Sales Books

If you're even then slighest bit interested in the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination then this is a MUST read. Outstanding and detailed look into the 20 days that follow the assassination of the 16th President of the United States.

You're only cheating yourself if you don't read this.

This book is unusually good. I borrowed a copy from the libary after reading thse reviews, and now I'm back buying a copy to re-read and cherish.

I'd thought it would be simply a gorgeous picture book, but it's the prose and anecdotes; they bring the people of the day to life. You will get to know these people very well.

Magnificent book by the same family: "Lincoln: An Illustrated Biography".

I originally received this book in 1968 from my parents. I wanted a new copy for my coffee table. This is so full of facts and fascinating photos any one who is a Lincoln or Civil War buff will treasure it. A must have.

I first read this book when it came out back in the 1960's
It hooked me forever on the Lincoln Assassination
And it's still the best photo book on this tragic event!

This is a nice picture book of the last days of Abe Lincoln. It starts with his visiting the captured Confederate capital of Richmond, and then his murder in Ford's Theater. This book covers the snaring of the conspirators along with their military trial. Then it takes a look at the twelve cities where there were funerals in. Few people realize Lincoln's funeral was the precursor to Memorial Day. Unlike other picture books, this has a lot of information in it. This is a lengthy read at 300 + pages.

The authors spent a lot of time securing the rights to the many pictures that accompany this book. This is a very informative read. It also depicts the emotion of the time when Lincoln was murdered. Abe may not have been liked when he was alive, but he became a saint when he was dead.
A very informative pictorial read.

I love this wine guide! It is clear, informative, and---best of all---fun to read. The writers of the guide (Evan Spingarn and Fred DuBose) have none of the snobbery or condescension common in the wine-tasting world. The writing style is engaging and clever, with a subtle sense of humor. The emphasis on pairing wines with food is another special attraction of this guide. Each wine descriptions gives suggestions of foods to serve with the wine, and the index of Wines for Food in the back of the book is a handy reference for planning dinner parties or casual dinners at home. Being a novice with wines, I found the descriptions of wines both clear and enticing. I recommend this book highly to those both experienced and new to the wine world.

If you love to eat and drink in style, then this book is for you. Refreshingly straight-forward and unpretentious, "The Ultimate Wine Lover's Guide" not only covers the spectrum of fine wines, but tells you how to pair them with what you're cooking tonight. A great value!

I know one of the authors personally (the one who's actually TASTED thousands and thousands of wines over years of retail buying experience) and I wouldn't be writing this if I didn't want to, so listen up...

Evan Spingarn's "Wine Lover's Guide" is one of just a handful of wine books you'll likely ever need or want. Why? Because, for beginners, it lovingly provides a sound foundation on which to build a lifelong love affair with wine, and yet for enthusiasts, there's enough refinement, detail, and real wine-wisdom for the book to serve as a reference.

There are texts, there are tomes, and numerous wine books containing mountains of detailed information, but all this won't necessarily increase your enjoyment of wine and may, in fact, make you a real pain-in-the-ass to be around. Evan's book avoids this common trap, cleverly distilling years of professional tasting experience into a witty, populist, text that takes you by the hand and walks you through the true essentials of the wine world, all the while serving up tasting notes on over 1000 fascinating pours (for all budgets) that have actually passed the author's lips.

Sure, wine geeks will go on to consume libraries but most of us can stop right about here, toast the author's help and guidance, and avoid turning the joy of wine into yet another chore.

Why four stars instead of five? Because a "5" is perfection on earth. What?

Faced with hundreds of bottles that start to look the same, it's no wonder we so often walk out of the wine shop with a bag of not quite what we had a taste for (but the salesman said is a nice oaky Chardonnay that goes with everything). Fred DuBose and Evan Spingarn pilot us through the fog with hundreds of specific suggestions and, more importantly, descriptions of each variety of grape so we will never end up on the rocks again.

