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170 reviews for:
Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
Shaun Usher
4.29 AVERAGE
170 reviews for:
Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
Shaun Usher
4.29 AVERAGE
Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience was a gift from my in-laws. Thank you Dave and Jan! Getting this book was an ordeal. The first copy, went missing in the mail and the second copy was sent to the wrong address and ended up being held at a post office across town. It's a bit of a miracle that I finally got it, but it was well worth the effort and wait.
PLOT - In Letters of Note, writer Shaun Usher has compiled a wide range of letters from all around the world, written during various time periods. Some of the letters are written by famous people and some are from ordinary citizens. Thematically, there is a huge range in content, but the common thread is that all of the letters are extraordinary.
LIKE - Although this is very much a coffee table book and the letters can be read in any order, I decided to start at the beginning. I anticipated that I would slowly make my way through the book, reading a few letters each day. It was impossible to read slowly. The letters are like potato chips, I read one and had to read another. This is a weighty book, both in theme and in size, but I plowed through it in three sittings, because I simply couldn't put it down.
Some of the letters left a huge impression. In particular, a letter that Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, warning Roosevelt about the potential for using uranium to construct a nuclear bomb. This letter set into motion a chain of events that would create the Briggs Advisory Committee on Uranium, which led to the Manhattan Project and ultimately the creation of the nuclear bombs used in Japan. Einstein considered this letter to be one of his biggest mistakes.
On a lighter note, one of my favorite letters was a very clever and humorous inquiry that copywriter Robert Pirosh wrote to various movie studios in 1934, when he wanted to transition into a job as a screenwriter. It has to be the best cover letter ever written and it immediately made me feel inadequate with regards to anything that I might write in the future. It's that good and it ultimately landed him a job with MGM.
My biggest take-away from reading Letters of Note, is how it made me feel. This book is an emotional roller coaster and often an intense experience.
DISLIKE - There was nothing to dislike, however, as with most collections, there was an unevenness in my reaction to the letters. I tended to favor the more modern letters, those written in the last hundred years. This isn't to say that I didn't find merit for every single letter that was included in this book, just that some affected me more strongly than others. I think that everyone who reads Letters of Note, will have a completely unique experience and reaction.
RECOMMEND - Yes. Buy this book now! Letters of Note is a life altering read and I hope that Usher creates a follow up, as I'm sure that there are more amazing letters than he was able to include in this book.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT - In Letters of Note, writer Shaun Usher has compiled a wide range of letters from all around the world, written during various time periods. Some of the letters are written by famous people and some are from ordinary citizens. Thematically, there is a huge range in content, but the common thread is that all of the letters are extraordinary.
LIKE - Although this is very much a coffee table book and the letters can be read in any order, I decided to start at the beginning. I anticipated that I would slowly make my way through the book, reading a few letters each day. It was impossible to read slowly. The letters are like potato chips, I read one and had to read another. This is a weighty book, both in theme and in size, but I plowed through it in three sittings, because I simply couldn't put it down.
Some of the letters left a huge impression. In particular, a letter that Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, warning Roosevelt about the potential for using uranium to construct a nuclear bomb. This letter set into motion a chain of events that would create the Briggs Advisory Committee on Uranium, which led to the Manhattan Project and ultimately the creation of the nuclear bombs used in Japan. Einstein considered this letter to be one of his biggest mistakes.
On a lighter note, one of my favorite letters was a very clever and humorous inquiry that copywriter Robert Pirosh wrote to various movie studios in 1934, when he wanted to transition into a job as a screenwriter. It has to be the best cover letter ever written and it immediately made me feel inadequate with regards to anything that I might write in the future. It's that good and it ultimately landed him a job with MGM.
My biggest take-away from reading Letters of Note, is how it made me feel. This book is an emotional roller coaster and often an intense experience.
DISLIKE - There was nothing to dislike, however, as with most collections, there was an unevenness in my reaction to the letters. I tended to favor the more modern letters, those written in the last hundred years. This isn't to say that I didn't find merit for every single letter that was included in this book, just that some affected me more strongly than others. I think that everyone who reads Letters of Note, will have a completely unique experience and reaction.
