Pinker wrote a whole book about this, much better written, in fact. Unlike an HN essayist, Pinker also is an actual wide-audience best-seller. And unlike this essay, Pinker correctly acknowledges many nuances.
I couldn't get through Pinker's book. He cites 'Clear and Simple as the Truth' as inspiration, but his acorn falls so far from the tree.
I think he mostly does as he preaches. My biggest complaint is the occasional contradiction, but if you read other writing style guides, he is not more contradictory than the average.
It’s more that the former book sets a very high bar I don’t think he clears in the attempt to make the topic more accessible.
A book is longer than an essay, therefore more nuances can potentially be captured?
True in general, but Pinker does so from the preface, so not valid as explanation.