This book kicks the snobbish, uppity arse of all those despicable high falutin' wine guides. I'm not impressed by fancy adjectives and food pairings with foods I can neither pronounce nor afford. This great book simplifies and demystifies the entire wine experience. I no longer break into a clammy sweat when the fancy waiter brings the wine list. I can now navigate my local wine store with bravado. Bottoms up!

its a great gift for someone you have no idea what to get. and it was loved by that person.. for months they just ran around reciting the facts they read in the book. great product

I purchased 3 copies of this book and gave one to my Father-In-Law, my Father and my Husband! They love the book and find it interesting to read.

This book is full of interesting things. You really can learn new things everyday!

If you aren't very smart, don't know how to start a conversation, or better yet take a long time in the bathroom you need this book. It is filled with facts that you want to know not facts that you could care less about (not completely true since there are some stupid stuff but you aren't forced to read it). Did you know that more people have seen David Copperfield perform live than any other performer in the world. Or did you know that blue birds cannot see the color blue. Give this book a try. I love this book because knowing random stuff is always good to know.

The Biggest Bathroom Reader Ever is a great book for adults who feel like they can never accomplish reading because the book is big. Well, okay the book is huge but the articles are only 3 to 4 pages long. The things are really humorous and inquisitive. For example, on page 530 it says that the country of Brazil was named after the Brazil nut. Some of the articles titles are Brand Names, Who Cracked The Liberty Bell?, Diner Lingo, and
Dumb Crooks. If youre looking for a good book I would definitely recommend this book. Also, if you are loking for books to fill your shelf, the bathroom reader series should be on your shopping list.- FeatherBall

Les recomiendo la versión AUDIO MP3 de Piense y Hágase Rico Piense y hagase rico

Once again I'm really very happy with the delivery
great condition, super fast, Thank you :)
will recomend you any time!

Este es uno de esos libros que deben acompañarnos en la vida, para releerlos y recordarnos que siempre podemos crecer más, no sólo como profesionales, sino como criaturas de este Universo. Para mí es parte de una trilogía especial que comprende a "Juan Salvador Gaviota," de Richard Bach; y "El Profeta," de Gibrán Jalil Gibrán. Una vez lo presté y no creo que lo recupere, así que vine aquí para comprarlo de nuevo.

Al contrario de lo que yo pensaba. No es un manual de ventas, yo me goze y ,termine en lagrimas...Me senti Hafidal comienzo de mi carrera, el estomago vacio, el caminar,el azote de puertas en la nariz,y el lenguje espiritual-romantico.Siempre han puesto de manifiesto que este libro ha sido el mas vendido en todo el mundo, despues de la biblia...Este libro fue de inspiracionpara conocer mas a fondo de Dios y rendir mi vida a ElOg Mandino sin saberlo se ha convertido tambien en predicador de la Santa Bibliaal poner algunos parajes Biblicos dentro del libro..en exacta concordancia a los hechos en cuanto tiempo y espacio...He leido todos sus libros, lo recomiendo a aquellos que deseanser independientes en cuestion de trabjo y a los estudiantes de todo tipo de estudios...Esta es la inspracion de unhombre en vien de la humanidady nolos esajeros que tratan de ver el comunismo , como una solucion...al bien de la humanidad

La lectura de este libro, como todos los de Og Mandino, nos lleva a encontrar otros campos que son mucho más ricos que aquellos en los que vivimos. La historia es simple, las enseñanzas que esta historia trae, es maravillosa. Yo recomendaría este libro sin más. Es un MUST en la literatura de la autoayuda, y, creo yo, del crecimiento personal.

