Reading Suggestions: Technical Writing
"La magia della scrittura" [The Magic of Writing], edited by Alessandro Lucchini, Milano, Sperling & Kupfer Editore, 2005.
Fifty professionals and NLP: a book and dictionary in one (the theoretical section is followed by an alphabetically-listed practical guide) which teaches how to achieve effective and winning results in your writing. The work is of undeniable interest, especially as it is based on the experience of numerous professionals in the field. The website is also worth a visit.
Useful for: those who write for a living.
Gabriel Zaid, "So Many Books. Reading and Publishing in an Age of Abundance", Philadelphia, Paul Dry Books, 2003.
The first sentences of the book say it all: «The reading of books is growing arithmetically; the writing of books is growing exponentially. If our passion for writing goes unchecked, in the near future there will be more people writing books than reading them».
Useful for: it’s not useful, it’s funny!
Tom Gorman, "Writing the Breakthrough Business Book", Newton, Content Publishing, 2003.
An incredibly detailed (at times too detailed) book, focusing on the American reality. Nonetheless, it is worth reading thanks to its author's clarity of thought and the wealth of information that it holds.
Useful for: those intending to publish a book of an economic bent.
Nancy L. Hoft, "International Technical Communication", New York, John Wiley & Sons, 1995.
Although a little dated, this book represents a successful attempt at bringing together technical writing and translation, as well as many other aspects involved in writing about technology. It gives due prominence to the "cultural" issue, namely, how to make our readers/final users understand the information conveyed to them exactly as it was intended to be understood, reducing to a minimum the filters of a culture different from our own.
Useful for: smalls firms looking to conquer foreign markets.
Luigi Muzii, "La redazione dei documenti tecnici" [Writing Technical Documents], Milano, Franco Angeli, 1995.
A volume which explains exactly what technical writing is. Admittedly, the book is beginning to show its age, but it remains accurate, analytical and precise (to the point of excessive pedantry at some points - for example, in the author's incessant use of lists).
Useful for: those interested in understanding in a nutshell what technical writing is all about.