The Brilliance Breakthrough: Eugene Schwartz's "other" masterpiece?

[Matt Jutras]

I was wondering if anyone here might know about another book by Eugene Schwartz titled "The Brilliance Breakthrough: How to Talk and Write So That People Will Never Forget You".

Several years ago there was a lot of hype about how rare Breakthrough Advertising was, but this book actually IS rare and impossible to find.

A little bird told me he once had a copy and sold it for about $400.00 and that Boardroom "might" be reprinting it. But who knows?

Anyways, does anyone here own a copy, and if so can you elaborate a little bit as to the contents of this lost resource?

[Matt Jutras]

Ok...I really and truly hate to bring back an old thread that got no replies.

But, I'm still curious about this book...so maybe someone that knows something about it will see this thread?

Thanks!

[Ken Strong]

Sounds interesting... but I don't see a copy for sale at any price right now, at least online.

[SamKane]

It's mentioned briefly here:
Eugene Schwartz Copywriting Swipe File

You might want to try asking Lawrence at www.infomarketingblog.com

He somehow gets the hard-to-find stuff.

[SamKane]

Brilliance Breakthrough: How to Talk and Write so That People Will Never Forget You

By: Eugene M. Schwartz
ISBN-10: 0963868403 ISBN-13: 9780963868404
Publisher: Instant Learning - 1994-03
Format: Hardcover
List price: USD 29.98

Maybe you can find a copy at the local library.

[herrick]

I have been looking for this book for awhile now. It's not listed in my town's central library system either

[cactuswren]

I had not heard about this book, but I know of Eugene through Waldorf education. Maybe you can contact him and ask him. Send him an email at millennialchild.com (contact me, bottom of home page).

Good luck!

[AzDT83]

Hey Matt,

Sorry for bringing this ancient thread back to life... just wondering whether you had any luck tracking down The Brilliance Breakthrough?

If you did, could you point me in the right direction?

Been trying to trace a copy since October last year.

[AM Faisal]

Greetings,

I always held Eugene Schwartz in high esteem after reading Breakthrough Advertising.
Now, after reading The Brilliance Breakthrough and doing the exercises, I can attest to the fact that he was a genius.

This book is one of those rare gems that should be in the possession of every writer, IMHO. But, unfortunately it is not listed anywhere for sale.

Anyway, here is the table of contents: (this is for you Matt)

1. The Two Main Parts of Grammar
Exercises and Applications for Chapter 1

2. How to Put These Two Word-Parts Together to Write a Single Sentence
Exercises and Applications for Chapter 2

3. How to Build Understanding into Every Sentence You Use
Exercises and Applications for Chapter 3

4. How to Link Your Sentences Together
Exercises and Applications for Chapter 4

5. How to Choose the Right Length for Your Sentences
Exercises and Applications for Chapter 5

6. How to Write Simply, that Anyone Can Understand Your Most Complicated Thoughts
Exercises and Applications for Chapter 6

7. How to Avoid Monotony -So that Your Reader Enjoys Your Sentences at the Same Time that He or She Learns from Them
Exercises and Applications for Chapter 7

8. How to Write Clearly -So Your Reader Doesn't Think You Mean One Thing, When You Really Mean Another
Exercises and Applications for Chapter 8

9. How to Use the Clarity Principle to Build Wit, Symbolism, and Suspense into Your Writing
Exercises and Applications for Chapter 9

10. Elaboration: How to Develop Your Flow of Thought from Sentence to Sentence
Exercises and Applications for Chapter 10


Part 2 - BRILLIANCE TOOLS

11. If You're Going to Say It ... Say It Well!

12. Let's Start With a Single Sentence. And Use It to See the Basic Rule Underlying All Punchy Statements

13. A Brief Interlude—to Stress Again How You Can Go from Copying Epigrams to Creating Them Yourself

14. The Second Search-Command Implication

15. Tools that Let You Build Implication into Your Sentences

16. Other Sentence Strengtheners

Hope this helps..

[SamyPong]

sounds interesting please send me the full details about this..thanks in advance..

best regards,
sami pong

[Carl Galletti]

I have a copy of the book. It's VERY GOOD. Really shows you how to break up your thoughts and put them into several sentences instead of cramming it all into one.

Most people try to get ALL their thoughts into one sentence. That makes it harder to understand.

Schwartz knew this because he was a copywriter. When writing copy, you have to be clear, concise and easily understood.

The same goes for presentations. One thought. One slide. Watch Steve Jobs' presentations (on YouTube).

Simplicity is especially important when teaching something. The student needs time for the information to sink in and be considered...before going on to the next thought.

Really good book...if you want to write clearly.

[cornell]

Would it be a herculean effort to get the reprint
rights to the book, Carl?

Maybe you could give it the same lease
on life as you did the Robert Collier Letter Book?

[Bill Jeffels]

I wasn't going to mention this.

But, since someone else brought up ,Carl and the RCLB.

Carl, I have to tell you. I ordered the Robert Collier Letter Book from your website, I believe it was 5 years ago. I couldn't believe how fast it was shipped ( Arizona to Toronto) usually takes quite some time. Your customer service was fantastic.

I had the book in days. The only people that I have purchased items that have matched your value are Joe Polish, John Carlton and the Halberts.

Take care,

Bill Jeffels


P.S. Nice to see you posting on the forum



.