Literary biography is a tough genre to master, but Hermione Lee has tackled one of the toughest subjects imaginable and emerged triumphant. Even those who have never picked up even an essay or short story by Virginia Woolf feel somehow familiar with her work; Michael Cunningham's The Hours: A Noveland the film based on that has taken her story and turned it into part of pop culture (albeit at a very high level.) That makes the task of producing an unbiased evaluation of Woolf's literary contributions and a balanced view of her life (both subjects of heated debate among her admirers) far more difficult than penning a standard literary biography.
Far from being scared off, Hermione Lee rises to the occasion and delves deeply into every primary source on which she can lay her hands. The result is a triumph. She is able to weave these into a compelling narrative, never allowing the vast mass of detail to distract her or bog down the pace of the book (quite an accomplishment, given the 800-900 or so pages...)Whenever the reader is poised to ask of Lee how she reaches a given conclusion, within a paragraph the answer is presented, deftly and effortlessly.
The result is a highly accomplished biography and one that should serve as a model for any other aspiring literary biographer. The Woolf that emerges is one that stands apart from the existing biographies, all of which have their own flaws (written by a family member, with all the flaws that brings; written to demonstrate that Woolf was first and foremost a victim of sexual abuse, etc.) Lee's Woolf is an independent woman who constructed a life that suited her, however little understood it may have been by those around her. Even her suicide, the darkest days of World War II, make sense in the framework of Lee's narrative, which deals with her previous mental breakdowns, her experiences during the Great War and her fear of being trapped forever in a half-world unable to write.
Even for those not familiar with Woolf's novels or the Bloomsbury Group, this is a very accessible book. Indeed, I'd recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the entire period in English literature (which saw a dramatic changing of the guard, from the oeuvres of Tennyson, Hardy and Yeats to those of Woolf, Joyce and T.S. Eliot). It can only help the novice reader approach Woolf's own works with greater understanding and confidence.

I am taking this book slowly and am nearing the end. It is terrific and I find, on the days I take off from reading it, that I miss Virginia Woolf and want to go back to the "place" that is her life. I thank Ms. Lee for giving me a closer intimacy with Virginia Woolf.

this is the best biography of Virginia Woolf to date. The book is broken into four parts based on four broad periods in VW's life: 1882 - 1904; 1904 -1919; 1919 - 1929; and 1929 - 1941. The chapters, however, are theme-based; for example, Chapter 15 is "Bloomsbury"; Chapter 19 is "War"; Chapter 24 is "Monk's House"; and Chapter 37 is "Fascism". This then serves as a wonderful reference book to go back to read about specific events (war) or themes ("Bloomsbury") without having to search through an index for disjointed entries. Of the four biographies I have read of VW (Quentin Bell's, Hermione Lee's, Julia Brigg's, and James King) I recommend this biography as the one to start. King, 1994, was willing to write more about her personal relationships (read, "sexual") and is a good follow-on.

Of the many literary biographies I've read, only Peter Ackroyd's "Dickens" seems to me as "definitive" as Ms. Lee's terrifically compelling book. One finishes it with the sense, however illusory (see Janet Malcolm's extraordinary "The Silent Woman" for a convincing argument that it must be), that the Virginia Woolf found in its pages is essentially identical to the actual woman who lived and wrote and died. Anyone with even a slight interest in her must consider this book essential reading. I found it a real page-turner throughout its considerable length despite being unconvinced of Woolf's literary eminence (except for her sparkling correspondence) and finding her character unattractive (i.e. snobbish, frigid, a false friend, etc.) even by the usual standard for writers.

Probably the best bio of Woolf we are likely to see for some time. Lee has succeeded brilliantly and gracefully in that most elusive and troublesome task of capturing the "spirit" of another human being and then conveying that without simplification or reduction. What is most moving is that Lee allows Woolf her complexity and contradictions, her courage and cowardice, her generosity and meaness, without indulging in a sort of inconoclastic glee in smashing received images of Woolf as victim or feminist icon (or any other of the several and various "Woolfs" to be found these days.) Lee's bio is a stunning feat of sympathetic imagination and rational scholarship which ranks with the other "best" bio of the last 20 years or so, Deirdre Bair's marvelous and beautiful "Simone de Beauvoir." I am grateful to both of these writers.

This book is more than just a book about marketing your books. It's a book about marketing your writing and building a writing business.

Rutledge starts by explaining how to build a website for your writing. She recommends either choosing a topic or branding yourself as an author (If you write fiction, go the author route. If you write non fiction, go the topic route.)

Then she outlines, chapter by chapter, how to use each of the technologies online to promote yourself. This includes RSS, blogs, podcasts, ezines, online advertising, and multimedia.

