In this interview, Dana Gioia interviews Steven Pinker about the art of nonfiction writing, especially in the age of AI. Pinker discusses the "curse of knowledge," which is the difficulty in understanding what it's like not to know something you already know, and how it leads to bad writing through jargon, abbreviations, and abstractions. He emphasizes the importance of empathy and getting feedback from readers to overcome this curse. Pinker also highlights the significance of visual imagery in writing, advising writers to use concrete language and examples to help readers form mental images. They delve into the balance between context and compression, using examples and generalizations effectively. Pinker also touches on the beauty and pleasure of language, including euphony, rhythm, and alliteration. He critiques academic writing for its inaccessibility and advocates for clarity and brevity. Finally, they discuss the impact of AI on writing, noting its potential to create generic but clear prose, and reflect on how writing styles have changed over time due to factors like informalization and the erosion of traditional hierarchies.
