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Words That Work cover

Words That Work

It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear

What people hear matters more than what you actually say.

by Frank Luntz

Luntz draws on years of polling and focus-group testing to explain why certain words and phrases resonate while others fall flat. He lays out ten rules of effective communication and dissects language used in politics, advertising, and business. The book argues that successful messaging is about the listener's reception, not the speaker's intent.

Founders live and die by how clearly they can frame a product, a vision, and a pitch. Luntz's tested rules on simplicity, brevity, and emotional resonance help founders craft language that lands with customers, investors, and recruits.

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