Customer Reviews

The Confident Speaker: Beat Your Nerves and Communicate at Your Best in Any Situation

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read a few books on public speaking now and I think this one is among the best for sure. It really deals with the reader on a personal level and doesn't appear full of itself. The authors also did a great job on giving advice for a wide variety of speaking situations and social interactions. While I don't speak to large groups very often, I always felt somewhat ill at ease in networking situations. This definitely helps me deal with awkward moments and makes me more confident.

Harrison Monarth conducted a one-day workshop on presentation skills at our organization, which is when I received my copy of the book. I was always terrified of public speaking and typically rejected any opportunity to do so, unless I absolutely had to at work. The GuruMaker workshop and this book have helped me tremendously in increasing my confidence and facing my audiences. A bonus: the book is written in an entertaining and easygoing style that makes it a joy to read. Five stars from me!

With 15 reviews and nearly all of them 5 stars I expected to read a fantastic book with lots of excellent and specific information for improving my public speaking skills. I had figured that at least some of the reviews were suspect because the dates are so close together, but I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and purchased this book. That was probably a mistake. While this book does have some value in that it discusses how to handle oneself before a presentation, there is not much at all in specific studies of individual or groups of speakers or of trainings handled by the authors. This is very little specific information on how to handle situations. The chapter headings and subtopics sound excellent on what material is to be covered but the text reads more like a report rather than specific, practical information that can be quickly put to use. As a result for me this book has been a disappointment especially since it had received so many rave reviews.

Do politicians become great speakers overnight? No. They work hard and take the necessary steps to become dynamic, confident speakers. Even famous actors have fear of being on stage presenting in front of thousands yet you wouldn't know it by looking at them. Wouldn't it be nice to take the podium exuding confidence, smiling, knowing you're going to captivate your audience? Monarth and Kase guide you through the process of taking away your fears of public speaking allowing your true star (you) to shine. Naturally you will be a sweeping success as you emanate with confidence utilizing the tools that this book offers.

I often have to speak to an audience presenting my products and ideas to customers. I received this book as a gift and have become more confident in my skills as a presenter. Not only can I communicate better with my customers, but have seen a rise in my sales numbers by using the ideas presented. I have also become more attentive to their signals and needs.

Great book. The one chapter alone on gender differences, and feminine/masculine speaking styles (men to men, men to women, women to women, women to men) makes the book worth hundreds of times the price, especially to anyone in consulting or sales. If you have ever been left shaking your head and wondering what's going on when speaking to people; after reading that chapter, the "light will go on".

This is much more than merely a speaking book. It is a book on communications survival in a highly competitive world - essential for anyone who makes their living by talking to people, and most of us do.

Recommended.

I've been looking for a book like this for a long time. Although I have read several books on public speaking...and I've done the "Toastmaster's training thing," I'm grateful to have found Harrison Monarth and Larina Kase book with simple and easy-to-understand strategies for what can be a difficult subject -- becoming a confident speaker when it isn't natural to you.



I believe they take a very proactive approach to helping us understand how positive thoughts and beliefs, combined with speaking strategies, give us control over ourselves and our audiences.



They also take a customer centered approach, which they say is very important, because if you don't focus on what your audience wants, you'll never feel confident that you are meeting their needs.



Even if you aren't a professional speaker, you will get something good from this book, especially if you want to confidently get your point across. It might be in a school meeting discussing your children, or supporting an important issue in a community meeting.



Since most people read non-fiction books for the benefit they bring, I've identified a few specific points that you too might find helpful in The Confident Speaker.



** Dispelling the common myths about public speaking anxiety

** What preparations reduce anxiety quickly and easily

** The Do's and Don'ts of great public speaking

** How to connect with your audience and know what they want

** Simple but effective techniques to increase your confidence



I interviewed Harrison and Larina on Inside Success Radio for three reasons: 1) I believe that speaking with an author is the best way to know a book is genuine, 2) it gives the author an opportunity to summarize the main points, which creates a type of "Readers Digest" version of the book, and 3) during an interview you often get additional "golden nuggets" that aren't found in the book.



During the radio interview I asked them to share with everyone what the Inside Success Secret is to being a confident speaker in front of any crowd, and this is what she shared:



"There are many myths out there that need to be dispelled. One is, if you're anxious you will not perform well. In reality we actually need anxiety to perform well; we just need the right level of anxiety. People start getting a little nervous, they feel their heart beating quickly and they think oh no, I'm anxious, I'm not going to do a good job when we found in research that in fact when people are a bit anxious they do a fine job."



After reading their book and interviewing them, I believe Harrison Monarth and Larina Kase are two of the top experts on speaking. By following what they teach you will go from scared speechless to confident speaker. Their proactive strategies are easy to understand, and if you apply them, they will bring quick results....YOU WILL BE A CONFIDENT SPEAKER!"



This book is probably not for the person who is looking for highly advanced techniques for honing a sales presentation. If that is you then I recommend you look for books specific to your particular need.



The rating I use is based on a combination of how much I believe a proactive person might enjoy reading them and how much they might help you to be a more proactive person.



This book easily earns 5 stars...and I recommend it to you with no reservation. This book is not only a welcome addition to my own library; it will be a great gift for friends and family.



DrProactive Randy Gilbert, producer of "Inside Success Radio"

What a fantastic book! I especially enjoyed Chapter 2, "The Top Speaking Myths Revealed." In it, the authors describe 12 common myths (several of which I believed...confidently!) to which most people I know fall prey. And a couple of them (like Myth 6) have been ingrained in me since childhood. But now that I know the truth, I have a much, much better grasp on what it takes to speak well in public.

I run my own business and felt that I lacked the confidence to really connect in a public setting with audiences. I didn't get it from reading one book, nor did I get it from one talk I had to give in front of a group. Practicing the guidelines and specific advice in this book in a variety of settings, however, gave me the confidence I needed to establish the connections I wanted to make. No miracles here, but solid advice based on experience and science that took me from introvert to confident in a rather short time period.

I had the pleasure of being introduced to New York Times best-selling author, Dr. Larina Kase via Dr. Kevin Hogan in 2007 and knew I had to grab and digest her books on public speaking. Dr. Kase's own professional polish and poise in presenting at the workshop where I heard and met her impressed me so favorably in conjunction with what she said that I was confident her books would be superb.

Harrison Monarth and Larina Kase bring together their varied professional speaking backgrounds to make "The Confident Speaker" a marvelous book full of practical as well as professional philosophic advise people can use in their professional and even a bit of their personal lives.

Monarth brings a corporate sales professional perspective to the book while Dr. Kase brings her combined PsyD and MBA perspective to assist corporate executives and managers as well as professional speakers to become great speakers.

They provide a number of practical exercises on surfacing and identifying your fears and anxieties in public speaking, including to practice extensively. Their example from Billy Crystal's years on the televised Academy Awards show was excellent. Crystal "appears" to be speaking extemporaneously and telling "spontaneous" jokes, while in fact, he, like all great actors, has so well-prepared and practiced that he made it look natural. They combine excellent examples with concretely helpful exercises with complete details.

This book is 309 pages long and chock full of extremely practical advise and exercises which will enable everyone speaking to become a more confident speaker.