
The Power of Writing Well
The Thoughtful Leader's Model for Business and Technical Communications
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $14.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Ray Allaire
-
By:
-
Pete Geissler
About this listen
"A bad writer has no rights whatever. Any mercy shown to him is wasted and mistaken." H.L. Mencken, 1880-1956
I wrote The Power of Writing Well to address everything managers, leaders, engineers, scientists, and others need to be better senders and receiver's, not to cover everything they need to know about the language or to be the perfect sender or receiver; nobody is.
The many books on writing and communicating that claim to be everything to everybody fail simply because they are overwhelmingly complex, full of jargon and useless labels and distinctions such as participial phrase as opposed to gerund phrase, or transitive verb versus intransitive verb. Most of us outside of academe don't care, and we shouldn't since they are not relevant to our needs.
This short book condenses the habits and techniques - your tools - that work most of the time for most of the people who write at work and want to be happier in all parts of their lives: nothing more, nothing less . It is also a true and accurate reflection of my 40 years of writing for business and of teaching writing at two prestigious universities and many professional societies and companies. You can trust that what I'm telling you will improve your abilities to communicate and think, and make you more productive, promotable, and happy. It will also make your organization more efficient and profitable.
I guarantee it, and my students attest to it .
©2015 Pete Geissler (P)2016 Pete GeisslerListeners also enjoyed...
-
HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done
- HBR Guide Series
- By: Harvard Business Review
- Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
- Length: 3 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Your inbox is overflowing. You're paralyzed because you have too much to do but don't know where to start. Your to-do list never seems to get any shorter. You leave work exhausted but have little to show for it. It's time to learn how to get the right work done. In the HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done, you'll discover how to focus your time and energy where they will yield the greatest reward. Not only will you end each day knowing you made progress—your improved productivity will also set you apart from the pack.
-
-
So helpful
- By Kathryn Smith on 03-26-24
-
The Power of Being Articulate
- The Thoughtful Leader's Model for Wealth and Happiness
- By: Pete Geissler
- Narrated by: Nathan W. Wood
- Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Your success in your professional, financial, and personal lives depends to a great extent on your ability to articulate. Throughout recorded history, many thinkers have noted the importance of being articulate and the power of words; you'll find a few of their comments in the book. Pete, however, goes a giant step further by connecting articulation to wealth and happiness and to the clear thinking and better decisions that thwart mediocrity.
-
-
thoroughly impressed
- By Derek Garcia on 12-06-19
By: Pete Geissler
-
Get to the Point!
- Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter
- By: Joel Schwartzberg
- Narrated by: Jeff Hoyt
- Length: 1 hr and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Joel's Schwartzberg's 10-plus years as a strategic communications trainer, the biggest obstacle he's come across - one that connects directly to nervousness, stammering, rambling, and epic fail - is that most speakers and writers don't have a point. They typically have just a title, a theme, a topic, an idea, an assertion, a catchphrase, or even something much less. This book shows you how to identify your point, leverage it, stick to it, and sell it and how to train others to identify and successfully make their own points.
-
-
Made me a better communicator.
- By Mr. Davis on 08-15-20
-
Start with Why
- How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
- By: Simon Sinek
- Narrated by: Simon Sinek
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The inspirational best seller that ignited a movement and asked us to find our why. Discover the book that is captivating millions on TikTok and that served as the basis for one of the most popular TED Talks of all time - with more than 56 million views and counting. Over a decade ago, Simon Sinek started a movement that inspired millions to demand purpose at work, to ask what was the why of their organization. Since then, millions have been touched by the power of his ideas, and these ideas remain as relevant and timely as ever.
-
-
Useless Dribble
- By Chimdi Azubuike on 03-10-18
By: Simon Sinek
-
Thinking, Fast and Slow
- By: Daniel Kahneman
- Narrated by: Patrick Egan
- Length: 20 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The guru to the gurus at last shares his knowledge with the rest of us. Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman's seminal studies in behavioral psychology, behavioral economics, and happiness studies have influenced numerous other authors, including Steven Pinker and Malcolm Gladwell. In Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman at last offers his own, first book for the general public. It is a lucid and enlightening summary of his life's work. It will change the way you think about thinking. Two systems drive the way we think and make choices, Kahneman explains....