She includes tons of resources and websites to help you get the job done, and the instructions are very easy to understand. If you've never built a website, or promoted a book online, this book will make it so much easier for you.

It's the place I would recommend any writer start, regardless of what you write, because it will teach you how to start your writing business from beginning to end.

Jinger Jarrett, Author, Cashing in on Article Writing: Internet Marketing to GO!

As a teacher of promotional classes for authors, I cannot recommend this book enough. As an author, I have used it personally, and it has been an excellent resource. I've learned so much about RSS feeds and how to pep up your blog.

Again, I can't recommend it enough.

I read Patrice's blog and am a fellow author of multiple books (one of which is self-published). Patrice has hit upon a maximum-impact minimum-risk strategy of publicizing and marketing your books/articles online. The efforts she outlines seem much more effective and focused than what traditional publishers are able to do for their authors, which is becoming smaller all the time.

Whether you are published by a traditional publisher or self-publish, you can use the strategies in this book to sell more of yours! Those who would benefit most are non-fiction authors with a niche audience. But Patrice does address fiction and novel authors as well.

The only thing I wanted more of was more information about doing Virtual Book Tours. Patrice does say they're a good idea, but gives no specific information on setting one up. I'd love to see that in the future or in a special report!

What a lovely book. I'm really glad I purchased a copy for myself. I'm a SCORE volunteer counselor and quite often my clients ask about Web sites and Web site design, and how to incorporate them into their small business' marketing plan. This book is the one that comes to my mind when I recommend a tome for them to read so I don't have to go into a long-winded sermon on the ins-and-outs of building a Web site. The other book I like a lot is Susan Daffron's book entitled Web Business Success (ISBN: 0974924504).

The book has 12 chapters, but I haven't listed them below. The list below includes the topics covered in the book that I have prioritized and grouped the way I would have liked the book to read.

1. How to Design a Web site
2. Add a Blog
3. Add a Podcast
4. Add an Ezine
5. Create eBooks
6. Create audio CDs and DVDs
7. Learn about Shopping Cart technology
8. Learn about RSS technology
9. Learn about Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
10. Learn about Online Advertising
11. Learn about Online Marketing
12. Learn about Using Amazon to Promote and Sell Your Book

My favorite topics were 1, 2, 5, 9 and 11. In my humble opinion they are the meat to putting together a Net presence using a Web site. It is these topics that I recommend my SCORE clients focus on when reading the book. I've tried the ezine thing, and I have found it to be a waste of time and effort. CDs and DVDs are beyond me at this time. But maybe in the future I might consider them as a great marketing vehicle. I think shopping cart technology is good for a retail shop. But an author with only one or two titles may want to skip it. I don't find much use for RSS technology since I don't go heavy on reading blogs. Maybe when there get to be a number of good blogs to read, then I might recommend RSS.

I have recently read a few books on using Amazon to promote and sell POD books. I think they were written after this book, and they seem to do a better job covering topic #12 above. Maybe the material on Amazon in this book is a little dated? But I saw a lot of good stuff on Amazon in this book. Consider also checking out Shepard's book entitled Aiming at Amazon (ISBN: 093849743X) and Weber's book entitled Plug Your Book! (ISBN: 0977240614).

Don't think that this book is only good for authors who want to use the Net to market their book. The principles and techniques beautifully explained in this book are equally applicable to promoting any business. So any wanta-be entrepreneur that doesn't know much about the Net or Web sites will do themselves a favor by getting this book, reading it, and then studying it. 5 stars!

The title to THE WEB-SAVVY WRITER, by Patrice-Anne Rutledge, holds a very important key. The reader should be web-savvy. At least more so than I am, because much of this book went over my head. I would have liked more detail on some of the technical stuff, but still, it emphasized my weaknesses and showed me the areas I need to study.

I would consider this a reference manual. This is not a book you should read once and try to retain. This is a book to keep on your shelf and refer to often. This is also not a one stop shop for marketing and promoting your book, but it does cover, quite thoroughly, the aspects of electronic marketing and promotion.

