In an interview with David Perell, Harvard Professor Steven Pinker discusses the art and science of effective non-fiction writing, especially in the age of large language models (LLMs). Pinker argues that much bad writing stems from the "curse of knowledge," where writers assume their audience shares their specialized understanding, leading to excessive jargon and abstraction. He advocates for writing that helps readers form mental images, emphasizing concrete language and visual metaphors over abstract terms. Pinker also highlights the importance of brevity and conciseness, noting that trimming needless words often enhances clarity and aesthetic appeal. Ultimately, he suggests that good writing involves cultivating empathy for the reader, seeking external feedback, and appreciating the sensory and rhythmic aspects of language, much like the direct and vivid communication often found in children's explanations or historical texts before widespread academic abstraction.