Rating: 
Summary: An amusing overview of punctuation
Review: A great way to begin investigating the more subtle rules governing punctuation. It will probably not make you an expert, but will give you the tools you need to start practicing to become one. The author is terrific. It's as though you've got your very own witty English schoolteacher guiding you while you read. I would recommend this book to anyone just starting out (like me) or to anyone looking for a refresher course. Although there are some subtle differences between the rules for the US and UK, the author makes a point of providing examples of how things differ. This is the type of book you can refer to later on; it provides numerous examples of proper usage, and is organized in a way that makes it easy to access the rules you would like to review. A funny, fast, and informative read. I really enjoyed it.
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Summary: A Perfect Little Companion
Review: Eats, Shoots & Leaves isn't for everyone. But if you're the type of person whose jaw drops at the ever-increasing public display of bad punctuation, you'll feel right at home with Lynne Truss's great little tome. If you're one of the great unwashed who neither properly grasps punctuation nor understands why anyone else would, look elsewhere. To her everlasting credit, Ms. Truss is offended by such punctuational travesties as a bus ad for the Hugh Grant film, "Two Weeks Notice." And well she should be. The correct forumulation, of course, is "Two Weeks' Notice." Eats, Shoots & Leaves is full of such observations, rendered in an easily-read, witty style. Truss's observations on commas, apostrophes, and periods (or, "full stops" in the British style)
had me nodding my head in total agreement. This relatively short book can be digested in a single evening, but I guarantee you will pick it up again and again.
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Summary: I never knew punctuation could be so interesting
Review: Eats Shoots & Leaves is a very helpful reference book especially if you have to write a lot of papers for school.
This book has shown me a former student how much I did not know about punctuation and that is why I enjoyed it. I thought that an apostrophe only indicated possession. I also learned that an apostrophe can be used to indicate time or quantity or the omission of letters. Lynne Truss explains the functions and usage of common punctuation marks like the apostrophe, comma, semicolon, and colon very clearly. I really did not know how a semicolon or colon could be used. A semicolon shows the reader the relationship between 2 different statements. Colons separate subtitles from main titles in books or movies. She provides the reader with sentences with the punctuation marks in the right place. I really appreciated seeing how they worked in sentences. There are 17 rules about how a comma is used. Commas are not only used in lists and to join sentences. They are also used to separate clauses to make reading easier and are used before direct speech. The information in this book may sound basic to some people, but I found it pretty interesting. This book will make me a better writer and a better observer when I see a misuse of punctuation. Lynne Truss points out how punctuation can be misused everywhere on movie posters and even everyday email. Eats, Shoots and Leaves is a wonderful written book.
Rating: 
Summary: Cute for the UK, useless for the US
Review: I am sorry that I followed the hype in the UK when this came out. It is a cute read for British English but gets tiresome fast. The Sunday NY Times review put it better than I could -too late - I'd bought it - the book is unfunny and, to my dismay, unhelpful - in fact, wrong, since it is British punctuation and of little help in the US. I'll save it for my next trip to the UK. While nice to punctuate properly, it's better to have something to say and say it with skill and grace.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for a quick laugh, but not much more...
Review: It's a fun book, good for a quick read through, and a chuckle or two. But it wears thin after a while, and doesn't serve any other purpose than providing a few jokes. There have been other books like this, and they all tend to work the same way - use a few weird examples of grammar or punctuation, try to be funny, but they only really preach to the choir - if you don't know about punctuation, this book will probably not do much for you. And it's not the kind of book you can refer back to. Also, unless the US edition has been edited (I read the UK edition), readers unfamiliar with UK English might be a bit perplexed at times.
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Summary: Error in title
Review: "The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation" should be "The Zero-Tolerance Approach to Punctuation."
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Summary: Well done but ...
Review: This book is well written and depending upon who one considers the "expert" in such things, well edited. That said though, has the world really become such a nit-picking place that we need to split hairs-- much less infinitives? -- over whether the comma or mysterious semicolon goes here or there? Clearly Kafka would have found a book such as this quite an annoyance. Does that make the substance of his work any less valid? Moreover, the deeper reality is that perfectly valid thoughts and feelings can be expressed in a number of ways depending upon how the individual writing them opts to punctuate. Allowing those less-schooled than those from Eton to express ourselves by sometimes applying creativity in our punctuation
efforts, even though doing so just might stretch the rules, seems to me the very stuff of which the ever-developing tool that we call language is made of. For those that fear being misunderstood because they might have erred in the "perfect" application of classic British punctuation rules, this is a good work. For those that feel within them the freedom to express themslves as they see fit, ESL serves as a solid reference and a great bookshelf item to hold in reserve for those times when you you write to your more rigid British friends.
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Summary: USA is a Literary Laughingstock! Just read this!
Review: As trivial and nuisancesome (sp?) as punctuation may be considered, it is absolutely a reflection of the intelligence and credibility of its composer.
Far too many people these days have lost the art of communication as evidenced by the growing trend of cell phone text messaging.
Some may resent the author of this book for being British but England is where we get our English from n'est ce pas? (that's French)While travelling in Europe recently, I mentioned to an acquaintance that I spoke English, "No you don't", he corrected me, "you speak American". I was chagrined but it got me to thinking, is it that noticeable?
Which is the essential question all Americans must ask themselves, does my writing/speaking reflect negatively upon how I'm perceived by the world at large? How does this affect my day to day life?
Consider our President George W. Bush. Last night he held a press conference where I counted numerous stumbles over words, i.e. he said "instigates" when he meant "indicates" and all I could think is that the rest of the world must think USA is illiterate.
I think this book will definitely help the reader get a firmer grasp on the value of words, specifically the right words placed in the right context to communicate precisely what we wish to say. Thankfully so, since its coming is long overdue.
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Summary: Speaking Out to Preserve Proper Punctuation
Review: This book has great punctuation rules for the UK, and if you are an author, no doubt you will have an editor to make sure your punctuation is perfect. Many people do look at your grammar, spelling and punctuation, especially if you are writing an on-line newsletter, e-zine, or articles for on-line or print publication. It mars (not the planet, substitute word could be spoils) your credibility as a writer to use improper grammar and punctuation. I think Lynn Truss would have quite a reaction while reading the spelling and language of a USA Chat Room. Depending upon your culture, different words DO have different meanings, and the writer that knows their audience would do well to make sure that their message is conveyed appropriately, with perfect grammar and punctuation. It is important to readers! Personally, from the title of the book, I thought the book was all about zero tolerance in schools, and our children's punctuation (attendance) not about grammatical punctuation.
Nevertheless it is a witty and entertaining read, by an author who cares about preserving proper punctuation and is passionate about her work. She is speaking out and helping people in the process, which is what matters most.
Barbara Rose, author of, 'Individual Power' and 'If God Was Like Man'
Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't live up to title
Review: This work is a terrible disappointment. The text does not live up to the delightful title. First. The punctuation rules are for the UK and differ significantly from what is considered correct USA punctuation. Sadly, most readers will be ignorant of the distinction and spread such errors as placing periods and commas after closing quote marks (more-or-less the British system). The author was given a witty title, but counterbalances that with dull prose. She often contradicts herself by not following her own rules. She claims that the erudite New Yorker magazine adds an apostrophe to number plurals (1990's and not the correct 1990s). The actual perpetrator of this error is The New York Times. Enough said.
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