📖 Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less by Jim Vandehei

Say More with Less: The Art and Urgency of Smart Brevity

“Never in the history of humanity have we vomited more words in more places with more velocity.” — Jim VandeHei, Smart Brevity

We are drowning in words. Emails, texts, Slack messages, newsletters, social posts—each one competing for a sliver of our attention. And yet, most of them miss the mark. Why? Because they’re too long, too vague, or too self-indulgent.

Smart Brevity by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz is a manifesto for a new kind of communication—one that’s sharp, intentional, and radically respectful of the reader’s time.

The Problem: We’re Talking Past Each Other

The digital age has rewired how we consume information:

  • We check our phones over 344 times a day.

  • We decide in 17 milliseconds whether to keep reading.

  • We spend less than 15 seconds on most web pages.

In this environment, verbosity isn’t just ineffective—it’s invisible.

> ðŸ’¡ Thought Prompt: > Think of the last message you ignored. What made you scroll past it? Was it too long, too dense, or just unclear?

The Smart Brevity Solution

The authors, founders of Axios and veterans of Politico, developed a communication style that cuts through the noise. Their formula is simple but powerful:

  1. Grab attention. Start with a bold, clear headline. Make it impossible to ignore.

  2. Stay focused. Deliver one idea per message. Strip away the fluff.

  3. Be visual. Use formatting, bullets, and white space to guide the eye.

  4. End with purpose. Tell the reader what to do next—or what to remember.

This isn’t about dumbing down. It’s about leveling up your clarity.

> ✍️ Try This Exercise: > Rewrite this sentence in 10 words or fewer: > “We are reaching out to inform you about an upcoming opportunity that may be of interest to you.” > Drop your version in the comments!

Brevity Is Not Simplicity—It’s Precision

The authors are clear: Smart Brevity is not about being simplistic. It’s about being disciplined. It takes effort to distill a complex idea into a few potent words. But that effort is a gift to your audience.

> “Brevity is empathy. It shows you value the reader’s time.” > — Smart Brevity

Whether you're writing a blog, pitching an idea, or giving feedback, Smart Brevity forces you to ask: What’s the one thing I want them to remember?

Real-World Applications

The book doesn’t just preach—it practices. It’s written in Smart Brevity. You’ll find:

  • Short, punchy chapters

  • Real-world examples from journalism, business, and education

  • Templates for emails, presentations, and even parenting conversations

It’s a toolkit for anyone who communicates—which is to say, everyone.

> ðŸ“Š Quick Poll: > Where do you struggle most with clarity? > - Emails > - Meetings > - Messaging apps > - Presentations > - Social media posts > Share your vote and why!

Smart Brevity in the Workplace

Imagine a workplace where:

  • Emails are read, not ignored.

  • Meetings are short and purposeful.

  • Feedback is clear and actionable.

  • Presentations respect the audience’s time.

That’s not a fantasy—it’s the promise of Smart Brevity. The authors even launched , a platform that helps organizations adopt this style at scale.

> ðŸ§  Reflect: > What would change in your team or organization if everyone embraced Smart Brevity?

Final Takeaway: Brevity Is a Mindset

Smart Brevity isn’t just a writing technique—it’s a philosophy. It asks us to slow down before we speak, so we can speed up understanding. It’s about clarity, not cleverness. Purpose, not performance.

In a world that’s always scrolling, the shortest path to impact is clarity.

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