Lifetime Encyclopedia of Letters

by Harold E. Meyer

This comprehensive letter-writing reference helps anyone to write clear and effective correspondence for virtually every business or personal occasion. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0135363837
• ISBN13: 9780135363836
• Release Date: January 1983
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Length: 403 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 25.1" x 18.3" x 18.3"

Customer Reviews

As a template, THE BOOK is very useful

The Lifetime Encyclopedia of Letters has come in handy for me on several occasions (both business and personal). The book itself is broken down into categories, and within these are outlines, models, indexes, open/closing sentences, and example letters for each category. The "How To Do It" outline provides you with a step-by-step process for each letter. This helps to keep your letter focused. The explanations in the outline is brief, and somewhat vague, but if you follow through with the model letter, you can see what direction your letter would take. There are also suggestions for opening and closing sentences. This will help jog your inspiration. I never used any of the suggested sentences, but it did give me a clear idea of how I should open and close my letters. Many times, hesitation has been a result of not knowing how to start... this book helped solve that problem for me. The best feature of this book is the variety of letters. Some are more aggressive than others, and this can be tailored to what you are trying to "sell" or say. The contrasts in letter presentation gives you a chance to choose the most appropriate letter for those who will read it. The personal letter section is useful for the more "delicate" correspondence (compliments, reprimand, gifts, etc...). This book guided me with proper etiquette through some very nerve-wracking letters. It also provided me with the confidence to write more letters for appropriate situations. I have actually received compliments from letter receivers!This book is meant to be used throughout your lifetime, for business and personal uses. My copy is pretty old, and I still use it. The letters I write using the encyclopedia are absolutely my own. Because I view this book as a template of standards, I merely adapt it to suit my own personal style and needs. I recommend it to anyone who needs to write a letter and wants to do it right with the best results.

A Good Reference Item

I'm confused by the previous reviews. It seems like the objections are to the CD-ROM...our copy didn't come with one. I work in a library, and when I have trouble writing a letter or more often coming up with wording for a condolence card (I'm hopeless at this) I run to the stacks for this book! I find it most useful for appropriate ideas not necessarily a complete letter. If I don't find the subject matter I need I plunder other letters for the right words...sometimes just a sentence can get me started. I've recommended this book to other staff members who have found useful information in it. I just ordered a copy for our professional reference collection!!! This book is a great resource, but perhaps not the answer to ALL letter writing ills.

excellent source of information

I use it every time I have to corresponde to our customers. It has helped me say what I did not know how to sometimes.

While it is interesting, but I only go through 3 pages.

While because of money, I just came out from book shop and for the next budget I will buy this book.(Lifetime Encryclopedia of Letter).It is great and interesting when I readed this book and I actually try to search this book from internet hope it can download a copy from here.