The Book of Letters: How to Write a Letter for Every Occasion [Paperback]

Peter Breen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002 | ISBN-10: 186508669X | ISBN-13: 978-1865086699 | Edition: 3rd

This new edition of the classic guide to letter writing offers readers practical solutions to a number of everyday personal, consumer, business, and legal problems. It also contains handy tips for letter writing using non-traditional methods such as e-mail and fax. Included are standard form letters for numerous situations as well as invaluable tips for communicating the written word in the most effective way.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Breen is an independent member of the Upper House of the New South Wales Parliament. A former NSW Chairman of the Australian Small Business Association he has practised as a solicitor and barrister since 1973. In 1999 he successfully moved for an inquiry by the NSW Parliament into a statutory Bill of Rights for NSW. He is currently preparing a report for the Parliament on the results of the inquiry.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin; 3rd edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 186508669X
• ISBN-13: 978-1865086699
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #921,541 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Putting a legal head on a writer's shoulders, November 26, 2003

By 

Michael Meanwell (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Letters: How to Write a Letter for Every Occasion (Paperback)

How often have you been asked to write a letter about a faulty product, outline an insurance claim or draft a complaint to a government agency?

If you're like me, it happens a lot. Friends and family automatically assume a writer will know just how to handle any number of business or legal communications.

Fortunately, there's a perfect guide to help you navigate around legal minefields. And it comes in the form of 'Book of Letters: How to write a letter for every occasion' by Peter Breen.

Breen is ably qualified to write this book, having been a practising solicitor and barrister in Australia for almost 30 years.

Even though this book has been written for Australians, the bulk of the letters can easily be adapted to suit your requirements.

'The Book of Letters' offers letters which cover a wide variety issues and occasions, ranging from defamation, over-charging, car accidents and insurance claims to goods & services, advertising, real estate as well as employment and buying & selling a business. In addition, Breen provides letters for neighbors, debtors and creditors, and government regulators.

But, most important of all, Breen shows you how to write effective letters, including the structure, formalities and strategies for success.

Breen's book has been a bestseller since its original publication in 1986. This updated edition presents standard form letters for almost one hundred different consumer and small business issues as well as tips for communicating in the most effective way - an excellent guide for the general public (and a good reminder for writers).

As Breen puts it:

"Good letters that hit the mark have four features you will soon recognise and emulate in your own correspondence. You will also learn how to address the person who you are writing to and how to close your letters. It concludes with strategies you can employ to simplify letter writing, including some hints about language."

"People who write effective letters usually write with passion and to a plan," Breen continues. "While most of us are passionate in our letters, writing to a plan may not be so simple. We need to begin with the four key features of effective letters:

 Person - who you are writing to
 Issue - what kind of letter you are writing
 Purpose - what is the connection between the person you are writing to and the issue
 Action - what kind of action do you want the person to take?"

'Book of Letters' is a great thought-starter and guide for writing a variety of legal and business letters.

Next time a friend asks you to write a letter - you can (hand them this book)!

-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com