[AzDT83]

Hey, AM Faisal and Carl - thanks for your replies. (I'm a newbie, and haven't worked out how to do that thank-you click thing yet.) It sounds like a really great, step-by-step writing guide. A lot more like How to Double Your Power to Learn (which comes with exercises) than an in-depth examination like Breakthrough Advertising.

Cornell and Bill, I don't know who you'd have to get in touch with to get the reprint rights, but here are a few ideas to start.

Gene had a wife, Barbara - and a son. Don't know his name. But I believe that's him pictured in some of the space ad's selling Gene's book 'How to Double Your Grades in School'... or something like that.

I remember reading a rumour that Boardroom was thinking of reprinting The Brilliance Breakthrough... I sent them an email about it but didn't get a reply.

If anyone knows anything about where to find a copy of this book, please don't hesitate to say hi.

[AM Faisal]

Originally Posted by AzDT83

Hey, AM Faisal and Carl - thanks for your replies. (I'm a newbie, and haven't worked out how to do that thank-you click thing yet.) It sounds like a really great, step-by-step writing guide. A lot more like How to Double Your Power to Learn (which comes with exercises) than an in-depth examination like Breakthrough Advertising.

Cornell and Bill, I don't know who you'd have to get in touch with to get the reprint rights, but here are a few ideas to start.

Gene had a wife, Barbara - and a son. Don't know his name. But I believe that's him pictured in some of the space ad's selling Gene's book 'How to Double Your Grades in School'... or something like that.

I remember reading a rumour that Boardroom was thinking of reprinting The Brilliance Breakthrough... I sent them an email about it but didn't get a reply.

If anyone knows anything about where to find a copy of this book, please don't hesitate to say hi.

As far as I have heard, Boardroom have no inclination to reprint the book.

Alas, you won't find a copy of this book anywhere for sale. Maybe, you could scout the libraries in your town; you might get lucky.

[BrianMcLeod]

It's really great to see you here, Carl.

Hope you'll stick around for a while.

Best,

Brian McLeod

[TheHothive]

This one is a rare master piece, I can't find a copy of this book in bookstores or online. Can anybody in this forum who have read the book discuss the content of that book? Thanks.

[AM Faisal]

Originally Posted by TheHothive

This one is a rare master piece, I can't find a copy of this book in bookstores or online. Can anybody in this forum who have read the book discuss the content of that book? Thanks.

I have posted the complete table of contents some posts above.

[Marvin Johnston]

Originally Posted by TheHothive

This one is a rare master piece, I can't find a copy of this book in bookstores or online. Can anybody in this forum who have read the book discuss the content of that book? Thanks.

After doing a google search, I found the first two chapters online. The book looks like it may be available on torrent sites, but given the recent copyright (1994), they would almost certainly be illegal downloads.

As one of the reviews stated, it is not easy reading, i.e. the reader is actually expected to think and do some exercises.

He breaks down words into picture (or image) words and connecting words.

A picture word is something that instantly has an image associated with it. That would include words such as tree, car, rose, etc. Those picture words will show us actions, colors, tastes, things, etc.

An example of one of the exercises is to list five picture words that show colors.

And he goes on to show how to put the words together for best effect. As the review said, not easy reading. But I'm keeping my eyes open for the book now.

Marvin

[Bill Jeffels]

Here ya go...

https://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/st...html?sid=store

One of the best hundred dollars I ever spent.


Bill



.

[Marvin Johnston]

Originally Posted by Bill Jeffels

Here ya go...

https://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/st...html?sid=store

This page is for Breakthrough Advertising, not The Brilliance Breakthrough. I think I found the reprint version of Breakthrough Advertising for about $35.00 or so on Amazon.

Marvin

[mccflo99]

I also have this book. Excellent book along the quality of Breakthrough Advertising, just hard to find.

Chris Elliott

[Copydog]

Clearly the book is out of print.

So if you live in the UK, you can loan
a copy from the British Library (London).

You'll have to pay a fee, but at least you'll
be able to read the book.

Not sure how this works in the US, but US
Warrior Forum members can probably loan
a copy from the Library of Congress.

Best

Eldo

PS Been away from the WF for a while, but
glad to be back -- superb info here.

[Mr. Subtle]

Originally Posted by Copydog

You can download the pdf here for $27:

-------

What's the purpose in PIKING and feeding a bootlegger?

[Ken Strong]

That site is owned by one Kim Jong Sung in South Korea (according to Whois).

I supposed he COULD be authorized by the Schwartz estate, but somehow I doubt it...

[WebRank1]

I have this one and I love it. I haven't done the exercises yet cause I don't want to write in the book. I think I'll just photocopy those exercises.
298 Pages of practicing the preach. Very readable and very understandable.

It really has opened my eyes on how people read words and sentences. Great stuff.

[BradCarroll]

I found this link that lists a few libraries that have copies:

The brilliance breakthrough : how to talk and write so that people will never forget you (Book, 1994) [WorldCat.org]

Maybe some of you live near a library that can get these on loan?

[Ken Strong]

Originally Posted by BradCarroll

I found this link that lists a few libraries that have copies:

The brilliance breakthrough : how to talk and write so that people will never forget you (Book, 1994) [WorldCat.org]

Maybe some of you live near a library that can get these on loan?

Great idea -- I just made an Interlibrary Loan request from my local -- we'll see what happens.