Person

Every book Ward Farnsworth recommended on podcasts

5 books · 1 episode across 1 podcast

Ward Farnsworth, appearing on the podcast How I Write, reveals himself to be a meticulous scholar of language, rhetoric, literary history, and the mechanics of effective prose. Throughout the interview, Farnsworth analyzes and discusses various classic texts to illustrate the power of simplicity, structural artifice, and historical word choice in writing. He points to the King James Bible as a supreme example of tremendous linguistic simplicity and heavy reliance on strong Anglo-Saxon vocabulary. In exploring how great historical figures absorbed and utilized these literary rhythms, Farnsworth discusses Abraham Lincoln's obsessive reading habits, noting how Lincoln drew heavily upon classical works. Specifically, he identifies phrases used by Lincoln that were lifted directly from The Book of Job, while also acknowledging potential thematic or linguistic parallels within the Book of Jeremiah. Additionally, Farnsworth examines William Shakespeare's Sonnets as part of the broader literary tapestry that influenced generations of writers and statesmen. To demonstrate advanced rhetorical devices such as chiasmus, Farnsworth brings forth passages from Henry Fielding's classic novel Tom Jones, breaking down the artistry of the sentence structure. Through these selections, Farnsworth frames himself as an academic deeply attuned to the historical lineage of English prose, finding enduring lessons in centuries-old scriptures, poetry, and foundational novels.