-
-
Difficult Listen, but Probably a Great Read
- By Mike Kircher on 01-12-12
By: Daniel Kahneman
-
Writing Creative Nonfiction
- By: Tilar J J. Mazzeo, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Tilar J J. Mazzeo
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bringing together the imaginative strategies of fiction storytelling and new ways of narrating true, real-life events, creative nonfiction is the fastest-growing part of the creative writing world. It's a cutting-edge genre that's reshaping how we write (and read) everything from biographies and memoirs to blogs and public speaking scripts to personal essays and magazine articles.
-
-
Not what I expected but useful
- By Nancy on 04-14-14
By: Tilar J J. Mazzeo, and others
-
HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done
- HBR Guide Series
- By: Harvard Business Review
- Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
- Length: 3 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Your inbox is overflowing. You're paralyzed because you have too much to do but don't know where to start. Your to-do list never seems to get any shorter. You leave work exhausted but have little to show for it. It's time to learn how to get the right work done. In the HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done, you'll discover how to focus your time and energy where they will yield the greatest reward. Not only will you end each day knowing you made progress—your improved productivity will also set you apart from the pack.
-
-
So helpful
- By Kathryn Smith on 03-26-24
-
The Power of Being Articulate
- The Thoughtful Leader's Model for Wealth and Happiness
- By: Pete Geissler
- Narrated by: Nathan W. Wood
- Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Your success in your professional, financial, and personal lives depends to a great extent on your ability to articulate. Throughout recorded history, many thinkers have noted the importance of being articulate and the power of words; you'll find a few of their comments in the book. Pete, however, goes a giant step further by connecting articulation to wealth and happiness and to the clear thinking and better decisions that thwart mediocrity.
-
-
thoroughly impressed
- By Derek Garcia on 12-06-19
By: Pete Geissler
-
Get to the Point!
- Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter
- By: Joel Schwartzberg
- Narrated by: Jeff Hoyt
- Length: 1 hr and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Joel's Schwartzberg's 10-plus years as a strategic communications trainer, the biggest obstacle he's come across - one that connects directly to nervousness, stammering, rambling, and epic fail - is that most speakers and writers don't have a point. They typically have just a title, a theme, a topic, an idea, an assertion, a catchphrase, or even something much less. This book shows you how to identify your point, leverage it, stick to it, and sell it and how to train others to identify and successfully make their own points.
-
-
Made me a better communicator.
- By Mr. Davis on 08-15-20
-
Start with Why
- How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
- By: Simon Sinek
- Narrated by: Simon Sinek
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The inspirational best seller that ignited a movement and asked us to find our why. Discover the book that is captivating millions on TikTok and that served as the basis for one of the most popular TED Talks of all time - with more than 56 million views and counting. Over a decade ago, Simon Sinek started a movement that inspired millions to demand purpose at work, to ask what was the why of their organization. Since then, millions have been touched by the power of his ideas, and these ideas remain as relevant and timely as ever.
-
-
Useless Dribble
- By Chimdi Azubuike on 03-10-18
By: Simon Sinek
-
Thinking, Fast and Slow
- By: Daniel Kahneman
- Narrated by: Patrick Egan
- Length: 20 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The guru to the gurus at last shares his knowledge with the rest of us. Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman's seminal studies in behavioral psychology, behavioral economics, and happiness studies have influenced numerous other authors, including Steven Pinker and Malcolm Gladwell. In Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman at last offers his own, first book for the general public. It is a lucid and enlightening summary of his life's work. It will change the way you think about thinking. Two systems drive the way we think and make choices, Kahneman explains....
-
-
Difficult Listen, but Probably a Great Read
- By Mike Kircher on 01-12-12
By: Daniel Kahneman
-
Writing Creative Nonfiction
- By: Tilar J J. Mazzeo, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Tilar J J. Mazzeo
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bringing together the imaginative strategies of fiction storytelling and new ways of narrating true, real-life events, creative nonfiction is the fastest-growing part of the creative writing world. It's a cutting-edge genre that's reshaping how we write (and read) everything from biographies and memoirs to blogs and public speaking scripts to personal essays and magazine articles.
-
-
Not what I expected but useful
- By Nancy on 04-14-14
By: Tilar J J. Mazzeo, and others
-
Simply Said
- Communicating Better at Work and Beyond
- By: Jay Sullivan
- Narrated by: Jay Sullivan
- Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Simply Said is the essential handbook for business communication. Do you ever feel as though your message hasn't gotten across? Do details get lost along the way? Have tense situations ever escalated unnecessarily? It all comes down to communication. We all communicate, but few of us do it well. From tough presentations to everyday transactions, there is no scenario that cannot be improved with better communication skills. This book presents an all-encompassing guide to improving your communication.
