Books › Nabokov's favorite word is mauve
Nabokov's favorite word is mauve
288 pages
A playful, data-driven peek behind the curtain of literary genius that turns the magic of writing into fascinating, measurable patterns.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sneaking into the secret laboratories of the world's greatest authors with a brilliant, witty statistician as your guide. The pace is brisk and engaging, bouncing effortlessly from one fascinating literary experiment to the next without ever getting bogged down in dense math. The mood is relentlessly curious and lighthearted, transforming the intimidating literary canon into a playground of measurable quirks and hidden patterns. The prose is conversational and lucid, making complex data analysis feel as accessible as a lively dinner party debate. It is a delight for word nerds, aspiring novelists, and anyone who loves to peek behind the curtain of creativity, offering a fresh, analytical appreciation for the art of storytelling.
- Mood
- intellectual
- curious
- lighthearted
- illuminating
- Tone
- wry
- inquisitive
- playful
- analytical
- accessible
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- hidden patterns of art · intersection of math and creativity · literary demystification · quirks of genius
- The writing
- Lucid, conversational, and engaging, translating complex statistical analysis into highly readable, witty observations.
- The arc
- Moves from playful curiosity about literary myths to a deeper, data-driven appreciation of the craft of writing.
- Who it's for
- Word nerds, aspiring writers, and literature lovers who enjoy a peek behind the curtain of their favorite authors' habits.
About the book
In Nabokov's Favorite Word Is Mauve, statistician and journalist Ben Blatt brings big data to the literary canon, exploring the wealth of fun findings that remain hidden in the works of the world's greatest writers. He assembles a database of thousands of books and hundreds of millions of words, and starts asking the questions that have intrigued curious word nerds and book lovers for generations: What are our favorite authors' favorite words? Do men and women write differently? Are bestsellers getting dumber over time? Which bestselling writer uses the most clichés? What makes a great opening sentence? How can we judge a book by its cover? And which writerly advice is worth following or ignoring? Blatt draws upon existing analysis techniques and invents some of his own. All of his investigations and experiments are original, conducted himself, and no math knowledge is needed to understand the results. Blatt breaks his findings down into lucid, humorous language and clear and compelling visuals. This eye-opening book will provide you with a new appreciation for your favorite authors and a fresh perspective on your own writing, illuminating both the patterns that hold great prose together and the brilliant flourishes that make it unforgettable.
Description from Open Library.
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