Sales Letters That Sizzle : All the Hooks, Lines, and Sinkers You'll Ever Need to Close Sales

Author: Herschell Gordon Lewis
List Price: $29.95
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 0844223484
Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books (11 September, 1999)
Sales Rank: 74,514
Average Customer Rating: 3.75 out of 5

Customer Reviews

Rating: 2 out of 5
Speak English Herschell...
I agree with Rush.

This book does have a very useful list of headlines, opening sentences, and a knowledgeable section on envelope copy with illustrations...

..but the guy explains these things in such a bizarre vernacular and egotistical vibe that it was hard for me to feel any sort of enthusiasm as I was learning (or trying to). Maybe Lewis should've been a politician.

If you want a sales letter book, I fully recommend Dan Kennedy's 'The Ultimate Sales Letter'. It's step by step, easily understandable, fun to read and teaches you everything Lewis does but much more. Your excitement will skyrocket. Kennedy's your Man.


Rating: 3 out of 5
Not what it could be!
I won't presume to be critical of such a great copywriter as the author. But my reason for giving the book only 3 stars instead of five is because the entire book is almost entirely a critique when the book could have been so much more.

The latter half of the book are "100 ways to start a sales letter". It ought to be a gold mine. It IS of value, but on nearly all of the illustrated "ways", Lewis illustrates how people foul them up; not in how they are used successfully.

The same is true for the first part of the book. He helpfully offers actual samples of sales letters that he has received but spends most of his time mocking them and showing what's wrong. Certainly many of them deserve criticism but I wonder how much better the book would have been if Lewis had given examples of GOOD copy.

I recommend the book. I was just disappointed that it continually focused on the negative instead of helping the reader with GOOD copy.


Rating: 5 out of 5
Every business owner needs this book!
Every PR executive needs to have this book in their shelf.
Lots of great info, tips and a great handbook. If you are in advertising, PR or communications...... get this book. Rick Frishman Pres. Planned TV Arts (NYC) Co- author GUERRILLA PUBLICITY & GUERRILLA MARKETING FOR WRITERS

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