Summaries of books about Logic & Language:
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers
How to Edit Yourself Into Print
Renni Browne|Dave King
The book provides practical advice and techniques for fiction writers on how to refine their manuscripts through self-editing, covering topics such as dialogue, exposition, point of view, and pacing. It includes exercises, checklists, and examples to help writers improve their craft and prepare their work for publication.
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The Only Academic Phrasebook You'll Ever Need
600 Examples of Academic Language
Luiz Otávio Barros
The book provides a collection of 600 phrases commonly used in academic writing, offering practical examples to help students and researchers express ideas clearly and effectively. It covers a range of topics including introducing arguments, reviewing literature, describing methods, and discussing results.
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Making Movies
Sidney Lumet
The book provides an insightful behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process, drawing from the author's extensive experience as a director. It covers everything from the technical aspects of shooting a film to the collaborative nature of working with actors and crew, offering personal anecdotes and practical wisdom.
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Consolations - Revised edition
The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words
David Whyte
The book offers poetic essays that delve into the deeper meanings of everyday words, exploring their emotional and philosophical dimensions. It provides readers with insights and reflections that aim to comfort, inspire, and offer a new perspective on the nuances of the human experience.
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"I Give You My Body . . ."
How I Write Sex Scenes
Diana Gabaldon
The book is a practical guide for writers, providing insights and techniques on crafting effective and engaging sex scenes in fiction. It draws from the author's own experiences and examples from her work to illustrate the art of integrating intimacy into a narrative.
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A Rulebook for Arguments
Anthony Weston
The book provides a concise guide to crafting effective arguments across various contexts, emphasizing clarity, logic, and persuasive techniques. It outlines the principles of good reasoning, from constructing solid premises to avoiding common fallacies, and includes examples to illustrate each point.
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Between You & Me
Confessions of a Comma Queen
Mary Norris
The book offers a humorous and insightful look into the world of copy editing at The New Yorker, where the author shares her experiences and explores the intricacies of language, grammar, and punctuation. It blends personal anecdotes with practical advice, providing readers with both entertainment and guidance on how to navigate the complexities of written English.
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A Manual for Creating Atheists
Peter Boghossian
The book provides a guide for engaging in conversations with religious believers to encourage critical thinking and skepticism about their faith-based claims. It introduces the concept of "street epistemology," a method of dialogue that helps people reflect on the reasons for their beliefs and assess their validity.
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"They Say / I Say"
Gerald Graff|Cathy Birkenstein
The book provides a practical guide to academic writing, focusing on the art of crafting arguments and effectively incorporating the ideas of others through templates and rhetorical strategies. It emphasizes the conversational nature of writing by teaching students how to engage with texts and anticipate counterarguments.
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How to Solve It
A New Aspect of Mathematical Method
G. Polya
The book presents a systematic approach to solving mathematical problems through a set of heuristics and strategies, encouraging readers to develop a deeper understanding of mathematics by teaching them to think like mathematicians. It outlines four basic principles of problem-solving—understanding the problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan, and looking back—which can be applied to a wide range of mathematical challenges.
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