Mary Pipher, Writing to Change the World Review

Overall Rating

Writing to Change the World
Mary Pipher
Riverhead, April 2006, $24.95
ISBN: 1594489203

The underlying premise to this self-help book is that the pen (computer?) is mightier than the sword (weapons of mass destruction?). Mary Pipher assumes most people want to write what is on their mind, but want to do so with clarity and passion. WRITING TO CHANGE THE WORLD explains what to do and what not do, with the latter perhaps being most critical, as simple avoidable pitfalls can devastate a product. Ms. Pipher also explains when to use which format, from letters to essays to blogs; with the key being some homage to Mcluhan, in that the medium is key to the message.

Finally the book provides a step by step primer into the writing process supplemented by exercises and instruction. Well written and easy to follow, this reviewer picked up some tips on presenting reviews (similar to Ms. Pipher's Op-ed comments), especially her affirmation of the writer as "a moral agent" while staying focused on your objective.

As Robert Brent Toplin points out in his book MICHAEL MOORE'S 'FAHRENHEIT 9/11': HOW ONE FILM DIVIDED A NATION: "the most important message of Fahrenheit 9/11 is that the war with Iraq was unnecessary" was somewhat distracted by controversial anecdotal sidebars that took viewers away from the director's main theme. Ms. Pipher provides advice on how to avoid that easy to fall into trap with this fine self help primer.