5 stars (timeless) - The Elements of Style is one of the most important books that I own. Although I'm out of college, I refer to it again and again. Even if I'm not correcting grammar or punctuation, I'll still open the book to see what beautiful writing looks like. The writing is so darn clear that I often joke, "If God wanted someone to teach Jesus how to write, God would have hired Strunk and White." The last chapter deals with writing and how to craft one's own voice. This is valuable for everyone, and although Elements isn't a "how to" book on fiction writing, I've found S&W's advice to be sound while working on novels and short stories. Keep this book in your coat pocket. Study it at red lights or on the subway. This book is timeless. Lee Tasey Author of "The Gospel of Arnie." 4 stars (A Classic) - It's funny, when I was studying creative writing with Frank McCourt, there was no mention of this book in his classroom. And in my conversations with Neil Strauss, "Style" himself never once brought up this book on Style. Who is it, then, that reads this little manual? Academics? Everything it says is important, but the most imporant aspect of great writing is clear and engaging communication. You can read this book, but you might do better to read the best writers. McCourt, Strauss, Hemingway, Hunter S. Thompson, E.L. Doctrow, Tom Wolfe -- now there's a syllabus for learning the elements of Style. 5 stars (Great! There is nothing else to be said about this book) - This is a short book that deserves a short review: buy it, read it, trust it. You will write better after doing what it says you should do. Your text will be shorter too, which makes it better yet. ... Longman :: Technology & Technical Writing :: Writing Skills :: Technical Writing :: Style :: Rhetoric :: Report writing :: Reference :: Literary style :: Language Arts & Discipl :: The Elements of Style- Fourth Edition