Someone more tech-savvy than me (and that includes most readers) would probably find this book more useful than I did, but I must add I did gain a lot of insight and once I do bone up on some of the technical areas, will read this one again. Even with my limited technical knowledge, I will reference this book often.

Of course Rutledge covers what you would expect here for book promotions - websites, search engine optimization, blogging - but goes much further. There are chapters on such promotional methods as RSS feeds, podcasts, ezines, and even how to sell and promote your book here, on Amazon.

Perhaps the best part of the book, for me at least, was at the end where Rutledge includes several author profiles. Here the reader learns first hand what has worked best for other authors in a variety of genres. Overall, a good book, even is some of it was over my head.

I just love Joan wester Anderson she is the most amazingly nice person and really knows how to write a story that just brings you right into it.
Its like watching a mini movie in my mind every time I read her books.
This one was no different. I purchase these angel story books only from Joan Anderson and I also buy extra's every time so I can have them as gifts to give and they are a gift that last and last. Its helped me through alot of trials in my life to know that there are angels here to help me with whatever I need them to. you have to buy all of her angel books there amazing! Diane Essary

I have read most of Joan Wester Anderson's books about encounters with God and His angels. They are all wonderful! I like to keep them by my bed and read a few of the supernatural experiences each night, and I find my faith and joy increased daily. My family and I have been very blessed to have seen God answer our prayers and manifest His presence in our lives on many occasions. There is nothing more wonderful than "a touch from heaven!"

Like Joan Anderson's other writings, this book is chocked full of short, uplifting real-life stories that appear to indicate we are not here alone. Divine intervention seems to be the only viable explanation for the events described in this must-read, life-changing book.

Do you believe in miracles? Do you think that God still intervenes in the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary ways? Do you ever see God acting in your life? If the answers to any of these questions is "no," "Where Wonders Prevail: True Accounts That Bear Witness to the Existence of Heaven" by Joan Wester Anderson may just open your eyes and your heart and change your mind.

Anderson shares thirty-nine stories of human experiences that cannot be explained by ordinary means. There are angels and loved ones who have gone on to their next life who make guest appearances. There are situations where the laws of physics seem to be suspended momentarily. There are medical cures where no hope was given. There are simple instances of coincidence that are too fortuitous to be considered mere happenstance. Yes, there are truly situations where God does intervene, although the reasons for such intervention are His and His alone.

"Where Wonders Prevail" is an amazing read, a page-turner that will keep you moving from story to story. It bears witness to God's presence in our lives, and assures us that, yes, we are being cared for by a power greater than ourselves.


(...)

The only book that gave me so much of inspiration after the Bible is the book 'Where Wonders Prevail'. After a day of stress that we humans go through, this book gives us the assurance that someone loves and cares for us, which is enough to bring us through another day.

As a sales and business consultant, author and speaker I am always on the look out for new ideas that help a business improve sales performance. This book, "49 Marketing Secrets (That Work) To Grow Sales", provides more successful real life examples in its 300 pages than you can find in 10 other books.

This book provides insights from 34 different contributing authors who are experts in many different industries. I have not found another resource that provides the depth of exerience delivered here.

I am also impressed by the breadth of sale growth topics covered, including: Strategic Planning, Branding and Corporate Image, Media Strategies, Networking Strategies, Technology Based Marketing Strategies, Event Strategies, and Sales.

This is a must read for business owners, consultants, sales and marketing professionals who want new ideas and strategies to grow their business.

I wrote a book about buzz Marketing techniques, and what everyone kept asking me is "Tell me the best one thing I can do..." I hated that question because there is no one thing that is universal for everyone. 49 Marketing secrets challenged a variety of authors and small business owners to share their best one thing in marketing. It may not tell you what your one best thing to do is, but it will definitely narrow the scope for you. This is a must read.

Lots of book and seminar titles claim to have the "secret" answers, but only THIS one lived up to its title in my opinion! Most of us small business owners don't have time to breathe, much less sit down and read a book! I was able to get truly practical ideas from 49 Marketing Secrets in 10-minute sessions due to how the book is organized. I thank Ron Finklestein for brilliantly compiling real-life experience and knowledge from multiple business giants and distilling it down to methods that can be immediately implemented and that don't cost an arm and a leg. There was more valuable information in this book than I have gotten from any high-priced business consultant! And I really liked that the ideas are practical, not academic or of corporate philosophy! It's about time we hear from people "in-the-trenches" who have really done it and succeeded.

