About Writing for Busy Readers
You’re probably skimming this page right now. That’s okay: everyone does it. In today’s world, everyone is busy, and we’re inundated with communications from every angle.
But some messages are especially important—from teachers to parents, from governments to citizens, among coworkers and friends, and much more. Getting your message through when everyone skims requires applying the principles of effective practical writing, drawn from hundreds of scientific studies.
Writing for Busy Readers teaches everyday communicators practical writing skills to communicate more effectively.
About Todd Rogers
Todd Rogers is Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (research homepage). He is a behavioral scientist who studies how to better communicate with families, students, consumers, employees, and voters. Todd has co-founded two social enterprises: the Analyst Institute, which uses behavioral science to improve voter communications, and EveryDay Labs, which helps school districts reduce student absenteeism by communicating more effectively with families. He is also Senior Scientist at ideas42 and Academic Advisor at the Behavioural Insights Team.
At Harvard, Todd has won teaching awards every year for the past decade. His course, The Science of Behavior Change, is consistently among the most popular courses at Harvard Kennedy School. He is also the faculty chair of the executive education program Behavioral Insights and Public Policy, and he serves as faculty director of the Harvard Behavioral Insights Group, a network of more than 60 Harvard faculty whose research uses behavioral science for public good.
Todd has published in top journals in psychology, economics, political science, education, organizational behavior, management, marketing, public health, and medicine. Todd has been featured in numerous national media outlets, both as an author of opinion articles and in stories highlighting his work and expertise.
About Jessica Lasky-Fink
Jessica Lasky-Fink is a behavioral scientist and the research director of The People Lab, based at the Harvard Kennedy School. Her research focuses on using insights from behavioral science to improve how government operates, with a particular focus on service delivery in federal, state, and local agencies. Her research has been adopted in multiple state and local agencies, and has been highlighted in the New York Times, Forbes Magazine, the Boston Globe, Government Technology, amongst other outlets.