Today I was browsing in our small, comfortable library perched on rise that overlooks the Hudson River — perfect for book people, especially on a day with  light rain from gray skies, the last huff of a winter only recently officially surpassed by daylight saving time and the equinox. I noticed faded maroon covers of The Harvard Classics, and found myself drawn to Vol.39, Prefaces and Prologues“No part of a book is so intimate as the Preface. Here …the author descends from his platform, and speaks with his reader as man to man, disclosing his hopes and fears, seeking sympathy for his difficulties, offering defence or defiance, according to his temper, against the criticisms which he anticipates.”I like the fact that the personal character of of the prefaces and prologues made it into “the most comprehensive and well-researched anthology of all time … both the 50-volume “5-foot shelf of books” and the the 20-volume Shelf of Fiction,” writes on-line publisher Bartleby.com The Harvard series was compiled by retired Harvard University President Charles W. Eliot, LLD and English professor William A. Neilson and published by Collier between 1909 and 1917. “Together they cover every major literary figure, philosopher, religion, folklore and historical subject through the twentieth century,”continues Bartleby.Hmmm. Prefaces. They are like blogs, not as egalitarian maybe, but quite personal. They are not Facebook personal, but they are publication-bound personal.That personal touch is enormously valuable and persuasive in every form of communications, including marketing.