Scan barcode
dolorsitamet's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5
I hear it's a beautiful hardcover so read it in print if you have the chance!
I really appreciate the existence of such an anthology. It provides windows into the past and a peek into the art of letter-writing.
Some letters in here were quite beautiful, touching, or thought-provoking. Others were just fine. I really enjoyed how each came with historical context, but not how they pulled a quote out of each as a working title. I also wish the arrangement/order was more careful (felt a little too random).
I hear it's a beautiful hardcover so read it in print if you have the chance!
I really appreciate the existence of such an anthology. It provides windows into the past and a peek into the art of letter-writing.
Some letters in here were quite beautiful, touching, or thought-provoking. Others were just fine. I really enjoyed how each came with historical context, but not how they pulled a quote out of each as a working title. I also wish the arrangement/order was more careful (felt a little too random).
ashlyn__'s review against another edition
5.0
I haven't read something this insightful in a very long time. This book contains a collections of letters from all sorts of interesring people with surprisingly intriguing stories from around the globe -well known and ordinary alike, some letters dating all the way back to the 1400's. And there are some amusing bits as well that genuinely made me laugh out loud like the letter response to the complaint about the dam beavers.
But as the cover says, this book is massively underrated and truly deserves a wider audience!
But as the cover says, this book is massively underrated and truly deserves a wider audience!
showmethemonet's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 Stars. I selected this book for book club July 2017, and while I had a rocky start getting into the book I ultimately rather enjoyed it as a unique slice of 150 lives (or rather less as there were some repeat offenders featured.)
Being a history nerd (and history major in undergrad) I liked learning new things and the process of stopping where I was to go read up on a topic and learn even more.
The letters overall were excellent and varied in their humor, sadness, poignancy, and at times eerie relevance despite some of their being hundreds of years old.
I am really glad I pushed my way through the beginning!
Being a history nerd (and history major in undergrad) I liked learning new things and the process of stopping where I was to go read up on a topic and learn even more.
The letters overall were excellent and varied in their humor, sadness, poignancy, and at times eerie relevance despite some of their being hundreds of years old.
I am really glad I pushed my way through the beginning!
boygirlparty's review against another edition
5.0
The moment I read this, I tagged it as a favorite on my favorites shelf. It's pieces of history, pieces of relationships, pieces of hilarity, pieces of tenderness...everything a letter could be and more, in one anthology that sums up what it is to be human as well.
Particular favorites are the request to Frank Lloyd Wright to build a doghouse, the widow's letter to her husband from centuries past, and Kurt Vonnegut to the school that banned his books.
An amazing collection with insightful commentary. Beloved in my library.
Particular favorites are the request to Frank Lloyd Wright to build a doghouse, the widow's letter to her husband from centuries past, and Kurt Vonnegut to the school that banned his books.
An amazing collection with insightful commentary. Beloved in my library.
littleredhat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This is a marvellous collection of correspondence from some of the most renowned people in history. The full spectrum of the human experience is covered here, from tragedy, to passionate love, to the fight for justice and equality, to some brilliant pieces of humour.
A few select personal favourites of mine included Alec Guinness' disappointed-sounding missal about some little sci-fi film he starred in, Bill Baxley's beautifully succinct response to a white supremacist, Philip K. Dick's excitement for "Blade Runner" (which he sadly didn't live to see), Tim Schafer's cover letter to LucasArts, and a personal letter from Steve Martin.
The audiobook edition utilises the voices of some wonderful actors to really bring these words to life - such as Alan Cumming, Stephen Fry, Benedict Cumberbatch and Juliet Stevenson. I also highly recommend watching the YouTube videos of the companion project performances, "Letters Live".
A few select personal favourites of mine included Alec Guinness' disappointed-sounding missal about some little sci-fi film he starred in, Bill Baxley's beautifully succinct response to a white supremacist, Philip K. Dick's excitement for "Blade Runner" (which he sadly didn't live to see), Tim Schafer's cover letter to LucasArts, and a personal letter from Steve Martin.
The audiobook edition utilises the voices of some wonderful actors to really bring these words to life - such as Alan Cumming, Stephen Fry, Benedict Cumberbatch and Juliet Stevenson. I also highly recommend watching the YouTube videos of the companion project performances, "Letters Live".
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Mental illness, Police brutality, Death, Sexism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
devon_marie's review against another edition
5.0
Like [b: Lists of Note|23123095|Lists of Note|Shaun Usher|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1409325539s/23123095.jpg|42671897] before it, Letters of Note is a wonderful and rich read. There is an incredibly diverse range of letters in this book — from Queen Elizabeth II to Groucho Marx to Hitler's nephew to [a: Ray Bradbury|1630|Ray Bradbury|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1445955959p2/1630.jpg]; from wives of Japanese Kamikazi pilots to teachers to librarians to people long forgotten. Each letter is beautiful in its own way, too — whether it's Annie Oakley's letter on gorgeous letterhead to the beautifully written yet terribly sad suicide letter of [a: Virginia Woolf|6765|Virginia Woolf|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1419596619p2/6765.jpg] to the humor in a Wil Wheaton fan letter replied to after ~20 years. Many of the letters are scanned, too, so you can see the handwriting, letterhead, and character of the original.