I had the distinct honor of actually contributing to this book by writing two chapters in it, but what really amazed me was all the key knowledge gained from the other authors who contributed. The old saying that every day is a new learning experience is quite true. I can honestly say that I gained some little "nugget" of knowledge from each and every chapter in this book. When you put this many people and their experience in one book you can't help but create a valuable source of knowledge and oppotunity to learn...

Small companies need to bring in as much business as they can. Large corporations need to bring in the right businesses as clients. The essential marketing strategies to accomplish both of these objectives
are rarely found in one source. These proven, real-life, how-to examples are extraordinarily helpful! A must read!

An easy, quick read who's quotes are timeless. It helped me better understand and honor myself as a woman, and as a person, and changed the way I look at love and relationships.

Love this when I read it 30+ years ago and still do. Often recommend it to young women now. Favorite quote when she says "you make me so happy" and he replies, "no ,don't make responsible for your happiness". Profound impact then and now.

My copy of this book is tattered, the print on my favorite passages nearly rubbed away from all the times I refer back to them. I've tried to be a wife and a mistress to one man, sometimes not being good at either but this book reminds me of what a good marriage should be - a place where you retain something of your before-marriage self, a place where you learn and grow, not attempt to hold on or be held back. This book consistently reminds me that in any decision in your marriage, the principal question should be what do YOU want? The ending is one I love - When one is young and a new wife, it is easy to forget that the first and last requirement is to be a woman...

This book has turned my head around concerning marriage, love and sex. Even at 58 years old, she taught me about things that I always had questions about but was unable to even formulate the REAL question so I could deal with a long term marraige that has become boring. I now have direction and purpose. This is a must read for all genders and ages if you want to, really live life.

I really enjoyed this book, which opened my eyes in several different aspects. Looking at the relationship, from someone else's perspective, as well as ending an relationship, makes one more closely examine, the "whys" and the "what ifs". But I believe that the bottom line still comes down to communication, truth and honesty - from both partners. If the communication is not flowing, how can one know? Truth and honesty are born from communication. Michael Drury writes from the perspective of a mistress, speaking to the wives of not losing themselves, but maintaining that sense of self. She speaks of marriage, love, of sex and of making love - huge difference between having sex and making love. There are many great quotes in the book, "Attraction can flare up in almost any situation, but love cannot long endure where there are no selves, no terminals between which the spark can alternate."

Her advice is that of an old sage, crone woman - wise beyond her years. This is not a book one can fly through, but to savor, mull over and contemplate such worldly advice. Then apply it to your relationship and open the flow of communication, of total honesty and truthfulness.

With inimitable wit and clarity, Lou captures the true essence of Alan Siegel - and his role in helping make modern business communications simple for readers. From reducing mundane statements and contracts to paragraphs of plain English to inspiring breakthrough corporate and brand identities, Alan Siegel's vision and successes have compelled companies everywhere to rethink and retool how they market to and connect with customers.

Thanks in large part to Alan, companies today get the need to satisfy customers as well as the benefits from streamlined processes and communications designed to achieve this goal. It's a mission companies like mine, Ohlin Associates (www.ohlinassociates.com), which grew out of my time with Siegel & Gale, continue to promote.

Lou deserves much credit for writing such a user-friendly and compelling narrative. It reminds newly indoctrinated readers as well as us protégés of Alan Siegel (and Siegel & Gale) that business-speak creates barriers to customer satisfaction and commercial success.

Simple is Smart.

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (4/07)

Alan Siegel is one of the best-known gurus in the industry as far as knowledge and experience in the business/corporate world. He dedicates his time as a consultant to large corporations such as Xerox, American Express, the National Basketball Association, the Girl Scouts, plus creates guides to the Wall Street Journal on how to understand the financial market. Actually, these are just a few of the effects in Siegel's repertoire.

