly keeps giving. The hard part […]
The Business of Being a Writer – A Book Review
Short Version It’s fashionable to complain that no one can make a living writing, or that self-publishing is for hobbyists only. In The Business of Being a Writer, Jane Friedman begs to differ. She knows a great deal about the publishing industry, and in this book she suggests that you can make a living, but […]