Particular favorites of mine include:
- Eudora Welty's cover letter for employment at The New Yorker
- [a: Hunter S. Thompson|5237|Hunter S. Thompson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1206560814p2/5237.jpg]'s advice on creating and being yourself
- [a: Ray Bradbury|1630|Ray Bradbury|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1445955959p2/1630.jpg]'s letter to a friend who was concerned about potential robot overlords
- Clementine Churchill's letter to her husband politely asking him to take a chill pill
- John F. Kennedy's incredible "message in a bottle" that was really carved into a coconut
- [a: Kurt Vonnegut|2778055|Kurt Vonnegut|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1433582280p2/2778055.jpg]'s witty and pointed letter to a school board censoring his books
- [a: Henry James|159|Henry James|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1202237907p2/159.jpg]'s letter on sorrow and overcoming it
- Alec Guinness's letter to a friend, hinting at this new movie he's working on with Mark Hammill and Harrison Ford
- Charles Bukowski's wondrous and perfect response to censorship, which everyone must read
Overall, a fabulous, educational, and contemplative book brimming with the insights and experiences of men and women throughout the ages. A true must-read.
Particular favorites of mine include:
Spoiler
- Eudora Welty's cover letter for employment at The New Yorker
- [a: Hunter S. Thompson|5237|Hunter S. Thompson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1206560814p2/5237.jpg]'s advice on creating and being yourself
- [a: Ray Bradbury|1630|Ray Bradbury|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1445955959p2/1630.jpg]'s letter to a friend who was concerned about potential robot overlords
- Clementine Churchill's letter to her husband politely asking him to take a chill pill
- John F. Kennedy's incredible "message in a bottle" that was really carved into a coconut
- [a: Kurt Vonnegut|2778055|Kurt Vonnegut|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1433582280p2/2778055.jpg]'s witty and pointed letter to a school board censoring his books
- [a: Henry James|159|Henry James|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1202237907p2/159.jpg]'s letter on sorrow and overcoming it
- Alec Guinness's letter to a friend, hinting at this new movie he's working on with Mark Hammill and Harrison Ford
- Charles Bukowski's wondrous and perfect response to censorship, which everyone must read
Overall, a fabulous, educational, and contemplative book brimming with the insights and experiences of men and women throughout the ages. A true must-read.
lucasmiller's review against another edition
4.0
I had completely forgotten that I used to look at this blog/website regularly in between being given this book as a gift and actually sitting down to read it. As we have moved out of the era of blogs becoming books and into era of podcasts becoming books, I'm delighted to have what I am convinced is one of the finest artifacts from this earlier epoch.
This is a coffee table book, there is no other way of describing it, but it is very well constructed. Beautiful fonts, layout, and the visuals really compliment the letters without overwhelming them. The book is beautiful, but I'm not crazy about the dust jacket.
The only real criticism I could level was the seeming lack of organization. I would have liked just a bit more flow to the letters. Perhaps not chronological, but perhaps some loose thematic groups. I think this is because I sat down and read through the book from start to finish, usually only a letter or two at a time, but if you do try and read a big chunk of these letters in a sitting there are some jarring transitions. Overall, a book I am glad to have tucked on my shelf. Recommended.
This is a coffee table book, there is no other way of describing it, but it is very well constructed. Beautiful fonts, layout, and the visuals really compliment the letters without overwhelming them. The book is beautiful, but I'm not crazy about the dust jacket.
The only real criticism I could level was the seeming lack of organization. I would have liked just a bit more flow to the letters. Perhaps not chronological, but perhaps some loose thematic groups. I think this is because I sat down and read through the book from start to finish, usually only a letter or two at a time, but if you do try and read a big chunk of these letters in a sitting there are some jarring transitions. Overall, a book I am glad to have tucked on my shelf. Recommended.
javafenn's review against another edition
5.0
Words cannot even express how delighted I was to find this collection of letters while grazing the history section of Barnes & Noble. Some letters made me angry, some made me blissfully happy and a few made me feel so desperately sad. I feel like I got to experience the world from the beginning of time to the modern age. I only wish we still wrote each other letters so things like this could continue on. I gained so much I sight and wisdom from my literary idols from this book. I felt like the advice they gave each other was actually directed at me! I am beyond thrilled this book exists and I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone!
graventy's review against another edition
5.0
This book is great! A fascinating collection of correspondence from history. My only complaint is that he starts with the wrong material, giving the work a bit of a slower start than it could have had. Hemingway tells Steinbeck his new novel sucks! The guy who shot John Lennon tries to get his signed CD valued! Crazy stuff.
khushi__festus's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0