Public Speaking Books Websites and Blogs
The man who doesn't read... has no advantage over the man who can't read - Mark Twain
Public Speaking Resources
If you live in the Solihull, Coventry or Birmingham areas, then we hope that you will come along to Sans Souci Speakers Club to discover all that you need to know about the "black art" of public speaking.
If geography won't allow you to visit us, then please feel free to use any and all of the resources listed below.... enjoy.
Public Speaking Books
If you're like me, you probably like to sit and read, looking for those pearls of wisdom and underlining them with a yellow marker...it's the geek in me... so lets have a look what might be worthy of your yellow marker.
You could explore the vast caverns of Amazon's public speaking section, but I've done all that for you and these are the ones that I like:
First of all you need a good general book, a book that covers all aspects of public speaking and presentation skills from openings to closings from nuances to nerves. Try this one:
"Public Speaking and Presentations for Dummies" by Malcolm Kushner
Malcolm Kushner describes himself as a "humour consultant" but despite that, this is a great book, which also has a great section on dealing with nerves. If you can only afford one book, buy this one.
Then you need to know something about how words are used to affect our emotions and get maximum impact. This is just the book:
"Lend Me Your Ears" by Professor Max Atkinson
There are lots of books on the subject of "rhetorical tricks" but they get very heavy with references to hyperbole, allusion, antithesis; all very confusing. But Prof Atkinson has simplified it and put it together in a very readable book.
It also contains a short section on dealing with nervous tension. A small book that punches way above its price tag. A must for any public speaker.
Hot news... just found out that the learned professor has a blog, and it's really good. Up to date material on Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Barack Obama plus lots of videos, speech analysis and all sorts of goodies - take a look at Max Atkinson's public speaking blog.
And we all need a bit of humour to hold the audience and keep them listening. Even if you can't tell a joke to save your life, this book will show you how to bring humour into a speech.
"Wake em up Business Presentations" by Tom Antion
A book full of ideas on how to liven up your speeches and presentations. It's packed with suggestions on how to inject humour into any presentation. A great resource.
Public Speaking Tip
Your #1 speaking tool: Books.
“ You are the same today as you will be in five years except for two things, the people you meet and the books you read.”
Charles Jones CPAE
"On Writing Well" by William Zinsser
"The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction" and that just about sums up this book. This is not a book on writing speeches, it is a book on writing well, which applies to any form of writing.....including speeches.
"Verbs are the most important of all your tools. They push the sentence forward and give it momentum. Active verbs push hard; passive verbs tug fitfully."
"What to Say When.....You're Dying on the Platform" by Lilly Walters
A book that tells you how to avoid things going wrong.....and what to do when they do. Just about anything you can imagine going wrong is covered, from your jokes bombing to a fire breaking out and each situation is covered with "saver lines."
For instance what do you say when.....The Audience Starts Walking Out Before You Are Done.....how about "Honest to God sir, I get better."
If you feel that you need a book that deals specifically with the fear of public speaking and public speaking anxiety.....and who doesn't?..... try this one:
"Never be Nervous Again" by Dorothy Sarnoff.
A small volume with big ideas on tackling those public speaking nerves. Give it a try.
Public Speaking Tip
Use the web to your advantage.
“ Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. I don't think anybody can talk meaningfully about one without talking about the other. ”
Bill Gates
Public Speaking Websites
Perhaps reading's not for you and you like to find your information on the web? That's okay because there is no shortage of public speaking websites. Some of the sites have free newsletters and the like...... and they are worth reading for tips...... but like most things in life, the best information is not free!:
Patricia Fripp - lots of public speaking resources plus free newsletters.
Patricia Fripp is a British girl made good. She went to America as a hairdresser and now struts her stuff in front of huge audiences.
You can sign up for a couple of free newsletters, both full of useful hints and tips, well worth subscribing.
There are also a few free video clips of Patricia in action - take a look, and if you like what you see, you can buy the videos.
Executive Speaker - a public speaking newsletter.
This newsletter is aimed at professional speakers and it's not cheap, but if you are serious about your public speaking and you have the spare cash, then give it a try. There is a free sample newsletter that you can download in PDF format.
Wikipedia - various pieces about public speaking.
Acording to Wikipedia - “Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence or entertain the listeners.” - sounds good to me.
There are also interesting articles on this free encyclopaedia site. Worth a browse.
Public Speaking Tip
Use pauses and silence to create drama .
“ Using pauses and silence to punctuate your material will draw in your audience. Eye contact has impact, but you'll find that if, after making a point or delivering a punch line, you accentuate it by standing still and shifting only your eyes, the impact is much greater. ”
Patricia Fripp
Public Speaking Blogs
I use blogs all the time, for all sorts of things, problem is you have to find the right ones. When it comes to Public Speaking and Presentation, there are lots. Fortunately for us someone has done all the hard work, and we can reap the benefits.
106 Public Speaking Blogs: The Public Speaking Blogosphere is the definitive collection of blogs related to public speaking and presentation skills.The blogs are broken down into types.....
- General Public Speaking Blogs: 2-5 posts/week
- General Public Speaking Blogs: 1-2 posts/week
- General Public Speaking Blogs: Under 1 post/week
- Speech Humour Blogs
- Speechwriting Blogs
- Visual Presentation Blogs
- Professional Speaker Blogs
- Toastmasters Blogs
- Part-time Public Speaking Blogs
That's a lot of Public Speaking blogs but take heart..... Eric Feng has produced a compact and informative article in which he lists his ten best blogs. Have a look at it at PSB’s 10 Most Influential Bloggers on Public Speaking . Should save you a lot of time and if you don't agree with him, you can still take a look at all 106!
