I knew that Tracy Kidder is a famous writer but I didn't know that he had received many of the most prestigious national literary prizes.  For better or worse, that understanding has raised the chances I'll end up buying Good Prose, the book he recently co-authored with Richard Todd, his long time editor. The book's publicist certainly understood that a book on non-fiction writing will have to be sold on not only the merits of the authors' reputation but also on first impressions of the content.  And he standards will be high since the promise of learning from a master team are dangled before prospective readers/buyers.

I'm in no immediate need to buy the book since I just borrowed it from the university library.  Ideally I can even read it once before deciding whether to spend money for my own copy.