Introduction

I was commissioned by Teach Secondary magazine to review this book. I’ve included here both the review I submitted, and the lightly edited version published in the magazine. Unfortunately, the word limit is 150 words, so I wasn’t able to cover all of the book’s brilliant content. Because my review was aimed at teachers, my review concentrates on the needs of teachers and their students. However, it’s a great read in its own right, and wasn’t even written with teachers in mind as far as I know. So if you’re looking for your next great read, look no further.

My original version

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write approximately one hundred words for a book cover flap. Your blurb (as it’s known in the UK) must summarise the theme, entice potential buyers, but not appear to be written by the author’s mother. Take into account the avoidance of hackney-phrases, inadvertent sexism and words that simply don’t sell, and you can see that it’s much harder than you might imagine. And you can also see that blurb-writing involves skills that English students must develop, such as concision, awareness of audience and writing for different purposes. Given that blurbs are a form of marketing, this would suit Business Studies students too. Or simply read it for pleasure: it’s well-written, humorous, and very informative. It includes examples of good and bad writing, and provides an historical perspective. A must-have addition to your class or school library.

The version published in Teach Secondary Magazine

Your challenge is to write approximately 100 words for a book's rear cover. Your blurb must summarise the book's themes and entice potential buyers, but not appear to be written by the author's mother. Take into account the need to avoid hackneyed phrases, causing offence and using words that simply don't sell, and you'll see how it's a harder undertaking than you might imagine. This book explores how 'blurb-writing' involves some key skills expected of English students, such as concision, awareness of audience and writing for different purposes. Given that blurbs are a form of marketing, a blurb-writing exercise might suit business studies students too. Or else, simply read it for pleasure. Blurb... is well-written, humorous, and very informative, with examples of good and bad writing, and provides an historical perspective. A must-have addition to your class or school library.