Eats, Shoots & Leaves

Introduction:

Eats, Shoots & Leaves is a popular bestseller from 2003 that serves as a call to action for all grammar enthusiasts to relentlessly pursue punctuation perfection. I am not a grammar enthusiast; but I picked this book up based on its catchy title and desire to improve on a week area in my writing. Lynne Truss writes a book that not only teaches punctuation basics, but also argues for its art. In my work, as an engineer and naval officer, my writing is constantly edited to make shorter more direct sentences that inform the reader of the necessary information with nothing extraneous. Eats, Shoots & Leaves reminded me that writing can and should consist of more than one type of sentence structure. Writing can and should be fun.

Content Overview:

The book includes a lengthy introduction and conclusion that contain Lynne Truss’s arguement for why punctuation matters and why she forsees its decline. The rest of the chapters each takes on one or more form of punctuation to address its history and usage. Lynne starts out explaining the apostrophe and its many uses. The apostrophe’s uses are not as nuanced as the comma, colon, or semi-colon and does not really support Truss’s arguement for the art of punctuation. If it wasn’t for the fact that I did not understand how to use a semi-colon or a colon: I would have put the book down after this chapter. Thankfully the rest of the chapters cover other more interesting marks, or only briefly summarize the punctuation in only a few pages.

Writing Style and Clarity:

Lynne Truss unashamedly practices what she preaches: using punctuation to help make her point. She uses run on sentences to frustrate her readers making a point of how difficult they are to comprehend. During the teaching portions she uses clear examples that include intersperesed humor maintain her readers’ interest. By studying each sentence and how its composition produces more meaning than the sum of her words; Lynn Truss produces the perfect treatise in favor of punctuation. My only very minor complaint is that complex sentence structure makes speed reading extremely difficult. I usually did not desire to quicken my time with Eats, Shoots & Leaves, but the history sections did tend to drag on. Overall, this books writing style and readability set it apart from other grammar books (Or at least I think so, this being the only one I have read.)

Depth of Coverage:

Eats, Shoots and Leaves come in at just over 200 pages in length, but includes the history and usage of every punctuation mark in the English language. By the end I achieved a feeeling of accomplishment that I really learned valuable information. She breaks down every use of each punctuation mark. While this level of detail got dry when I already knew the rules; I felt like more of a grammar badass by achieving mastery. I am positive I am not and never will be a punctuation vigilante like Lynn wants from me. Lynn Truss did enstill in me a confidence to take more chances with my punctuation. This confidence grew out of not only effectively teaching the nuanced rules, but also belaboring the straight-forward usages.

Pros

  • Short read
  • Engaging language
  • Effective instruction

Cons

  • Hard to overcome dry subject matter
  • Difficult Pacing

Conclusion 8/10

Digital Minimalism will appeal to most people tired of their smart phones controlling their free time. It provides effective practical guidance to reduce this control in both the short and long term. I personally got immense benefit from it and am recommending it to my friends and family so we can all retake control of our lives.


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by Michael Bush