Write to Learn
How writing helps with learning subjects outside its formal discipline.
William Zinsser, the acclaimed author and writing guru, takes a fresh approach to learning in his book ‘Writing to Learn’; proposing that writing itself is a powerful tool for solidifying understanding.
With his engaging and clear prose and compelling arguments, Zinsser showcased how writing, across all disciplines like science, history, and art, can foster a deeper engagement with the subject.
Zinsser advocates that, by putting pen to paper, readers are forced to confront their grasp of the subject, identify areas of confusion, and ultimately, achieve a stronger comprehension.
He also emphasized that within any given subject, with many showcasing examples, one can find accessible and engaging writings that will make even the most complex topics approachable.
One such example is that of an aquatic biologist Rachel Carson, whose writings can describe the mysteries of the seas in the most eloquent way in her book ‘The Sea Around Us’.
Carson was, perhaps, better known for ‘Silent Spring’, her other book that called for attention to the insidious damage that chemicals have on the planet, giving the young environmental movement its biggest push in the 1960s.
