--- product_id: 77316935 title: "The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century" price: "R300" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/77316935-the-sense-of-style-the-thinking-persons-guide-to-writing store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century **Price:** R300 **Availability:** βœ… In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century - **How much does it cost?** R300 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/77316935-the-sense-of-style-the-thinking-persons-guide-to-writing) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Review: A fine contemporary style guide - A fine contemporary style guide There are books which the blurb on the back cover calls 'unputdownable'. Then there are books to be worked at. This is one of those. If you want a relaxed read through the elements of classic writing style, this is not for you. However Steven Pinker's work is delightful in a different way. It goes beyond the borders of grammar; and the play of words, the turn of phrase and the subtle humour make the plough worth it. The best parts are where he analyzes the debatable issues and shows you how different senses of a word/phrase make certain exceptions possible ('very unique' is acceptable in certain cases, 𝘦.𝘨.). Pick it up when you have plenty of days at hand for it's not a work to be finished in one sitting. But yes, the dividends are rich, once you go through it. You get clarity on a number of doubts (you were afraid to ask). After I got it for my Kindle ereader, I ordered a hard copy as well as I realized its worth as a reference manual. πŸ“šπŸ“–πŸ““ Review: Useful but difficult to read - I have mixed feelings about this book. Style guides are difficult to read and tend to be pedantic. Hence, the difficulty in reading the book is a genre problem rather than the author's capability to engage with the reader. There are many useful suggestions and the author takes a long and circuitous route to explain all the rules and logics used in grammar. The best thing about the book is that it doesnot propogate rules - and rather gives the tools to the authors. The rules and usage guidelines change from time to time as per the reader's expectations. That's my biggest take away ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #38,831 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #55 in Writing Guides (Books) #105 in Linguistics (Books) #425 in Literary Theory, History & Criticism | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,273 Reviews | ## Images ![The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91098p-kWdL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fine contemporary style guide *by A***B on 5 April 2022* A fine contemporary style guide There are books which the blurb on the back cover calls 'unputdownable'. Then there are books to be worked at. This is one of those. If you want a relaxed read through the elements of classic writing style, this is not for you. However Steven Pinker's work is delightful in a different way. It goes beyond the borders of grammar; and the play of words, the turn of phrase and the subtle humour make the plough worth it. The best parts are where he analyzes the debatable issues and shows you how different senses of a word/phrase make certain exceptions possible ('very unique' is acceptable in certain cases, 𝘦.𝘨.). Pick it up when you have plenty of days at hand for it's not a work to be finished in one sitting. But yes, the dividends are rich, once you go through it. You get clarity on a number of doubts (you were afraid to ask). After I got it for my Kindle ereader, I ordered a hard copy as well as I realized its worth as a reference manual. πŸ“šπŸ“–πŸ““ ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Useful but difficult to read *by P***G on 6 June 2021* I have mixed feelings about this book. Style guides are difficult to read and tend to be pedantic. Hence, the difficulty in reading the book is a genre problem rather than the author's capability to engage with the reader. There are many useful suggestions and the author takes a long and circuitous route to explain all the rules and logics used in grammar. The best thing about the book is that it doesnot propogate rules - and rather gives the tools to the authors. The rules and usage guidelines change from time to time as per the reader's expectations. That's my biggest take away ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fresh and holistic perspective on the art of writing *by V***H on 12 January 2023* Firstly, this isn't a casual/easy read, even for serious readers, I presume. That said, the wisdom this book packs is immense, to say the least. For me, personally, as a professional writer and editor hailing from a tech background, this book has been a 'friendly' guide. Hats off (in utter humility) to the author, who, I'd say, has gone beyond the extra mile in capturing and conveying his years of knowledge in the most engaging and thought-provoking manner possible. ...and like many others who've read the book, I would also have to read it a second time to capture, in its entirety, the knowledge it conveys. In the process, I'd hop from one chapter to the next with the 'high' of having learned (and reinforced) something new about what I knew I knew. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century [Paperback] Pinker, Steven - The Elements of Style - ON WRITING WELL --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - πŸ›’ **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** β€” Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** β€” Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - πŸ’° **No Hidden Fees** β€” All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - πŸ”„ **15-Day Free Returns** β€” Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - πŸ”’ **Secure Payments** β€” Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** β€” Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/77316935-the-sense-of-style-the-thinking-persons-guide-to-writing](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/77316935-the-sense-of-style-the-thinking-persons-guide-to-writing) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-04-25*