Easy Public Speaking
Easy public speaking is a new blog dedicated to all things public speaking and presentation skills related. Give it a try, it's very much in line with the model used at the ASC Speakers Clubs.
Public Speaking Tools
There are lots of tools on the web, which will make writing your speeches and presentations much easier. From the initial research to choosing the right words, adding a few quotations and even finding a few one liners.
Researching Your Speech
There was a time when the only place that you could do all the research for your speech was the local library, searching through volume after volume. But now.....all you have to do is Google it.
If you're looking for facts, Google it. If you're looking for ideas, Google it. If you're looking for humour, Google it. If you're looking for anything else that you need for your speeches and presentations, Google it.....nuf said.
Hit the graphical link below... and search your socks off.
Thesaurus
Every good speaker needs a thesaurus, try this site.
Quotations
And you'll need a few quotations too, try these.
Your Suggestions
Those are my best public speaking resources, but if you find something related to public speaking that I've missed or you provide public speaking resources and would like to be included, send me an email and I'll put it on our website.
Oh! I nearly forgot, if you want to see Bill Clinton in action.... sorry, giving a speech, I should say, visit this site. A seasoned professional who uses every trick in the book.
The ones I've missed out.....
The only problem with giving you a list of my favourite books and websites, is that I have to leave so many out.....
So I've added a few more in this small side column.
It doesn't mean that these resources are only worthy of a small side column..... it just means that I ran out of room in the main column and I'm obsessed with symmetry...I never said I was perfect.
Some more Public Speaking Books
"Comedy Writing Secrets" by Melvin Helitzer
A book that tells you in simple terms, why things are funny and how to construct your own pieces of humour - a delight to read and you learn almost effortlessly. As it says in the book "When the mouth is open for laughter, you may be able to shove in a little food for thought".
"How to Hold Your Audience with Humour" by Gene Perret
Gene Perret was for many years the chief joke writer for Bob Hope so he knows a bit about humour. This book is full of information on when to use humour and examples of how you can use humour in your speeches.
"Remember: humour doesn't have to overpower your message. Good cooking is helped by a pinch of salt. It doesn't follow, therefore, that emptying the whole carton into the pot will make a tastier soup."
"Speaker's Handbook of Humour" by Robert Orben
A book full of humourous material to use in your speeches.
"With the exception of the Ten Commandments, most speech drafts are rethought, rewritten, restructured and occasionally improved."
"The Funniest Thing You Never Said" by Rosemarie Jarski
A book of humorous quotations - over 6,000. Just look up your subject and select a humorous quotation.
"Most women are attracted to the simple things in life - like men."
"I've had a wonderful evening - but this wasn't it."
"My last credit card bill was so big... before I opened it I actually heard a drum roll."
"Wodehouse Nuggets" by P.G. Wodehouse edited by Richard Usborne
If you like using wild and wacky similes and metaphors in your speeches, then this is the book for you.
Evelyn Waugh said that Wodehouse's books had "three uniquely brilliant and entirely original similes to each page" but you don't have to read all the books to find them. In this book Richard Usborne has assembled nearly two thousand nifty one-liners selected from over ninety of Wodehouse's books - a great collection.
"The sergeant quivered a little, like a suet pudding in a high wind."
"She spoke in a low voice, like beer trickling out of a jug."
"A tough looking man in one of those tight suits, which somehow seem to suggest dubious morals."
"The Power of Eloquence" by Thomas Montalbo
A good solid book on most of the aspects that go to make up a great speech - all presented with eloquence.
"Not only must speakers discover the truth, but they must express it eloquently to others, appealing to listeners' emotions as well as their intelligence."
"The How of Wow" by Tony Carlson
A book which boasts "A guide to giving a speech that will positively blow 'em away" and I reckon that the book lives up to that boast.
Tony Carlson likens a speech to a performance on stage. "When you are giving a speech, you are giving a theatrical performance. You must entertain and challenge, you must bring imagination and creativity, even as you strive to inform, persuade and teach."
"Change Your Voice - Change Your Life" by Dr Morton Cooper
A very readable book that explains how to get the most out of your voice. Dr Cooper is credited with having first used the word "mask" to describe the area of the face from which the voice should be projected.
"By producing sound through the mask (as opposed to the lower throat or the nose alone), the voice opens up, becomes flexible, and is filled with expression and warmth."
Newsletters and Ezines
There are lots of Public Speaking newsletters and ezines out there but I've listed below some of the ones that I would recommend.
Patricia Fripp has a couple of newsletter called "FrippNews" and "SpeakerFrippNews"... They are both fulll of tips, advice and links to various sites.....well worth a read.
John Kinde's newsletter is mainly about using humour in speeches and presentations.
For instance there is a quote of the day.....
"If I had my career over again? Maybe I'd say to myself, speed it up a little."
Plus lots of articles and links.
Tom Antion's newsletter is a mixture of advice and concrete information about putting a little entertainment into business presentations. Aimed at people who want to become involved with the professional world of presentations, there is still lots from which we can all gain.
Malcolm Kushner produces an ezine full of quotes, one liners and advice on giving presentations. He explains how to take old material and tailor it to your situation.
"The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer" Victor Borge