Learning to Edit Prose Effectively

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If you want to learn how to edit prose effectively, it's difficult to imagine better ways to do that. People are not going to really understand what a negative number is simply by learning how to perform a set of procedures related. This sort of term of art is sense making, and that that involves experimentation and play. And even there's no right answer, ah, as to whyi say something is happening in the world right now,. That, to me, is the economic way of thinking.

Software Engineer Andy Matuschak talks about his essay "Why Books Don't Work" with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Matuschak argues that most books rely on transmissionism, the idea that an author can share an idea in print and the reader will absorb it. And yet after reading a non-fiction book, most readers will struggle to remember any of the ideas in the book. Matuschak argues for a different approach to transmitting ideas via the web including different ways that authors or teachers can test for understanding that will increase the chances of retention and mastery of complex ideas.