-
-
Everyone who presents or is in a sales position should read this book!!
- By Ben Daughdrill on 12-04-17
By: Jay Sullivan
-
Be a Writing Machine: Write Faster and Smarter, Beat Writer's Block, and Be Prolific
- By: M.L. Ronn
- Narrated by: John Freyer
- Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Writing fast is the most important skill you can develop as a writer. While it seems hard to hit high word counts, the secrets are easier than you think. In this writer's guide, prolific author M. L. Ronn pulls back the curtain on the process that he uses to write six to eight novels a year. He has kept this pace while juggling responsibilities as a husband, father, manager at a Fortune 100 company, and a law school student. The result is a catalog of over 40 books and counting.
-
-
Great! ... Good, then bad, then very bad
- By Walt on 11-12-19
By: M.L. Ronn
-
The Little Black Book of Human Resources Management
- By: Barry Wolfe
- Narrated by: Ray Allaire
- Length: 3 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It's about the stuff you learn when you've worked for a boss you'd swear jumped out of a Dilbert cartoon; worked in a business whose performance careened up and down like a runaway clown car; faced legal or ethical problems that needed the wisdom of Solomon to sort out while they roiled your guts at night; and sat on the stand across from some third-rate Perry Mason or tried to be one yourself.
-
-
A non-HR person's opinion
- By Guillermo A. Guzman on 08-04-16
By: Barry Wolfe
-
Effective Email
- Concise, Clear Writing to Advance Your Business Needs
- By: Natasha Terk
- Narrated by: Natasha Soudek
- Length: 2 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In today's fast-paced, competitive business environment, we all need to communicate clearly and use our time productively. Even seasoned writers will find tips, tools, and ideas in this book that can improve the quality - and reduce the quantity - of email in the workplace. This book will help you write concise, clear emails that advance your business needs.
-
-
The Natasha’s Totally Rocked It!
- By Annie Armstrong on 12-09-18
By: Natasha Terk
-
The Advanced Business English Guide
- How to Communicate Effectively at the Workplace and Greatly Improve Your Business Writing Skills
- By: Christopher Hill
- Narrated by: David Burrows
- Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this book, you will be learning how to communicate effectively in English in a professional context. You will be expanding your English vocabulary, improve your ability to write and speak in both social and professional interactions, and learn terminology and skills that you can apply to business negotiations, telephone conversations, written reports, emails, and presentations. This book is written to bridge the gap between the general English and the specialized business English that you need for career advancement.
-
-
Nice Business English Guide
- By Alexander on 08-16-20
By: Christopher Hill
-
Answer to My Questions: Hit and Answer from an Important Job Interview
- By: Francis Baldo
- Narrated by: Timothy Wellington
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this audiobook, the author teaches you everything you need to know to have success in TV. If you want to know how to improve your communication skills and start achieving your objective then Answer to My Questions is the perfect audiobook for you. Here it is what you will find inside: The problems of a job interview, overview of interview preparation, how to add value and significance to your proposition, how to manage your time, and much more!
By: Francis Baldo
-
Work Rules!
- Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead
- By: Laszlo Bock
- Narrated by: Laszlo Bock
- Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the visionary head of Google's innovative People Operations comes a groundbreaking inquiry into the philosophy of work - and a blueprint for attracting the most spectacular talent to your business and ensuring that they succeed. "We spend more time working than doing anything else in life. It's not right that the experience of work should be so demotivating and dehumanizing". So says Laszlo Bock, former head of People Operations at the company that transformed how the world interacts with knowledge.
-
-
Multifaceted
- By jeremiah on 04-07-15
By: Laszlo Bock
-
High Output Management
- By: Andrew S. Grove
- Narrated by: Marc Cashman
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The essential skill of creating and maintaining new businesses - the art of the entrepreneur - can be summed up in a single word: managing. In High Output Management, Andrew S. Grove, former chairman and CEO (and employee number three) of Intel, shares his perspective on how to build and run a company. Born of Grove’s experiences at one of America’s leading technology companies, this legendary management book is a Silicon Valley staple, equally appropriate for sales managers, accountants, consultants, and teachers, as well as CEOs and start-up founders.
-
-
All nuts and bolts
- By Rancher on 05-22-21
By: Andrew S. Grove
-
The Secrets of an Interviewer
- Everything You Need to Know
- By: Armando Lebon
- Narrated by: Martin Maddison
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this audiobook, the author teaches you everything you need to know to prepare the perfect interview. If you want to know how to improve your communication skills and start achieving your objective, then The Secrets of an Interviewer is the perfect book for you.
