Lend Me Your Ears: All You Need to Know about Making Speeches and Presentations [Paperback]

Max Atkinson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195300750 | ISBN-13: 978-0195300758 | Publication Date: November 10, 2005

The room darkens and grows hushed, all eyes to the front as the screen comes to life. Eagerly the audience starts to thumb the pages of their handouts, following along breathlessly as the slides go by one after the other...
We're not sure what the expected outcome was when PowerPoint first emerged as the industry standard model of presentation, but reality has shown few positive results. Research reveals that there is much about this format that audiences positively dislike, and that the old school rules of classical rhetoric are still as effective as they ever were for maximizing impact. Renowned communications researcher, consultant, and speech coach Max Atkinson presents these findings and more in a groundbreaking and refreshing approach that highlights the secrets of successful communication, and shows how anyone can put these into practice and become an effective speaker or presenter.
Topics Include:


· How to win and hold the attention of audiences;


· Using visual aids and PowerPoint more effectively;


· Getting your message across and winning applause;


· Inspiring audiences;


· How to prepare quickly;


· Fact and fiction about body language and non-verbal communication.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"No one surpasses Atkinson in the rigor and clarity with which he spells out how to move audiences to applause, get quoted in the media and become known as the most brilliant presence on any podium."--Clark Judge, speechwriter for Ronald Reagan

"Neither politicians nor business leaders can lead today without the ability to communicate effectively with audiences of all sizes or compositions. They have two choices: (1) be born with the ability, or (2) read Max Atkinson's books and learn."--Michael Sheehan, speech coach to Bill Clinton

About the Author

Dr. Max Atkinson is a freelance communications consultant and visiting professor at the Henley Management College,UK. He has acted as a consultant on presentation skills, public speaking, speech writing and speaker training for numerous companies and individuals in the UK and abroad.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (November 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195300750
• ISBN-13: 978-0195300758
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for writing a speech, June 14, 2007

By 

Christopher P. Witt (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lend Me Your Ears: All You Need to Know about Making Speeches and Presentations (Paperback)

As an executive speech writer and coach, I've read many fine books on public speaking. This book is one of the best I've seen about the art of crafting a compelling speech.

I especially enjoyed the three chapters of the first section. They examine how giving a speech is like and unlike holding a conversation. And they suggest ways for making a speech more conversational. You've probably heard much of the advice before - make the audience part of your speech, establish eye contact, pause, avoid being overly formal or using words that are rarely heard in everyday conversation, etc. - but now you'll understand why.

I liked the chapter titled "The Persuasive Power of Words." It examines four rhetorical techniques that make audiences pay attention to and remember what you say:
1. CONTRASTS, which include contradictions ("not this but that"), comparisons ("more this than that"), opposites ("black or white"), and phrase reversals
2. PUZZLES (assertions that briefly confuse the audience, priming them for your solution) and QUESTIONS
3. LISTS OF THREE
4. A COMBINATION OF THE OTHER THREE TECHNIQUES

And I found a lot to think about in the chapter, "Painting Words with Pictures." It begins, "A picture may sometimes tell a thousand words, but words can just as easily be used to create a thousand images." It then examines the different ways of creating images in the minds of your audience: similes, metaphors, analogies, anecdotes, and quotations.

I found the other chapters on visual aids (including PowerPoint) and body language less insightful, although I agree with almost everything Atkinson writes in them. (Beware: if you're wedded to PowerPoint or if you believe that how you speak is more important than what you say, you're going to be challenged - rightly, I think - by what he writes.)

Each chapter is filled with examples and stories (mostly from politics) and ends with a one- or two-page summary. Each section concludes with exercises to help you apply what you've read.

The book's subtitle, "All You Need to Know about Making Speeches," is a bit misleading. The book is more about writing a speech than delivering one. And while it gives great advice about using words, phrases, and images to strengthen a speech's impact, it goes into considerably less detail about constructing a speech.

Atkinson has experience in academia and as a consultant for politicians and corporations. His book is both intellectually stimulating and practical.

You may not like this book if you're looking for a beginner's guide to public speaking. But if you want to make your speeches more engaging and memorable, you'll profit from this book.

It's one of the few books I go back to again and again as I'm writing speeches for my clients. I highly recommend it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful, practical textbook for speech preparation, March 28, 2008

By 

gracesantacruz (Santa Cruz, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lend Me Your Ears: All You Need to Know about Making Speeches and Presentations (Paperback)

This book was recommended by an excellent executive coach who trains many top executives' speeches and presentations.
It contains many practical ideas such as;
-Step-by-step guide for preparation,
-"Winning with Words" (effective use of rhetorical techniques,
-how to use visual aids,
-how to avoid using them as clutch,
-how spoken words are different from reading,
-tons of good quotes as examples, etc.

It was very useful for me as I prepare my 60-minute speech, and I highly recommend this for people who are challenging themselves as a public speaker.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lend Me Your Ears: All You Need to Know About Making Speeches And Presentations, November 24, 2005

By 

Peter Always (Lyndhurst,, Hampshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lend Me Your Ears: All You Need to Know about Making Speeches and Presentations (Paperback)

"Without doubt this is the best ever "how to" book on speeches and presentations, no matter what the topic - business, social, political, or technical.

As a CEO I have sat through so many turn-off presentations by people I know to be literate and interesting. This book demonstrates how unnecessary this is and that one does not have to be a "born speaker" to make lively, interesting, really effective presentations.

It is completely practical in identifying the tried and tested techniques which have served the great communicators down the ages. It is also first class on how to use (but not over use) modern computer aids to great effect.

No wonder speechwriters to Presidents Reagan and Clinton say the author Professor Max Atkinson is the speechwriters Guru."