Read This: Business Writing That Works [Paperback]

Robert Gentle (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0273656503 | ISBN-13: 978-0273656500 | Publication Date: December 2002

Go on, admit it: most of the business documents that cross your desk really test your patience. If you're brave enough, you'll skim through them in an attempt to capture the key points. More often than not, you'll find them or throw them into the bin. That's because most business writing is long, complex and takes forever to get to the point. This is self-defeating as the available reading time is often only a few minutes or less. In this book, you'll learn to: * Grab and sustain your reader's attention * Produce a user friendly layout * Draw attention to key passagesIt's a fundamental set of techniques that you'll be able to apply to all kinds of business writing - letters, e-mails, reports, memos, websites, business plans, forms, sign boards and even graphs. Read This! Will demolish many of the enduring myths that many of us hold dear about business writing - for example, that Times New Roman is the best font, that you must always start a letter with Thank you, or that a report must always have a conclusion at the end.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you can't write your idea on the back of my business card, you don't have a clear idea". David Belasco, Theatre Producer

About the Author

Robert Gentle has over ten years of business writing experience. Working as an award-winning financial journalist, then as a successful financial public relations consultant, he has written everything from press releases and promotional literature to newsletters and annual reports. Gentle regularly runs writing workshops for leading South African companies. He is the founder and managing director of Plain Business Writing, a Johannesburg-based plain language consultancy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 179 pages
• Publisher: Financial Times Management (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0273656503
• ISBN-13: 978-0273656500
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,325,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Business writing that works, October 8, 2004

By 

jose augusto fernandes "jaugusto" (rio de janeiro, Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Read This: Business Writing That Works (Paperback)

This book is for imediate results. The rate of return of reading it is high. It is divided in two parts: principles and applied principles. The principles are clear and right to the point. The examples offers pratical solutions in writing style and layout of presentations, letters, ads, e-mails,reports...For every example the author shows the wrong way of doing it (how we do it ) and the right way ( how we should do it).This makes this book an obligatory tool for anyone who writes papers, reports and presentations.