I was thrilled when I learned Mary Pipher had authored a book specifically about writing with a social conscience. Her book Reviving Ophelia revolutionized the theory of psychological treatment for adolescent girls, and Hunger Pains is the pre-eminent text for body image studies and eating disorders.
These books are poignant, articulate and ground-breaking. Unfortunately, Writing to Change the World is not.The book is broken into sections that focus on why writers must write for change, the writing process and the most effective ways for writers to distribute their work. These sections include chapters on finding your voice, your audience and your perfect medium.
The most effective chapter outlines how blogs are becoming increasingly effective as vehicles of change. Pipher explains how blogs that are written by troops of the Iraq War are becoming so powerful that they are now censored by the Armed Services. Between each chapter are relevant quotes from extraordinary people: Mark Twain, Willa Cather, The Dali Lama, Mother Teresa, Thich Nhat Hanh etc.
Unfortunately, it is clear that Pipher focused too intently on finding dynamic quotes, and she did not focus enough on providing her readers with enough substance. This is not a “how to” book. She describes the importance of tone, point of view and audience, but she does not provide any direction on how to succeed at these things. There are no tips or tricks, and the information she does provide is so repetitive, that you feel you are reading the same chapter over and over again.
The most disappointing moment in the book is a letter Pipher wrote to her city commissioners. The letter expressed her desire to keep a motocross course from opening next to the Spring Creek Prairie that she often walked. She admits her letter was pompous, ineffective and written in the wrong voice. Pipher contrasts her inappropriate letter with a powerful letter written by a friend, and it becomes clear just how inadequate Pipher’s letter really is. While I’m sure Pipher included these letters to show that even a published author may misunderstand his/her audience, her letter was so terrible that it led me to question all her writing advice.
Pipher’s tone throughout Writing to Change the World is a strained attempt at conversational. While not intentionally condescending, I was left with the feeling that Pipher has difficulties relating to people outside the field of Psychology. This further isolates her from her audience, and it leaves her reader counting the pages to the end of the book.
While I recommend Reviving Ophelia to every parent, teacher and social worker I meet, I cannot recommend Writing to Change the World to anyone. It is unfortunate that a writer that influenced a generation of therapists cannot explain to others how to write with passion.
Technorati Tags: Books, Non-Fiction, Mary Pipher, Writing to Change the World
Well, I just bought this book yesterday on the strength of Pipher’s Reviving Ophelia , so I hope that once I read it I don’t entirely agree with your gloomy reaction. I thought this book would be helpful for the class I teach in argumentation and “writing to the world.” Maybe I can still use it as evidence of how people do want us to reach out with the power of voice. College students tend to write only to their teachers as audience.