4 ms·

It was a good article. It covered a lot of ground, but worth it for those willing to put in the effort.

JackFr 10y ago
I disagree. He has a point about the book, but this review is simply not good writing. It's needlessly verbose, meandering and self-indulgent. It attempts to be snarky but is devoid of cleverness and wit. His point is simple -- Wolfe's knowledge of the subject matter is scant and shallow and thus he has written a crap book. I don't necessarily disagree with that at all. However it could have been more effectively said with half as many words and fewer clever quips. I am very willing to put in the effort, if I get any sense that the author has put in some as well. Don't blame readers for not wanting to slog through lazy writing.
- ktRolster 10y ago
  What you call 'needlessly verbose, meandering' are actually fact-filled details. If you are not interested in the details of the language acquisition device, (or if you knew it all already), then I can see why you would be bored.
  - JackFr 10y ago
    Compare: "Perhaps you, like I, read The Voyage of the Beagle and found it to be a remarkable triumph of literature and naturalism and science and, dare I say it, the intellect." with "The Voyage of the Beagle was a triumph of literature, naturalism and intellect." Not one fact deleted. There's no accounting for taste -- maybe you like crap writing. But worthwhile ideas remain so even when presented in simple declarative sentences.
    - dragonwriter 10y ago
      > "Perhaps you, like I, read The Voyage of the Beagle and found it to be a remarkable triumph of literature and naturalism and science and, dare I say it, the intellect." > with > "The Voyage of the Beagle was a triumph of literature, naturalism and intellect." > Not one fact deleted. There's no accounting for taste Which is, in fact, the thing deleted (that is, the former version expressly emphasizes that the conclusion it offers is an opinion -- even as it clearly expects the reader to recognize that it is a quite common one, and that the author expects the reader to be likely to share it -- and the latter suggests it is a simple statement of fact.) > But worthwhile ideas remain so even when presented in simple declarative sentences. Yes, but sometimes changing the sentence structure also -- as in the example you present -- substantially alters the idea being presented.
      - JackFr 10y ago
        I don't imagine I'll convince you, but here goes. Consider your response to me. If you had left it at "Which is the thing deleted" your point would have been well and cleverly made. But you go on to undermine it with a less clear parenthetical exposition of 50+ words (1 sentence!)

I disagree. He has a point about the book, but this review is simply not good writing. It's needlessly verbose, meandering and self-indulgent. It attempts to be snarky but is devoid of cleverness and wit. His point is simple -- Wolfe's knowledge of the subject matter is scant and shallow and thus he has written a crap book. I don't necessarily disagree with that at all. However it could have been more effectively said with half as many words and fewer clever quips. I am very willing to put in the effort, if I get any sense that the author has put in some as well. Don't blame readers for not wanting to slog through lazy writing.

ktRolster 10y ago
What you call 'needlessly verbose, meandering' are actually fact-filled details. If you are not interested in the details of the language acquisition device, (or if you knew it all already), then I can see why you would be bored.
- JackFr 10y ago
  Compare: "Perhaps you, like I, read The Voyage of the Beagle and found it to be a remarkable triumph of literature and naturalism and science and, dare I say it, the intellect." with "The Voyage of the Beagle was a triumph of literature, naturalism and intellect." Not one fact deleted. There's no accounting for taste -- maybe you like crap writing. But worthwhile ideas remain so even when presented in simple declarative sentences.
  - dragonwriter 10y ago
    > "Perhaps you, like I, read The Voyage of the Beagle and found it to be a remarkable triumph of literature and naturalism and science and, dare I say it, the intellect." > with > "The Voyage of the Beagle was a triumph of literature, naturalism and intellect." > Not one fact deleted. There's no accounting for taste Which is, in fact, the thing deleted (that is, the former version expressly emphasizes that the conclusion it offers is an opinion -- even as it clearly expects the reader to recognize that it is a quite common one, and that the author expects the reader to be likely to share it -- and the latter suggests it is a simple statement of fact.) > But worthwhile ideas remain so even when presented in simple declarative sentences. Yes, but sometimes changing the sentence structure also -- as in the example you present -- substantially alters the idea being presented.
    - JackFr 10y ago
      I don't imagine I'll convince you, but here goes. Consider your response to me. If you had left it at "Which is the thing deleted" your point would have been well and cleverly made. But you go on to undermine it with a less clear parenthetical exposition of 50+ words (1 sentence!)