Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!ucsd!ucbvax!DUFF.UOREGON.EDU!jqj
From: jqj@DUFF.UOREGON.EDU
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Re: Elements of Network Style
Message-ID: <9101080041.AA16307@phloem.uoregon.edu>
Date: 8 Jan 91 00:41:24 GMT
References: <DA3DFC96971F602122@oregon.uoregon.edu>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 15


Since Lee styles MAP's "Elements of Network Style" as "thoughtful and
witty", I'd like to reiterate the comments on made on this forum when it
first was published:  I found the book nearly impossible to read because
of the pompous and pretentious style.  Although I agreed in 1985 with MAP
on most technical issues, I was unable to recommend the book.

Anyone who titles a book "The Elements of ... Style" has, I believe, an
obligation to the shade of Will Strunk to omit needless words.  Had MAP
done so, his book would have been the length of a magazine article.
Vigorous writing is concise.  This isn't.

Conclusion:  MAP's preface would have led one to believe that his book was
substantively inflamatory or contentious.  Few readers of this list would
find it so, but many (certainly not all) would find the style unacceptable.