Five stars because every section of this book is pointed at something valuable. It's an a short, easy to read (and skim) format. It's full of practical guidance that's to the point and will make you a better communicator.
📖 Why You Should Read It
People are busy, distracted, and overloaded with information. Long-winded communication gets ignored. Brief by Joseph McCormack teaches you how to respect people’s time and attention by being clear and concise. Whether you’re a designer, leading teams, presenting ideas, or writing emails, this book helps you say what matters..,and say it well...without wasting words.
👉🏻 Key Takeaways
- Brevity is not about cutting corners; it’s about delivering value with clarity.
- The “Seven Capital Sins of Brevity” (cowardice, confidence, callousness, comfort, confusion, complication, and carelessness) explain why people ramble and how to stop.
- “The Elusive 600” refers to the fact that our brains process 750 words per minute but we only speak around 150—leaving space for distraction.
- Use the BRIEF Map (Background, Relevance, Information, Ending, Follow-up) to structure messages clearly.
- Always lead with the headline—start with the point, not the path.
- Match your message to the “Three Levels of Detail”: top-line summary, key insights, and supporting details—only dive deeper when your audience asks.
- Preparation is the secret weapon; clarity starts before you speak.
- Stories and visuals help convey ideas quickly and memorably.
- People judge you by how clearly you communicate—rambling undermines credibility.
- Brevity is a skill, and like any skill, it gets sharper with practice.
💬 Favorite Quotes
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
“You don’t get credit for what you know—only for what you convey.”
“Be clear, be brief, and be gone.”
“Respect your audience enough not to waste their time.”
