Customer Reviews

Business English for the 21st Century (3rd Edition)

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I am just completing a required class using this book. It takes you through our written English language by teaching how to identify each part of speech. This book also teaches correct punctuation, different kinds of phrases, and really makes you dig deep in your subconcious to remember nominative phrases, plurals, numbers used in sentences, etc... It's all the basic English in one book that a person needs for brushing up!

I have a 1997 version of this textbook. It is really wonderful for reference even after finishing the course that required it. My husband and son are using it also. It has answers in the back so you can check yourself. If you don't tear out the work sheets and just copy them, other members of you family or friends can use the book to improve their English also. It is really worth the money.

This popular "fundamental English skills" book might be very effective with vocational school and community college students. Despite the great title and wonderful cover, this book represents a "grammar first and forever" approach that MBA students and creative entrepreneurs will both narrow and inappropriate.
This may be a covert class issue, but I also resent the assumption that students should focus more on form than content. The book falls into that dubious educational tradition that confuses "drill and kill" grammar exercises with genuine writing and critical thinking. Personally, I want everybody - including the support staff - to focus more on developing their ideas and actually writing business memos than just filling out grammar worksheets and memorizing overly rigid grammar rules. Personally, I blame misguided English books like this one contributing to the high dropout rates.
If students want a reference work for Business English, the MBA standard textbook Business Writers Companion is far better. The Grammar in Use series works better for international students. And the Qualities of Good Prose is a far, far better English book to teach writing and editing skills for community college students.
Or so it seems to me.