The Language of Success: Business Writing That Informs, Persuades, and Gets Results

by Tom Sant

Book Overview

Language is the medium of business. To be successful, we need to communicate effectively not only when speaking but in writing as well.

Whether we are providing instructions to our colleagues, communicating with our customers, or advising our direct reports, language gauges success. We must be able to deliver clear, accurate messages that inform, persuade and motivate. Unfortunately, people lapse into habits that interfere...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 081447473X
• ISBN13: 9780814474730
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Amacom
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 16 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 11 and higher

Customer Reviews

Enlightening and Entertaining

I planned to skim The Language of Success for a few minutes last night and ended up spending two delightful hours reading and benefiting from the many tips and suggestions. Of course the language is crisp and concise, that is Sant's forte. However, I was surprised by the frequent humor and by his ability to write as if speaking to a friend. I found many ideas that were new to me and will be immediately useful. This is the first Sant book I have read but it won't be the last.

We have been needing this book

I am a writer and editor, and a friend who recently got promoted asked me for a book that would help her writing. There are stylebooks, handbooks, and business format/pattern books, but with Tom Sant's latest we finally have the book that my friend needs. In fact, lots of my friends need this book -- I need to buy about 10 copies. This book makes it clear that good writing starts with knowing your message and your audience. Dr. Sant warns against common pitfalls in writing and guides his readers to a place where they can write clearly, concisely, and pointedly in their own voices. Well done.

Reach for the highlighter pen

The Language of Success: Business Writing That Informs, Persuades, and Gets Results Halfway through Tom's introduction I found myself searching for the sticky post it arrows. Reading Tom Sant has always been a delightful experience but this books evokes the feeling of having a quiet and intense conversation with a master. Having read all his previous books it seemed only fitting that this master linguist and business accumen would share his unique perspective on the condition of business communications and gently persuade the reader to make a few shifts that change words into true communiques. Bravo. Another 5 star addition to the Sant compendium.

Learning can be both fun and painful

The fun from Sant's book was that I was able to use his suggestions and observations right away in my daily email writing. The pain was that so many of his examples of poor writing hit close to home. I've shared a couple of copies with colleagues in my office. Now we all think we're qualified critics of others. It's a good game that is making all of us think a bit more as we write. The book continues to be a great help.

Excellent book

I am extremely pleased that I got this book. It offers both concrete tips and more general concepts for writing clearly -- especially emails and other business communications -- and it's written in just the right tone. I've read another of Sant's books and I can't praise him highly enough for the help I feel I've received in my writing from his advice. I intend to recommend this book around the office.