Is Word Perfect?

Writing for the NYR Blog, Edward Mendelson gets deep into philosophy to address a true writer’s question: Is Microsoft Word the best tool for composing text? Borrowing ideas from Plato, Auden, and the programming concept of a “kludge,” Mendelson teases out some key differences between writing in theory and in practice. While he ultimately concedes to the ubiquity and utility of the .doc ecosystem, don’t be surprised if you find yourself booting up an ancient version of WordPerfect on the other side.