By: Armando Lebon
-
The Job Interview
- How to Have a Winning Approach to Interview, Avoid Mistakes and Reach Your Goal
- By: Robert Reynolds
- Narrated by: Connor Chaney
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this book, the author teaches you everything you need to know to prepare the perfect interview. If you want to know how to improve your communication skills and start achieving your objective then The Job Interview is the perfect book for you.
-
-
Terrible audio narration
- By DS on 02-23-20
By: Robert Reynolds
-
Mastering the Rockefeller Habits
- What You Must Do to Increase the Value of Your Growing Firm
- By: Verne Harnish
- Narrated by: Verne Harnish
- Length: 4 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What are the underlying handful of fundamentals that haven't changed for over a hundred years? From Harnish's famous "One-Page Strategic Plan" to his concise outline of eight practical actions you can take to strengthen your culture, this book is a compilation of best practices adapted from some of the best-run firms on the planet. Included is an instructive chapter co-authored by Rich Russakoff, revealing winning tactics to get banks to finance your business.
-
-
The single best book I have read on business
- By Mike on 07-13-17
By: Verne Harnish
-
Winning Grants
- How to Write Winning Grant Proposals That Will Get You Funding for Your Nonprofit
- By: James Ruell
- Narrated by: Robert Grindley
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Every now and then, nonprofits partner up with government agencies, foundations, and other such organizations to carry out projects with potential to change lives, improve scientific understanding, or for artistic works. For you and your nonprofit, that means drafting a grant proposal. No matter how impressive your vision looks on paper, unless your proposal aligns with the goals of the organization you seek grants from, you’re bound to get rejected. The good news is, with Winning Grants, you’re only a few steps away from the secret to writing winning grants.
-
-
Excellent guide to successful grant writing
- By Katie Deits on 10-26-24
By: James Ruell
What listeners say about The Power of Writing Well
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Alice P Pesina
- 03-29-16
The way this book teaches
What insight do you think you’ll apply from The Power of Writing Well?
I really like the way this book teaches better writing: by bringing concepts, habits, and tools into the real world with before and after examples. The book is a conversation with its author, an accomplished writer of business intelligence that you can trust to steer you in the right direction.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- James
- 03-28-16
Helpful for Leaders
What did you like best about this story?
The many leaders I know that wish their employees could write better can quit wishing and start acting. This book explains, in everyday language, the habits and tools that have improved the writing of thousands of the author's students; they can do the same for your employees.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ross
- 03-30-16
Practical ,useful advice
What made the experience of listening to The Power of Writing Well the most enjoyable?
you can expect practical, useful advice from a professional writer, and you get it with this book. Geissler has written for a variety of businesses, taught advanced writing at prestigious universities and firms, and authored eight books and counting. Trust him to give you the straight skinny
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Robert
- 03-21-16
An Excellent Guide for A Manager
What made the experience of listening to The Power of Writing Well the most enjoyable?
I felt more confident while communicating with my colleagues. The best part of this book is that it 'Lists Down' the to-do stuffs to communicate better. I reaped its benefits, and think you would do too.
I write, and review proposals, and this book is an excellent guide to better articulate my thoughts.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Floyd D Mahan
- 03-28-16
How to Write Well
If you could sum up The Power of Writing Well in three words, what would they be?
"Pragmatic" describes this book. It offers advice on how to write well that is clear, concise, and pointed ..uncluttered by useless theory and jargon. Readers can immediately apply the habits and tools and become more productive and their organizations more efficient
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mark Walker
- 11-23-19
Wonderful
This ab really helped me understand writing on a higher level, forever grateful, Thank you 🙏🏾😊
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 04-23-17
Okay.... But 1) Too 2) Many 3) Lists
Would you try another book from Pete Geissler and/or Ray Allaire?
This book should have taken its own advice about lists and bullet points. Every single chapter was a series of lists, with sub lists with over-simplified examples that marginally explained the listed item before initiating a sub-list or moving on to another bullet point. Or sometimes had no explanation. Item # 6 in a list of 17 writing tips stated "always be cohesive, and unified", and then went straight to 7. Also, to my memory, it WAS a list of writing techniques, but there were 17 of them and I don't really remember the focus of the list after 17 things and an hour of discussion.
What three words best describe Ray Allaire’s performance?
Well-paced reading for the subject material.
Was The Power of Writing Well worth the listening time?
Somewhat. Probably had 5-10 takeaways after 4 hours of lists.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful