Famous First Impressions

The Power of Perfect Opening Lines
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. In that spirit, this book introduces readers to some of the greatest first words of novels, plays, poems, songs, films, and more, uncovering the importance of opening lines from classic literature to modern music and revealing how these writers instantly gain our attention.

A unique exploration of opening lines from classic literature to modern music.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. In that spirit, Famous First Impressions: The Power of Perfect Opening Lines revels in the greatest openings from novels, plays, poems, songs, films, speeches, and more. Bestselling author Paul Volponi examines how talented writers and artists instantly gain our attention, often in just a few words, and dissects each line’s style, value, and impact. Exploring themes such as crime and punishment, dystopian landscapes, identity, science fiction, and the natural world, Volponi reveals the interconnectedness of opening lines ranging from Emily Dickinson’s I’m Nobody! Who are You? to Taylor Swift’s Blank Space.

Famous First Impressions features individuals as diverse as Toni Morrison, Adele, Edgar Allan Poe, Don McLean, Maya Angelou, William Shakespeare, Dr. Seuss, Anne Frank, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., introducing readers to new genres and writers while also providing fascinating insight into those they already love. And with science fiction and drama discussed in the same breath as classic rock and poetry, this book is sure to inspire less-than-enthusiastic readers and booklovers alike.