Comments on: Reading lists for technical writing

By: Top 6 Ways Technical Communicators Can Benefit from the Groundswell « Kai's Tech Writing Blog

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:06:38 +0000

[...] Posted on June 30, 2008 by Kai When Anne Gentle mentioned the book Groundswell on her reading list the other day, I was just in the middle of it. Now I’ve finished it and thought I’d [...]

By: Links Roundup: Technical Writing | Shanghai Tech Writer

Links Roundup: Technical Writing | Shanghai Tech Writer — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:40:38 +0000

[...] Reading Lists for Technical Writing [...]

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Recent Links Tagged With "readinglists" - JabberTags — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:04:41 +0000

[...] public links >> readinglists Reading lists for technical writing Saved by banana7 on Sat 18-10-2008 7/23 Reading List Saved by stone0206 on Mon 13-10-2008 [...]

By: annegentle

annegentle — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:06:56 +0000

Hi Robert – oh, that looks like a good one, thanks for the suggestion!

Hi Tony – wow, I really should pick up a copy of Document Engineering. Well, I should have bought one in Vancouver at DocTrain West and asked Bob to sign it! It’s not on my bookshelf, so it feels like cheating to list it. I’ll read it and then list it, how does that sound?

By: Tony Chung

Tony Chung — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:10:29 +0000

I echo Kai's recommendation for Writing Software Documentation. Of the three books from the Allan and Bacon series we had to read at BCIT, this was by far the best. It's also the only one I haven't bought, but borrowed from a friend. I should really add this to my library. I'm surprised that Bob Glushko's Document Engineering isn't on your list. Some of the thoughts he presents are beneficial to anyone looking to expand into ECM.

By: Robert Nagle

Robert Nagle — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:56:16 +0000

Not about technical writing, but Roy Peter Clark’s Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer is the most helpful book I have encountered.

By: annegentle

annegentle — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:45:58 +0000

Hi Kai – I hadn’t heard of Tom Barker’s book, I must admit, but it sounds like a great addition to a tech writer’s bookshelf. I was honestly surprised to see Paul Anderson’s book at the over $100 mark! It was used for undergraduate coursework when I first saw it. I really need to pick up Groundswell. I think there’s a Borders gift certificate in my purse that’ll cover it nicely. Then I’ll report back if I see any groundswells. Does a river swell count, like WriterRiver.com?

Hi Avi – An excellent confession to make. I’m such an avid reader, but I also think that carefully choosing your booklist is important, we don’t have time to read everything that is out there!

Hi Rhonda – great Astore example, nice! Ok, now, I have to admit, the cover of “Is the Help Helpful” has always frightened me. Perhaps that is the intent – a drowning man in a lifesaver is very visual if you want to drive the point home that help is necessary.

Hi Gordon – Ok, true confession time, since Avi started. I completely cheated and listened to an audio summary of Made to Stick as a brown-bag team lunch thing.

Take a look at the listings here: http://store.audiotech.com/mp3_list.cfm

Sure does help when you’re time crunched or if you’d like to know your team has had the same exposure to a book.

By: avi

avi — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:12:47 +0000

I’m embarrassed to say I read only 2-3 books of this list.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:58:30 +0000

My list is here: http://astore.amazon.com/cybertconsul-20/ (Yes, it’s my Amazon store!)

Some of my favourites include: “Don’t make me think!”, “Is the Help helpful?” and “The inmates are running the asylum”

By: Gordon

Gordon — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:34:01 +0000

Ohh and if you’ve read the Tipping Point you owe it to yourself to read Made to Stick (see my recent review for details..)