Author: David Foster Wallace & Bryan A. Garner Year Published: 2013 (interview conducted February 3, 2006) Category: Language, Writing, Communication
Summary
"Quack This Way" presents the transcript of a wide-ranging interview between novelist David Foster Wallace and legal scholar/lexicographer Bryan A. Garner. Their conversation explores the nature of good writing, the proper use of language, and approaches to effective communication. The interview, conducted in February 2006 in Los Angeles, represents Wallace's last long interview before his death and his only recorded conversation focused exclusively on language and writing. The title comes from their shared self-identification as "snoots"—people deeply concerned with proper language usage.
Why This Book Matters
I've included this book because it provides practical insights into clear communication from two masters of language coming from different domains. Wallace's perspective as a novelist and writing teacher combined with Garner's expertise in legal writing and lexicography offers a unique cross-disciplinary approach to writing well. Their conversation addresses fundamental questions about why good writing matters, how to develop as a writer, and the ethical dimensions of clear communication—all topics that complement other works in this library.