Eschewed Obfuscation

The Elements of Style: Fourth Edition
by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White
105 pages (paperback)
Genre: Nonfiction/Writing

I read this for the first time as a library book and was enthralled by it; my style, both academic and creative, changed for the better. I finally got it from BookMooch and read it again front-to-back; and my style will probably change again, though not as drastically, careful as I am now to preserve what beginnings I have of voice. As a point of reference, I currently have 19 Book Darts in the book, even with just one for the entire fourth chapter (Words and Expressions Commonly Misused). I think I'll reread it every year to refresh my memory and strive toward clarity (not necessarily conciseness, because my voice is not).

How can I describe The Elements of Style, truly? It's such a short book, and yet a long, absorbing read. All I can say is, if you're a writer and you haven't read Strunk & White, go forth and do so. Now.

The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College
by Jacques Steinberg
292 pages (hardcover)
Genre: Nonfiction/Education/College

Disclaimer: I'm fascinated by the conundrum of higher education, so I sped through this book like a much-anticipated thriller. If you are normal, YMWV.

As the title hints, The Gatekeepers is a (slightly dated, because of recent changes) inside look at Wesleyan University's admissions process. Wesleyan is a highly selective liberal arts college in Connecticut; one, in fact, that I visited, although I failed to "click" with the campus. And, for once, it is a book that lives up to the hype. I enjoyed the insights into the thinking of admissions officers/committees, as well as to Wes as a school (I'm sure that I'm not right for it). True to his day job as an NYT reporter, Steinberg writes with spare but emotional clarity--a beautiful example of good narrative nonfiction, by engaging with real people as characters. I think it was suspenseful; the twisty prose managed to surprise me with the students' and the adcom's ultimate decisions. So, a highly recommended read in the highly specialized field of College TMI.

A is for Admission: The Insider's Guide to Getting into the Ivy League and Other Top Colleges
by Michele A. Hernández
266 pages (hardcover)
Genre: Nonfiction/Education/College

If The Gatekeepers was slightly dated, then A is for Admission might be severely dated--it was published over a decade ago, which is an eon in the world of fluctuating education policies. Nevertheless, it is a unique book. Hernández, who graduated with honors from Dartmouth and went on to become an admissions officer, is a "disgruntled adcom" and taking revenge for unknown reasons by spilling secrets. It's not illegal, just immoral according to the unspoken code; but Hernández says herself that she is leaving admissions permanently, so it doesn't matter. Her book discusses all of the usual hot topics with candor. However, the most important section is chapter 6--the Academic Index. Essentially, the Ivy League developed a formula to measure recruited athletes' academic ability, and then decided to use it for all applicants. It's quite fascinating, I think.

As always, YMMV. I could write a lot more about this book, but I'd rather not bore people with irrelevant information. If you are doing college research, even if you aren't considering the Ivies, you should definitely read A is for Admission. Although I do think that the extended subtitle is misleading--this is not so much a guidebook but an exposé.