How They Said It: Wise and Witty Letters from the Famous and Infamous

It's hard to believe how USEFUL this book is because it is so entertaining, too! I started reading it in the store and was laughing so hard at the witty things people have written that I had to buy it. What's amazing, though, is how often I've used it since then. I figured I would just read the book once, have a good laugh, and then put it on my shelf. But you would not believe how many times I've had it back in my hand -- every time I have to write a thank-you note or a cover letter or a letter of condolence, or some other really joyless piece of writing. What I find makes this one better than other books on letter writing is that it is inspiring -- it doesn't give lists of words or phrases to use (which always sound fake coming from me), but inspires me to say what I mean. Sometimes that means being terse, sometimes it means being flowery, and sometimes, it simply means being honest. The people in this book were undeniably great writers, and the fact that they broke the mold inspires me to try, too. Clearly, my letters haven't gotten to the level of Alcott's or Dickens' yet, but at least they're a lot more fun to write. I highly recommend the book -- it's a fun read and an invaluable tool.