Brief summary

The book *The Art of Explanation* presents a complete system for explaining complex content clearly, precisely, and understandably. It describes how to logically structure, condense, organize, and present explanations in an engaging way. The goal is to prepare information so that it can be easily understood, remembered, and shared. The principles, steps, and techniques are aimed at anyone who communicates content in writing or orally and wants to simplify their communication.

General ideas

• Know who you are talking to

• Understand what this person already knows

• Recognize what they want to know

• Note the format in which they prefer to receive information

• Speak directly and specifically to this person or group

• Demonstrate credibility and expertise on the topic

• When a story is told whose outcome is interesting or which the audience can empathize with, the audience remains attentive and engaged.

Contents

10 principles for good explanations

1. Simplicity: Explanations should be formulated using simple words and short sentences. Complex terms or superfluous details make understanding difficult. The guiding question is: Is this the simplest way to express it?

2. Essential Detail: Use only information that directly contributes to the statement. Every addition must have a clear benefit for understanding.

3. Complexity: The topic itself must be fully understood before it can be explained. A lack of understanding leads to unclear communication.

4. Efficiency: The explanation should be as short as possible and as long as necessary. Try different approaches to find the most efficient form.

5. Precision: Clearly define the goal and message. Choose words carefully to say exactly what is meant.

6. Context: Explain why the content is relevant. Make connections to broader contexts to convey meaning. Typical phrases are: "This is important because..." or "The reason this matters is..."

7. No distractions: References, foreign words, or images should support the content, not distract from it. Either explain or remove unclear terms.

8. Engaging: Every passage should spark interest. Revise boring or weak parts to maintain attention.

9. Useful: Address potential questions from the audience. The explanation should fully cover their information needs.

10. Clarity of Purpose: The purpose of the statement must be unambiguous. Only then can communication remain clear and focused.

7 Steps of creating an Explanation

1. Setup: Summarize the topic in one sentence. Determine the length and depth. Review the ten principles and apply them specifically to your own content.

2. Find information: Gather all relevant facts and sources. Identify information gaps and verify the reliability of the sources. Create a list of open questions.

3. Distill Information: Break down information into small units. Remove unnecessary information. Review the content several times and streamline it.

4. Organize Information: Establish the logical structure. Identify the strands of the explanation, i.e., thematic blocks or sections. Define a clear purpose for each section and plan possible visual elements.

5. Link Information: Write the explanation. Keep the language natural, just like when speaking. Include linking sentences, summaries, and transitions to ensure a smooth flow.

6. Tighten: Eliminate unnecessary text, simplify complicated sentences, and replace difficult words. Get a second opinion to check for clarity.

7. Delivery: Design and present the explanation. Choose font size and spacing for easy readability. Use bullet points during the oral presentation and incorporate pauses and emphasis effectively. Practice individual sections and the entire process.

Dynamic Explanations

Dynamic explanations become necessary in everyday situations where you can't prepare or where you need to speak freely. The first three steps are the same as for structuring a simple explanation; the remaining steps differ.

4. Organize Information: Divide the explanation into logical strands. Each strand should contain a maximum of five elements: the main point, three facts, and the context.

5. Verbalize: Read the content aloud. Highlight any difficulties where something seems unclear or unnatural. Bridging phrases help to create transitions, such as "another aspect is..." or "while X is important, Y is also true".

6. Memorize: Use the chunking method: group related pieces of information into units, label them, and link them together. This creates a mental overview that makes remembering easier.

   Memory Methods: Various techniques connect new information with known patterns:

   Link Method: Linking information as a story. Journey Method: Connecting content with familiar landmarks . Memory Palace: Linking knowledge with familiar places in the mind.

7. Questions: Analyze predictable questions. Identify potentially critical topics. Prepare answers and link them to keywords for quick reference.

Quick Explanations:

For quick explanations: What topics should be covered and what message should be conveyed? What should the audience take away from it?

Writing Emails:

Attention is precious when writing emails. Visually highlight important points and state the relevant information right at the beginning. Use short paragraphs and targeted highlighting. Formulate each request or inquiry separately.

Helpful Phrases

A collection of helpful phrases for various situations:

• Connecting Points: Examples: "If you're wondering how X – we did Y." or "I explained how X works. Now, let's look at Y."

• Showing Structure: Phrases like "After we have considered X, Y follows." or "X and Y together lead to Z." illustrate the structure.

• Joining Phrases and Hooks: Create transitions, for example with "That explains part, but to understand the whole thing you need X."

• Bridging Phrases: A sentence like “Another point is…” or “While X is true, Y is also important.” connects thoughts.

• Escape Phrases: Elegantly change the subject, for example with "That's an important point. Equally relevant is..." or "I agree, but let's also consider..."