One of the early reviews of my book says that the writing is 'too simplistic'. I write how I speak & think- and maybe the way I express myself is in simple language, but it's the way I process and translate (for myself) a complex world of ideas and data. www.penguin.co.uk/books/458539... - ThreadSky

profdevisridhar.bsky.social • 46 days ago

One of the early reviews of my book says that the writing is 'too simplistic'. I write how I speak & think- and maybe the way I express myself is in simple language, but it's the way I process and translate (for myself) a complex world of ideas and data. https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/458539/how-not-to-die-too-soon-by-sridhar-devi/9780241742846

Comments

raeburn7.bsky.social•46 days ago

It’s also the mark of a natural teacher to break it down and explain in a way that makes sense.

raeburn7.bsky.social•46 days ago

The one thing I learned in grad school, was how much people made issues way more confusing with their use of words to fill up space.

I started to get imposters syndrome because I couldn’t understand what people were saying. When I reframed simply, they were … well yeah ;). That cured it.

Do you.

patblair.bsky.social•46 days ago

It also means that your writing is more accessible to more people. I spent years re-writing some academics' papers)with authors' approval) to make them understandable to lay people, and NHS managers.

christinamaslen.bsky.social•46 days ago

The average reading age in this country is around 9 years - equates to readers of The Sun. If you need to get your public health message across to - errr - the public, simple language is essential!

elippolis.bsky.social•46 days ago

It’s very easy to use complicated language for complex ideas. Cutting it down and arranging it in a way that makes it seem simple is a lot of work.

gerbelean.bsky.social•46 days ago

That reviewer clearly doesn't understand that scientists are trained to write clearly and simply. No misdirection, no waffling, no faffing about.

cyntiadkins.bsky.social•46 days ago

The rest of us appreciate your translation of complex information!

rkrishnam.bsky.social•46 days ago

Thank you for your "simplistic" writing. It certainly helps someone like me understand complex issues with global public health

martadams66.bsky.social•46 days ago

This is precisely why I follow you and read your articles - because of your ability to talk about complex subjects in a way that's understandable and relatable even to people like myself who are easily bamboozled!

ricparkin.bsky.social•46 days ago

On the contrary, a sign of intelligence! https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acp.1178

stuarthedges.bsky.social•46 days ago

I spend a fair amount of my working day begging people to write more simply and clearly! If you want to reach an audience outside of your own specialist peers it's a vital skill.

savvygirl.bsky.social•42 days ago

And it's also the way your millions of readers are able to process and understand that complex world of ideas and data. Thank you so much for your clarity. I always learn from your articles and your posts.

martingilbert.bsky.social•45 days ago

Always explain yourself in the simplest language you can so that as many as possible have the opportunity to understand you.

clearautism.bsky.social•25 days ago

This sounds a little snobby. What's wrong with making something accessible to people?

beeblebrox.com•46 days ago

That’s a rare talent, so stick with it! We have a rule in our team whereby, if a paper I’ve written has been reviewed and edited to the point where I’m distinctly grumpy and feel that it’s been dumbed down beyond usefulness, then it’s about ready to be released! 🤣

greenvie.bsky.social•45 days ago

This is a real thing. I do that too, tho I'm not a professional. I do it for my own mind's clarity, but also to be inclusive. There are as many kinds of literacy as there are humans.

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