Week Three Response

The reading "Psychical Distance" by Bullough was an incredibly interesting read. The subject matter is not something that I have specifically read about before and that, for me, made it that much more fun to get into. I found his writing to be somewhat difficult to follow – perhaps because it was written a century ago. Sentences would end when I thought there was going to be a finishing few words. Besides that I enjoyed that the subject was different from what I've read before and that his insight into this subject was profound and thorough. I would have to read the essay a few times to get a solid understanding of everything he shared, but for the first read I caught the main point he was making about the relationship between distance and understanding. It is definitely a subject I found intriguing and would be interested in spending more time reading about and discussing.

I love reading Botton! Everything from his eloquence and subtle humor to his format of numbered sections of changing thought and added pictures make his writing pleasurable to read. He has the most wonderful ability to make ordinary subjects into riveting page-turners. Never did I think I would be captivated by the story of an "unsuccessful" painter, but Botton accomplishes that goal flawlessly. His scrutinizing insight into the depths of the painter and his work and the detail of information he weaves in make his stories multidimensional.

In relation to Bullough's essay, Botton seems to have a talent for choosing unexpected subjects and creating the appropriate amount of distance to make them perfectly balanced in relevancy and applicability. His writing offers an abundance of material that offer ways to improve one's own writing and to expand upon the realms of what intrigue encompasses.

Goldberg has a nice easy-to-read style. Her tips for bettering one's writing are shared in a relatable storytelling sort of way, with examples of everyday activities that the reader can understand. She uses humor well to keep a subject that could easily become monotonous interesting and helpful. Keeping sections short is a good way to format writing guides because it gives the reader the opportunity to take on bits of advice at a time and separates ideas so that they are easier to remember. Long chapters without breaks tend to cause information to blend together, which would not be beneficial when attempting to read for details. Goldberg offers a wide variety of ideas to help writers harness their talents; if not all are helpful some are bound to be.