Louis J. Slovinsky created what is called the "working biography" on Siegel. In his book "Alan Siegel: On Branding and Clear Communication" Slovinsky produced not only a biography of a man that became successful and a leader in the industry, but also included the deeper side of Siegel so that readers would understand why he is so successful. The book delves into the Siegel's innate abilities and consciousness.

But, there is more. Slovinsky qualifies Siegel's expertise on branding by saying "Competition is more aggressive and the stakes higher than they were a couple of decades ago. Moreover, clients want to confirm that their investment in identity supports their business results." Siegel's expertise in branding model does just that.

Slovinsky also focuses on many of Siegel's successful programs he advised for implementation or research -- one being the Document Design Project, funded by the Department of Education. Slovinsky says "Siegel's role in promoting the Plain Language movement was seminal."

"Alan Siegel: On Branding and Clear Communication" is an inspiration to all interested in establishing a brand for their company. Reading Siegel's story not only teaches us how to be successful and a leader in the industry but inspires us, as entrepreneurs, to look at our own branding and communication strategies. After reading Slovinsky's account of Siegel's successes I am inspired to implement some of the ideas in my own business.

Being consistent with the title, Clear Communication, the author, Louis Slovinsky, writes without jargon but with humor and simplicity. For those who are concerned with building a consistent image for a non-profit or a small business, this book will give you tools to help define the methods to find your singular voice. Alan Siegel's innovative ideas are not just for the large coorporations that can afford his services, but are also appropriate for smaller entities who want to impact their customers with a clear, consistent message.

Finally, a clear and accesible introduction to the subject of branding!!!

Slovinsky's extensive research, career experience and lucid writing style make this an essential read for practioners as well as students of marketing. I was so impressed by the content -- and context -- of this book that it will be required reading for the grad course I teach in marketing and public relations for libraries.

Louis J. Slovinsky's superb book captures the essence of its subjects, the field of corporate branding and one its leading figures, Alan Siegel, whose work and ideas have been hugely influential in the growth and evolution of this emerging field.

Since founding Siegel & Gale in 1969, Alan Siegel has worked with many of the most recognizable names in the corporate, non-profit, educational and governmental worlds to create or refine their images. You may not have heard of Alan Siegel, but you certainly know his work. MasterCard's now ubiquitous logo and new global corporate identity and the memorable Dell logo with the "E" standing on its edge - reflecting how Dell made the PC industry stand on its ear - are but two notable examples. However Siegel did much more than create catchy new logos or slogans for companies and graft them onto companies that needed to retool their images. These highly visible creations were the merely end-products of what Siegel calls defining the "corporate voice." Slovinsky brings to light the processes Siegel used to define this "voice." Working with a corporate client, Siegel & Gale creates a project team to examine the history, culture, values and vision of the company and examine how the company differentiates itself from their competition. The team then distills the essence of its findings into a concise "big idea" and elaborates a strategy to express this new positioning. Siegel believes that corporations must speak with a "clear, coherent and distinctive voice", a voice that should resonate at all levels of the organization from the bottom to the top. We the consumer may only see a new logo, but, as Slovinsky demonstrates, Siegel's work involves bringing about significant changes in the internal workings of the company to achieve a coherent corporate voice. Siegel's success with high-profile clients speaks volumes for the effectiveness of this holistic approach.

Clarity, simplicity and comprehensibility in communication are hallmarks of Siegel's work, therefore it makes sense that Siegel's most enduring legacy may be his concept of "language simplification." In short, this means simplifying and putting into plain English, documents, forms and fine print that companies and governmental bodies use when dealing with the public. I was fascinated by the book's description of Siegel's groundbreaking work in this field and the resistance that had to be overcome to accomplish these worthy aims. In Siegel's view, by being simple and clear in their forms and fine print, companies can enhance their image and improve customer loyalty. Amen. Now, if only you can get those ideas past those pesky lawyers!

On Branding and Clear Communications is a perfect introduction to the branding field and an excellent tool for all who are interested in creating a simple, clear and resonant voice for a company or organization of any size. I highly recommend it.