Why write? A master class on the art and value of writing

Review by Booklist Review

Edmundson continues his Why series Why Read (2004), Why Teach (2013) with a warm, engaging look at the myriad ways writing can expand and enrich life. The title of each concise chapter offers a different answer to Why Write?, but some are more charged than others. Not that To Grow or To Remember are in any way lacking, but such titles as To Get Even and To Drink have frank, titillating charm. Edmundson dismisses a formulaic approach, focusing instead on writing as a way to grow and to strengthen. Thus, a key chapter addresses the need to learn to be alone. Writing builds the mind just as physical exercise builds the body, Edmundson argues, and as such a life force, writing can be worthwhile, even for those with no interest in getting published. He addresses this more specifically in chapters on writing later in life and on extolling the memoir: everyone should write one, if even just for themselves. Good reading encourages good writing, and Edmundson suggests titles throughout that complement his far-reaching master class and create an invaluable reading list.--Carr, Dane Copyright 2016 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In a book that reads like lectures notes for a meandering college course, Edmundson (Why Teach?), a professor at the University of Virginia, attempts to answer the question of why, in an era of diminishing readership and an increasing number of entertainment options, one might choose to become a writer. Organized around different answers such as "to get even" and "to grow," the book is filled with anecdotes about canonical writers, along with personal stories from the author's writing and teaching career. Edmundson is adept at finding quotes and telling tales from the English romantic poets, Greek philosophers, and American transcendentalists, but his examples rarely stray outside Europe and North America. The book has a penchant for broad pronouncements about the literary canon-"Is it possible to be a writer in America and not have dropped all the way into Melville or Dickinson, the prophet Whitman or Emerson"-and the habits of "real writers" and who they may be. Though the prose is easy to read, chatty, and sometimes amusing, the book's unexamined Western-centric perspective may leave some readers feeling that Edmundson's message doesn't apply to them. Agent: Sam Stoloff, Goldin Literary Agency. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Review by Library Journal Review

The wisdom of dedicating one's career to professional writing is often questioned, and Edmundson (English, Univ. of Virginia; Why Read?) intends to dissuade such arguments quickly with his latest work, an in-depth analysis of the positivity of literary pursuits. Chapters contain insightful passages on the art of writing from masters such as Emily Dickinson. This is not a how-to guide but instead a how-to embrace and develop the ability to compose well. A note of caution to the beginning writer: the life of an author has its perils, and Edmundson shares examples of these frequently; even Walt Whitman and John Keats faced criticism from peers, editors, and the media. Thankfully, the reviews are not always negative, and favorable feedback can be rewarding. In closing, Edmundson encourages aspiring writers to find equal satisfaction in discovering their way to words. VERDICT This informative and entertaining read will delight those interested in the writing process from an academic perspective.-Angela Forret, Clive P.L., IA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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