44 pages 1 hour read

Jim Vandehei, Mike Allen, Roy Schwartz

Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2022

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Introduction-Part 1, Chapter 4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “What Is Smart Brevity?”

Introduction Summary: “The Fog of Words”

The authors use plural first person to begin the book, opening with a commentary on how words hold us all “prisoner” (6). They discuss the ways in which we are inundated by words, be it through emails or tweets, and the tendency that people have to use too many words when they could be communicating more succinctly. They provide some datapoints that highlight the attention span of readers and how the brain can distinguish in milliseconds whether or not to continue reading something. The authors also claim that the data show that readers scan rather than read electronic text. More data are presented that highlight how the consumption of written content has changed because of electronic forms of writing. The authors then ask, in a world overflowing with written content, how one can get their own writing noticed. Their answer is that writers should modify their approach to better align with the way readers consume written content.

Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary: “Short, Not Shallow”

The authors provide their definition of smart brevity, describing it as a system designed to help writers communicate more clearly and concisely. They distinguish between short and shallow, suggesting that shorter does not mean less intelligent.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 44 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,500+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools