Golden Book on Writing

by David Lambuth, Budd Schulberg (Foreword)

A handbook on the use of grammar including chapters on business English and letter writing

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Nolan Flavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can easily call this one of the greatest books on writing I've yet to read. It logically, yet simply, addresses some of the more important topics on the subject, all with breathtaking accuracy. Any aspiring writer who heeds its advice will find their words flourishing, and already surpassing the disjointed, unfocused, lazy language of much English prose.

David Lambuth never overwhelms the reader, never dumps jungles of jargon on his or her mind: he merely guides them with a gentle hand to the discovery of an expressive, active, and clear voice in writing. He shoots down disastrous trends, misconceptions, and lays out the how's and why's of the English language, showing why he loves it—showing its true beauty.

[Rick Hogaboam · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 79 pages, this is a nice introduction to writing. Good refresher for the one who hasn't been in school awhile and needs/wants to write.

[Elisa Doucette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find it sad that I've never heard of this book, originally published in 1923 (republished in 1964 w/new material). Fast read with so much writing wisdom.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with the Elements of Style by Strunk and White, this short book is an admonition for clear and concise writing. The author was a professor of English.

Lambuth throughout the little book reminds the reader that extra words are not necessary. If you're going to hit the nail on the head, then hit it, he writes.

Thus endeth my review. Five stars says it all.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read The Golden Book on Writing, wondering how it would measure up to Strunk and White's The Elements of Style. Both books were authored by college professors as guide books for their students. Elements was published by William Strunk in 1919 at Cornell while Golden Book was published in 1923 at Dartmouth. The booklets (neither is more than 80 pages long) were intended for use within their respective college campuses. What sets them apart is that E.B. White revised Elements for the general public in 1959. And he did it with such precision and wit that it quickly came to be considered the essential guide to good writing.

Frankly, I expected Golden Book to be inferior, but it really can't be compared to Elements. Although both books emphasize economy of language - i.e., the removal of all unnecessary words, Lambuth's main point is to use common sense when writing, even when it occasionally breaks the rules.