Initially, I only managed to borrow this book as a reference for my art history class but now, if I ever find this book somewhere else, I will definitely buy it without hesitation. So remarkably detailed and invaluable that I feel like I have learned so so much beyond expectation. Not only does Sylvan Barnet give me ways of seeing and understanding any work of art but he also reflects on some mistakes that I may stumble upon throughout the process of (both amateur and professional) writing, such as doing research, jotting down ideas, revising drafts, giving credits and so on. This book is even a better guide for non-native English writers because he takes many pages to guide us on using synonyms, tenses, tones of writing, common mis-spelling terminologies and wordplay. As an aside, this book is one included in Sylvan's the short guide series. If you're interested, you can check out all of them and find a perfect match for yourself to read.