'Gettysburg Approach to Writing & Speaking' finds favor among teens

Online, June 6, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The Gettysburg Approach to Writing & Speaking like a Professional by Philip Yaffe, a book largely aimed at university students and beyond, is finding increasing favor among teenagers and people who advise them.

In her review of the book, blogger Madeleine Rex, an eighth grade honor student in Gresham, Oregon, says, "I was surprised by how interesting I found this book. I'm not much of a non-fiction reader. However, when writing is a subject, I'm game . . . It's evident that Mr. Yaffe understands and deeply cares about this subject, and it was wonderful to read with his enthusiasm seeping through the pages.

"The Gettysburg Approach to Writing & Speaking like a Professional so clearly teaches the fundamental necessities of professional writing and speaking in an intelligible way that anyone could understand," she continues. "He strips the layers off one by one and addresses every minuscule question he poses. Though I cannot honestly say I loved the book, I respect its depth and conciseness.

"The Gettysburg Approach to Writing & Speaking like a Professional is a fantastic book for those who find themselves stumbling when confronted with those dastardly symbols we call words," she concludes.

Wayne S. Walker of Home School Book Reviews, a website devoted to promoting and supporting home schooling, has also endorsed The Gettysburg Approach to Writing & Speaking like a Professional for teenagers

"Understanding that this book focuses on expository writing, whose main purpose is to instruct, inform, and persuade, rather than creative writing, home-schooling parents might find that this book could be a good resource upon which to build a year's writing curriculum for their teen, especially if he or she is thinking about a business career. . . The Gettysburg Approach will prove beneficial to anyone who wishes to write better," he says.

Sophie Epstein, at the young adult's book blog Mrs. Magoo Reads, fully agrees. "Although adults will probably get the most out of The Gettysburg Approach, teens will also find it surprisingly and exceptionally helpful. It's definitely worth picking up a copy at your local bookstore -- be sure to keep it easily accessible!"

Author Philip Yaffe said that the book initially was aimed at middle and upper-level business executives "because of the appalling way many of them express themselves in both writing and speaking."

It was later revamped to take into account the needs of university students, notably freshman, who risk flunking out if they can't negotiate the tricky transition from high school to college. "I saw this first-hand when I was a student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). A number of otherwise bright students didn't get through their first year because of their inability to write and speak at a college level."

The best time to prepare students for university is before they arrive, he says. "I am pleased to learn that my book seems to have the potential to help in this important task," he concludes.

Biographical Information

Philip Yaffe was born in Boston in 1942 and grew up in Los Angeles. In 1965 he graduated in mathematics from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), where he was also editor-in-chief of the Daily Bruin, the daily student newspaper.

Mr. Yaffe has more than 40 years of experience in journalism and marketing communication. At various points in his career, he has been a teacher of journalism, a reporter/feature writer with The Wall Street Journal, an account executive with a major international press relations agency, European marketing communication director with two major international companies, and a founding partner of a marketing communication agency in Brussels, Belgium, where he has lived since 1974.

He can be reached either at [email protected] or [email protected].