Other People's Rejection Letters: Relationship Enders, Career Killers, and 150 Other Letters You'll Be Glad You Didn't Receive [Hardcover]

Bill Shapiro (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2010

Welcome to the rejection-letter hall of fame, where the hopes and dreams of celebrities (Jimi Hendrix, Andy Warhol, among others) are crushed alongside the aspirations of the rest of us. You’ll find handwritten notes from former lovers, nasty e-mails from would-be bosses, heated texts, crayon scrawlings, and surprising dismissals from Playboy, Disney, even the pope. To unearth this collection, Bill Shapiro searched America’s desk drawers, hard drives, and government files. But what at first seems to be a voyeuristic jaunt through other people’s flops is ultimately a testimony to everyone who has at least tried. And while rejection’s sting is painful, it is not lethal; here, you’ll see that one of the great universals is not only people’s desire for acceptance but also their ability to persevere.
 
BILL SHAPIRO is the editor in chief of LIFE.com and the former editor of LIFE magazine. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"’A rejection letter can sway or scar a life,’ writes editor Bill Shapiro, ‘causing one person to give up his dreams, another to work harder.’  They’re no fun either way, but after reading the examples in his new book, at least you’ll know you’re not alone."  - People

"A lusciously laid out compendium of snobbery as delicious as it is heartbreaking" – New York Observer’s Very Short List

"A collection of more than 150 notes, letters, and telegrams that will make you feel good about yourself." – Esquire.com

 "Bill Shapiro shares 150 nay-saying (and jaw-dropping) messages that’ll take the sting out of your own recent burns, spurns, and turndowns" – More Magazine
 
"The native Angeleno and editor of Life.com must have rifled through lots of desk drawers (and government files) to come up with these: nasty emails, angry texts, and dismissals of both the famous (like Andy Warhol and Jimi Hendrix) and non-famous alike – and they’re funny because they’re not ours." – LAmag.com

 "A new anthology of career failure, romantic relationship disasters, cute letdowns, and outrageously nasty trash talk" – Boston Herald

“A great gift for anyone who has ever heard a resounding no.” -- AllYou.com

About the Author

BILL SHAPIRO is the editor in chief of LIFE.com and the former editor of LIFE magazine. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter (May 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307459640
• ISBN-13: 978-0307459640
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.9 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Letters & Correspondence

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift!, May 19, 2010

By 

Fan of Tick Tock (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Other People's Rejection Letters: Relationship Enders, Career Killers, and 150 Other Letters You'll Be Glad You Didn't Receive (Hardcover)

The letters in this book are fully engaging and beautifully presented, spanning a full range - from rejection letters sent to famous people (Andy Warhol, Jimi Hendrix, etc.) to relationship kissoffs ("You were right; I'll be fine without you") to notes scrawled by kids ("I hat you," [sic], "I'm running away"). But what's especially impressive is how the letters flow, one after another, with little treasures left here and there -- a typed note from Eleanor Roosevelt, a sexy text about a "doggystyle" party, the saddest break-up letter ever, and on and on. They're like sparkling one-act plays. And the book isn't just entertaining to read: it helps you see clearly that you're not alone in the universe, that everyone gets shot down once in a while. This would be a great gift for graduates seeking to make their way in the world with their pride and sense of humor in tact.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing looking glass into other people's love, work, and life rejections., June 12, 2010

By 

Eva "Eva" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Other People's Rejection Letters: Relationship Enders, Career Killers, and 150 Other Letters You'll Be Glad You Didn't Receive (Hardcover)

Once again editor Bill Shapiro has managed curate a collection of insight into people's most emotionally charged experiences in this selection of rejection letters. I loved being a voyeur into people's pain and couldn't put the book down until I'd consumed each letter. I am amazed by people's willingness to publically share the disappointment of rejection. I respect by all the people who were brave enough to share and I think this shows people's humanity in this universal experience. What's also cool about Other's People's Rejection Letters is that it encapsulates work, love and general life rejection and shows how people communicate over time using different technologies. What a journey through life and history.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Missing one rejection letter, August 12, 2010

By 

God's Muggle - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Other People's Rejection Letters: Relationship Enders, Career Killers, and 150 Other Letters You'll Be Glad You Didn't Receive (Hardcover)

This book is missing one rejection letter...the one that should have been from the publishers of this book. Exceedlingly boring, the follow up letters should be WITH the rejection letters, not stuffed in the back. Some letters are very hard to read. The good news is, it look less than 2 hours to read, but certainly NOT worth the cover price. DULL DULL DULL