Booklife Review

Gelfan (Monkey Temple) connects breakthroughs in cognitive science to effective writing in this incisive guide, focusing on how the brain “extracts meaning” from the world—and what authors can extract from that knowledge. Noting that there’s no one path to success as an author but “some reliably watertight guarantors of failure,” Gelfan undercuts the templates and inflexible rules of many other books about the craft of writing. For Gelfan, compelling writing is about “learning how to think about what you’re trying to do and then coming up with creative and effective ideas for how to do it”—and knowing something about how the brain processes writing helps, too. He urges authors toward innovation, using the power of subtext, and understanding why we read and write in the first place, all while offering some concrete advice, like avoiding too much detail in prose to invite the brains of readers to fill in the missing links.

Gelfan emphasizes character, writing that “nothing revs up our cognitive faculties as much as does encountering an interesting person.” Noting that in fiction characters serve two functions, to play their role in the story and to “act as a channel of engagement between readers and the story’s world,” he investigates what it takes to flesh out characters so that they seem to live and breathe on their own. Especially interesting is his consideration of the human capacity for self-deception: deception, he argues, forms the foundation of literary art, and authors fooling themselves is every bit as important as fooling others.

Gelfan explores some more conventional writing advice, discussing point of view, plot, narration, dialogue, and more—including crafting a compelling narrative voice. These sections deviate from his focus on science but add concrete direction for readers seeking more hands-on instruction. Gelfan encourages authors with the bold claim that they are “advancing the human race” by delivering information crucial to the human brain.

Takeaway: A fascinating dive into what authors should know about the brain science of how and why we read.

Great for fans of: Marie Arana’s The Writing Life, Jeff Vandermeer’s Wonderbook.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A