Writing for Busy Readers : communicate more effectively in the real world

We were all taught the fundamentals of writing well in school. But how do we write effectively in today’s hyper-interactive world?

When The Elements of Style and On Writing Well were published in 1959 and 1976, the internet hadn’t been invented. Since then, there has been a radical transformation in how we communicate. The average adult receives over 100 emails and tens of text messages each day. With all this correspondence, gaining a busy reader’s attention is now a competition.

Todd Rogers and Jessica Lasky-Fink, both behavioural scientists, offer practical writing advice you can use today. They begin by outlining cognitive facts about how busy people read, then detail six research-backed principles for effective writing:

Use fewer words
Lower the reading level
Use formatting judiciously
Make the purpose clear for skimmers
Emphasise value for readers
Make responding as easy as possible.

Including many examples, a checklist, and other tools for the most effective writing, this handbook will make you a more effective communicator. Rogers and Lasky-Fink bring conventional ideas about text-based communication into the 21st century’s radically transformed attention marketplace.

MEDIA REVIEWS

‘Rogers and Lasky-Fink’s research has fascinated me for a long time — and one of the reasons it’s so great is because their writing is so readable. This book is an explanation about how to transform your own everyday writing so that it is easier to read, easier to write — and more likely to make a real difference in the world.’ - Charles Duhigg, author of bestsellers The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better

‘Amazing. The best book ever written on effective writing. It will change your life — and make the world a better place.’ - Cass R. Sunstein, Harvard University, co-author of Nudge

‘This book is a home run. It will teach readers the science of getting people to read and respond to messages. What could be more practical than that? This book will be a must read for everyone who communicates in writing … And I cannot imagine a better pair of authors for this book either.’ - Robert Cialdini, author of international bestseller Influence: the psychology of persuasion

‘I wish this book had existed earlier in my career, because it would have saved me from countless mistakes and wasted hours. Todd Rogers and Jessica Lasky-Fink show how effective writing makes life and work easier, more pleasant, and more productive. Read it today and you will write better tomorrow.’ - Arthur C. Brooks, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, author of From Strength to Strength

‘However skilled a writer you are, the insights and tools presented here will make you better. The techniques speak to both courtesy and strategy: respect readers’ time, understand their needs and you’ll gain their focus and trust. Grounded in research but designed for impact.’ - Nancy Gibbs, Edward R. Murrow Professor of Practice of Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University, former managing editor of TIME, author of The Presidents Club

‘Indispensable! This actionable, evidence-based guide will help you unleash the power of effective writing. Witty, well-organised, and imminently useful, Writing for Busy Readers is a gem. You’ll never craft a subpar email, text, or memo again.’ - Katy Milkman, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, author of How to Change

‘Inspiring and practical in equal measure and successfully shows the profound difference that effective written communication can make. The contest for people’s attention is fierce but we’ve all got a better chance with this book as our guide.’ - Ros Atkins, BBC News

‘Science-based tips to help you cut through the noise and reach readers. This is a helpful guide to achieving your communication goals.’ - Viorica Marian, Northwestern University, author of The Power of Language

‘Cost: £17 and three hours of time. Benefit: Hundreds of hours of your time and thousands of hours of the time of others. Conclusion: Good deal.’ - Max Bazerman, Harvard Business School, author of Complicit

‘This book won’t just make you a better writer — it will turn you into a more effective communicator. Writing for Busy Readers is a surprisingly captivating guide to conjuring words that captivate people. Move over, AI: this is the ultimate guide to sharpen every meaningful message you craft.’ - Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the TED podcast Re:Thinking

‘Genius! A succinct, sage guide to writing effectively — and the only one I know of that is grounded in evidence of what really works.’ - Angela Duckworth, University of Pennsylvania, Founder and CEO of Character Lab, and author of Grit

‘[A] useful handbook on how to efficiently get one’s point across, whether in an email, work memo, or social media post … The thoughtful advice is pragmatic and the prose fittingly concise and straightforward. It’s Strunk & White for the internet age.’ - Publishers Weekly