Steven Pinker's The Sense of Style has garnered mixed reviews from readers. Many appreciate its witty and accessible approach to grammar and style, praising Pinker's ability to demystify complex concepts. However, some critics argue that it occasionally overlooks the needs of novice writers and can be overly prescriptive. Overall, it is seen as a valuable resource for seasoned writers seeking to refine their craft.

A lover of linguistics and writing finesse who enjoys smart, accessible discussions of language will appreciate Steven Pinker's The Sense of Style. This reader likely enjoys other insightful works on writing such as Strunk and White's The Elements of Style and Lynne Truss's Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker is a comprehensive guide on how to write clear, engaging prose, particularly in non-fiction. Using examples from various texts, Pinker demonstrates what makes writing effective, questions some traditional writing advice, and offers his own recommendations grounded in psycholinguistics.

Informative / Contemplative / Challenging

- The Sense of Style by Steven Pinker is often praised for its humorous and accessible writing style, making the complexities of linguistic science engaging for a broad audience.
- Pinker, a renowned cognitive scientist and linguist, challenges conventional linguistic prescriptivism in this book, advocating for an evolving understanding of language rules.
- The book includes examples from both classic literature and modern science writing to illustrate its points, showcasing Pinker's extensive knowledge across various domains.

**Steven Pinker**  
A linguist, cognitive psychologist, and Harvard professor who authors the work, emphasizing his roles as a reader and teacher to build credibility on writing style. He analyzes various texts to illustrate effective and ineffective writing practices.

**William Strunk and E. B. White**  
Authors of the influential writing guide, The Elements of Style, whose work Pinker frequently references, appraising certain advice while critiquing their grammatical interpretations to position his guidance as an update to traditional rules.

**Isabel Wilkerson**  
A journalist and historian whose work Pinker highlights to show how skilled prose can capture the human elements of historical narratives, especially through her book The Warmth of Other Suns.

**Rebecca Newberg Goldstein**  
A novelist and philosopher whom Pinker uses as an example of skillful writing, praising her imagery and ability to maintain clarity in long sentences through strategic use of punctuation and language.

**John Keegan**  
A military historian whose work, A History of Warfare, serves as a primary example of ineffective writing according to Pinker, as he critiques the coherence and thematic consistency of Keegan's prose.

**Judith Butler**  
A literary theorist briefly mentioned in Pinker's discussion on challenging prose, serving as an example of complex academic writing that has drawn criticism for style, although Pinker is not the first to do so.

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