Simple, Powerful, non-fiction

September 28, 2009 9:06 AM

Where can I find examples of simple and powerful non-fiction (social science) writing?

I am working on developing my writing and have found it difficult to emulate writers in my field (sociology). I would like to make my writing simple so that it can be read among multiple disciplines and by practitioners. In my searches for writers I have found some great fiction writers who have simple styles, but little non-fiction. What are some good examples of writers like this.

posted by elationfoundation to writing & language (17 comments total)

Daniel Boorstin...
posted by vito90 at 9:12 AM on September 28

Naomi Klein.

Any of the "Pop Sociology" writers: Stephen Dubner, Steven Levitt, Malcolm Gladwell...
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 9:16 AM on September 28

Harry Collins' book Gravity's Shadow is a work of academic sociology that's very readable--sociology's not my field, and I tore through that book.
posted by Prospero at 9:31 AM on September 28

studs terkel comes to mind. dee brown would be another. frederick allen. in fact, i discovered a lot of history writers fit this bill--so replace 'social science' with 'history', and you should be able to find a lot.
posted by lester's sock puppet at 9:32 AM on September 28

My favorite example would be the British sociologist and retired prison doctor Theodore Dalrymple, with the specific example of his book Life At The Bottom, but also many of his collections of essays like Our Culture: What's Left of It. Very persuasive, well-evidenced, and eloquent even when I disagree with his arguments.
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 9:38 AM on September 28

A favorite of mine is the sociologist and retired prison doctor Theodore Dalrymple with his book Life At The Bottom, or with his collections of essays like Our Culture, What's Left of It. They are eloquent, clear to a layman, and persuasive even when I ultimately disagree with his claims.
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 9:44 AM on September 28

Matt Ridley must be one of the best explainers of difficult topics working today.
posted by ijsbrand at 9:51 AM on September 28

George Orwell - The Road to Wigan Pier, Down and Out in Paris and London. Doesn't get more powerful than that, whether it can be reproduced or not...
posted by runincircles at 10:10 AM on September 28

Seconding Orwell. The man could write about making tea with monthly war rations sound interesting.
posted by PunkSoTawny at 10:36 AM on September 28

How about Sudhir Venkatesh?
posted by notswedish at 10:39 AM on September 28

I love this topic.

History: Howard Zinn

Postcolonial studies: Edward Said

Cognitive science: Jerry Fodor

Cognitive science isn't exactly social science but the first two should be exactly what you're looking for.

Howard Zinn is also a playwright.

Fodor also writes about opera for the London Review of Books.
posted by skwt at 11:06 AM on September 28

Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death. Dated now but excellent writing.
posted by Pineapplicious at 12:10 PM on September 28

Murray Kempton Part of Our Time.
posted by shothotbot at 2:08 PM on September 28

For great social science nonfiction writing, I have trouble topping Shelby Foote's Civil War history. The chapters on Vicksburg and Gettysburg have been broken out into short books; they're almost unbelievably dense and entertaining history. I found myself marveling at the way he included so much information yet made it all such a breeze to read.

Be sure to follow this "related questions" link below, and the links there to earlier similar questions.
posted by mediareport at 3:16 PM on September 28

Barbara Ehrenreich has a Ph.D. in biology, but I think of her as a sociologist, writing for general readers. I admire her work a lot.

Oliver Sacks is a neurologist also writing for general readers in clear, engaging prose. I like his work a lot, too.
posted by pittsburgher at 6:03 PM on September 28

Seconding Oliver Sacks and Matt Ridley.
posted by AceRock at 11:42 AM on September 29

Second Shift
posted by salvia at 10:34 AM on October 2