More Than Words

In this revised and updated paperback edition, a veteran writing teacher argues that writing is a form of thinking and feeling and shows why it can’t be replaced by AI.

“Compelling.” —Joseph Epstein, Wall Street Journal

In the age of artificial intelligence, generating an essay is as simple as typing a prompt and pressing enter. What does this mean for the art of writing? According to longtime writing teacher John Warner: not much.

More Than Words argues that generative AI tools like ChatGPT not only can kill the student essay but should, since these assignments don’t challenge students to do the real work of writing. To Warner, writing is thinking—discovering your ideas while trying to capture them on a page—and feeling—grappling with what it fundamentally means to be human.

More Than Words calls for us to use AI as an opportunity to reckon with our relationship with writing. Newly updated with practical resources for teachers and students, this is the essential book for anyone writing in the age of AI.