Western Wind is the best introductory poetry text I have found. – Jay Rogoff, Skidmore College

I’ve taught literature surveys, composition, and creative writing from a number of anthologies, and this is the one text book I would never hesitate to use. – Daniel Waterman, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Nims does a terrific job of explaining very complex ideas in simple, clear, elegant language.. . . This is a wonderful text. – Andrew Hudgins, University of Cincinnati

This is the only textbook I’ve ever felt enthusiastic about. -- Betty S. Flowers, University of Texas at Austin

Western Wind has always been my favorite textbook to introduce students to poetry; it’s a wonderful book! – Charles Elkins, Florida International University

It has great balance – a fine blend between poems, theory, ideas, and discussion. It’s a great teaching tool. [. . . ] I believe it sets the standard. – James Papworth, Ricks College

This is the best text on poetry. I have recommended it/used it with both students who want to write poetry and those who want to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of it. – Elaine Handley, Empire State College

Nims writes, thinks, and feels like a poet. [. . . ] His order of presentation, his exercises and diversions and his way of writing promote exactly what I want my students to know. – Thomas Averill, Washburn University

I like Nims’ wit, his strong (if sometimes arguable) views, and the broad, catholic range of his selection of texts. His alternate versions of Frost’s "Dust of Snow" are worth the price of the book as a whole. – Walter L. Reed, Emory University

My students love the book; they remark on both the clarity of Nims’ explanations of the elements of poetry and the broad selection of poems in the anthology. – Ruth Anderson, Grossmont Community College

The text is exciting to teach from. – Merry M. Adams, College of Eastern Utah, San Juan Campus

Nims is clear, correct, and deft. The Anthology makes possible a single-text course. [. . . ] My students rave about the book. [. . . ] I cannot imagine a better backbone for an introduction to verse composition. – Daniel Bosch, Harvard University

Nims speaks of poetry as poetry, without irrelevant theoretical bias and with an obvious love of its craft and power. [. . . ] I think Western Wind does as good a job of revealing, explaining, and illustrating the pleasures of poetry as any book could. – B. H. Fairchild, California State University – San Bernardino

I have examined every text about poetry writing I could get my hands on and have chosen Nims’ book as the most comprehensive and engaging. [. . . ] He covers mechanics thoroughly but never lets the reader forget that poetry is an art. [. . . ] The touches of humor are delightful. – Jamie Turner, Bob Jones University

Western Wind is still the best on the market! -- Luis R. Gamez, Western Michigan University

Western Wind is the best introduction to poetry text I know. – James M. Smith, Jr., Armstrong Atlantic State University

Tread gently. You are working with a nearly perfect book. – Thomas S. Johnson, Texas A&M University at Galveston

From the very first edition, I believed Nims consistently squirreled more wisdom and truth into a single sentence than I had ever read anywhere. – Kenneth Rosen, University of Southern Maine

Western Wind is well-written, thorough, astonishingly sophisticated in the depth of its consideration of technical features or poetry, and humanistic in its tone. – Michael Cavanagh, Grinnell College

This has been an important book to me, as a student and a teacher. – John Skoyles, Emerson College

[Western Wind offers] incomparable sophistication in dealing with elements of poetry, especially with poems’ physical dimension. – Lorne R. Mook, University of Cincinnati

Nims’ discussion of poetry are lucid and disarming; his exercises are refreshingly conceived and work for both creative writers and students of literature; his examples are apt and his poetry sections balanced and solid. . . . I’ve used one or two other poetry texts. None is as strong as Western Wind. – Arnie Johnston, Western Michigan University

I found and still find that Nims’ voice and persona are just what I want for students. He is trenchantly knowledgeable, entertaining as well, with a good sense of humor – Western Wind also offers a wonderful selection of poetry and exercises. – Grant E. Strickland, Monroe County Community College

There are many, many such texts...prepared by teachers. This text is by one who really knows poetry, poetics, and poets. – Ken Wolfskill, Chowan College

I love Nims’ many examples and his exuberant descriptions of how poetry works. – Helen Sword, Indiana University at Bloomington

Nims has the ability to appeal to non-majors, to demystify poetic structure and syntax, to use a wide range of poets from diverse traditions and time periods. The anthology permits the instructor to work chronologically, too, when appropriate. – E. Jeanne Braham, Clark University

Nims has the very best approach to the poem and its structure. The examples are well chosen. The book is easy to read and very accessible for the beginner.. . . John Nims remains a favorite. – Alice Derry, Peninsula College

I liked the combination of originality and thoroughness of the first edition. I like the way subsequent editions have maintained this balance. All editions have maintained the human, slightly quirky, interested-in-many-things persona of the author. . . . I’m very satisfied, and so are my students. – M. Francine Danis, Our Lady of the Lake University

I like Western Wind for beginning students because it was written by a poet, someone who understands how poems get made.... The apparatus on sound, image, rhythm, etc., is the best I’ve ever seen. – Richard Terrill, Mankato State University

Nims’ wit and the breadth of selections are Western Wind’s greatest assets. -- Tom Trusky, Boise State University

This is a solid, intelligent book. It handles the most important elements and explains them clearly. – Richard Gallagher, University of Michigan

It offers a practicing poet’s perspective on selection, organization, titles, phrasing and commentary that my students will find challenging and enlightening. – John Orr, Fullerton College

The presentation of material emphasizes how writing poetry is connected to our everyday experiences [. . . ], which in turn makes the subject of poetry more accessible to students. The book goes on to define and emphasize quality – gradually "upping the ante." . . . Western Wind remains one of the best poetry intros on the market! – Dr. Rhonda Pettit, Xavier University