Thinking through Writing: A Guide to Becoming a Better Writer and Thinker

by John Kaag, Jonathan van Belle

A concise and practical manual on developing reading, writing, and critical thinking skills in tandem

For college students learning how to write on scholarly subjects, writing and critical thinking go hand in hand. And yet most books on these topics are categorized writing guides and critical thinking handbooks. This book is different, offering a manual for developing reading, writing, and thinking skills in tandem. With short, practical chapters, Thinking through Writing helps readers learn to think critically about themselves and the world at large, read carefully and get the necessary literary support, write clearly and persuasively, stay on point, and finish their work as cleanly and compellingly as possible. Drawing on years of teaching critical thinking and writing, including almost a decade of teaching Harvard’s freshman expository writing course, the authors invite readers to consider the intimate relationship between thinking and the creative, critical, self-actualizing act of writing.

• Interviews with some of the most interesting and brilliant writers working today
• Advice on how to structure an argument, write for an audience, work through writer’s block and anxiety, and much more
• Tips on how to make your writing unique and personal
• Exercises and templates to help novice writers reach their full potential in practice

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2024

About the author

John Kaag is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and author of American Philosophy: A Love Story. It is a story of lost library, a lost American intellectual tradition and a lost person--and their simultaneous recovery.

Kaag is a dispirited young philosopher at sea in his marriage and his career when he stumbles upon West Wind, a ruin of an estate in the hinterlands of New Hampshire that belonged to the eminent Harvard philosopher William Ernest Hocking. Hocking was one of the last true giants of American philosophy and a direct intellectual descendent of William James, the father of American philosophy and psychology, with whom Kaag feels a deep kinship. It is James’s question “Is life worth living?” that guides this remarkable book.

The books Kaag discovers in the Hocking library are crawling with insects and full of mold. But he resolves to restore them, as he immediately recognizes their importance. Not only does the library at West Wind contain handwritten notes from Whitman and inscriptions from Frost, but there are startlingly rare first editions of Hobbes, Descartes, and Kant. As Kaag begins to catalog and read through these priceless volumes, he embarks on a thrilling journey that leads him to the life-affirming tenets of American philosophy―self-reliance, pragmatism, and transcendence―and to a brilliant young Kantian who joins him in the restoration of the Hocking books.

Part intellectual history, part memoir, American Philosophy is ultimately about love, freedom, and the role that wisdom can play in turning one’s life around.

John lives with his daughter, Becca, and partner, Carol, outside of Boston.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really the only book a college student needs if they're interested in writing clearly and effectively. Covers all the major moves of writing, and they have a fresh take on writing conclusions. Yes, other books are required for college, but this book will help you respond to the other required reading in various courses. I hope they put out a spiral-bound edition.

[Sekar Writes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review and summary.

I stumbled upon someone reading this book in a local café at just the right time. I was searching for a book about writing, and this one perfectly met my needs. It inspired me to transform my endless, random note-taking into something structured and meaningful. The authors offer valuable insights and tips into writing with purpose and thoughtfulness.

It’s a pity this book wasn’t available during my college years. Otherwise, it would have provided a solid foundation for practicing my writing skills much earlier. However, as they say, it’s never too late!