RECOMMEND - Yes. Buy this book now! Letters of Note is a life altering read and I hope that Usher creates a follow up, as I'm sure that there are more amazing letters than he was able to include in this book.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
The quality of the letters was really inconsistent - I'd say maybe half of the letters were not themselves interesting but rather were included merely because they were written or received by famous people (I don't care) or included mention of a famous event (sometimes more interesting, but not necessarily - I already know about the event, so...). The two letters from formerly enslaved people to their former enslavers were FANTASTIC, though. The whole book might be worth it just for that.
On a separate note, be warned that the book is not as long as it looks - the last several dozen pages, at least, is just a list of all the crowdfunding backers' names.
On a separate note, be warned that the book is not as long as it looks - the last several dozen pages, at least, is just a list of all the crowdfunding backers' names.
A wonderfully eclectic mix of letters written throughout history; at times profoundly moving. Well done to Shaun Usher for taking the time to seek out and compile these pieces of correspondence. They are indeed deserving of a wider audience.
I loved this book! It's from the library but I'll probably have to buy it. First off, it is a physically beautiful book. I loved the look of it, kind of like a coffee table book with a ribbon to mark your spot. It is comprised of 125 totally random letters and they are presented beautifully. Some are simply copied so you can see all the notations, date stamps, etc., and some are typed with the original handwritten letters included as well. Some were incredibly sad, such as Virginia Woolf's suicide note, or the letter to Mrs. Sullivan from FDR confirming her 5 sons had been killed in battle, while some are silly and light. A few are so deep and complicated that I am miles away from understanding them, but you can at least appreciate their poetry. Great book!
A few formatting issues reduced the rating - 3*
A note on the Kindle edition: I read this on Kindle and will adapt the Goodreads review to suit that. Some of the letters were in their original format and not typed, which on the Kindle I found incredibly difficult to read. I felt like I was at an eye test.
The book, itself, is a fantastic idea and sounds like a labour of love. I think there were 128 different letters in this edition. These letters covered a huge range of history and some made me smile, some made me angry ad some had me close to tears. The opening letter from the Queen with the scone recipe made me chuckle. There are many letters for me to discuss but I simply don't have the time. If you're reading this review, pick up the book - you will be surprised by it.
A note on the Kindle edition: I read this on Kindle and will adapt the Goodreads review to suit that. Some of the letters were in their original format and not typed, which on the Kindle I found incredibly difficult to read. I felt like I was at an eye test.
The book, itself, is a fantastic idea and sounds like a labour of love. I think there were 128 different letters in this edition. These letters covered a huge range of history and some made me smile, some made me angry ad some had me close to tears. The opening letter from the Queen with the scone recipe made me chuckle. There are many letters for me to discuss but I simply don't have the time. If you're reading this review, pick up the book - you will be surprised by it.
Some remarkable letters here, some of which are reproduced, which is all the better. I confess to not reading every single one. I dislike Ernest Hemingway, for example; I have Hemingway over-saturation and never need to hear of him again.
My 2 favourites here were
1. "Sweetheart, Come," a profoundly sad letter from a crazy woman to her husband, especially worthwhile for being reproduced
2. "To my old master," from a former slave to his former master, which is basically an effective flipping of the bird
There were other worthwhile letters, like the one from the guy who foresaw the Challenger disaster, and the pissed-off guy who wrote to an environmental agency about a dam.
I didn't like the show-offy letters, like Eudora Welty's (though I love Eudora Welty) and Groucho Marx. They were more irritating than amusing.
All in all a nice collection. I gave it as a gift.
My 2 favourites here were
1. "Sweetheart, Come," a profoundly sad letter from a crazy woman to her husband, especially worthwhile for being reproduced
2. "To my old master," from a former slave to his former master, which is basically an effective flipping of the bird
There were other worthwhile letters, like the one from the guy who foresaw the Challenger disaster, and the pissed-off guy who wrote to an environmental agency about a dam.
I didn't like the show-offy letters, like Eudora Welty's (though I love Eudora Welty) and Groucho Marx. They were more irritating than amusing.
All in all a nice collection. I gave it as a gift.
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
A superb collection of correspondence on a whole manner of subjects. Some are very moving (Virginia Woolf's suicide note to her husband destroyed me) and others inspiring and charming. As well as a compendium of great writing it's also a timely reminder of the value in small, thoughtful gestures and the power and truth in emotional honesty, something that's rather lost in these cynical times.
The perfect Christmas present.
The perfect Christmas present.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced