On Speaking Well: How to Give a Speech With Style, Substance, and Clarity [Paperback]

Peggy Noonan (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 17, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0060987405 | ISBN-13: 978-0060987404

For anyone who fears the thought of writing and giving a speech--be it to business associates, or at a wedding--help is at hand. Acclaimed presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan shares her secrets to becoming a confidence, persuasive speaker demystifying topics including:

• Finding you own authentic voice

• Developing a text that interest you

• Acing the all-important first paragraph

• Using logic to move your audience

• Creating, developing, and reinventing the "core speech" for diverse audiences

• Strengthening your speech with a vital element: humor

• Winnowing your thought down to the essentials

• Handling professional jargon, clichés, and the sound bite syndrome

• Presenting your speech in the best way

• Collecting intellectual income--conversing your speech treasures

• Breaking all the rules and still succeeding

• Reading for inspiration--how to use the excellence of others

Complete with lessons, tips and memorable examples, On Speaking Well shows us how to create forceful, persuasive, relevant speeches that will resonate with our audiences. Engaging, informative, and always entertaining, this is undoubtedly the authoritative how-to guide for anyone writing or giving a speech

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Noonan (What I Saw at the Revolution), George Bush's most publicized speechwriter, describes her book accurately as "advice and anecdotes about the writing and giving of speeches." Not political speeches, which are probably an art form unto themselves, but the kind of speeches most people are at some time called upon to deliver. Noonan states her advice clearly: No speech should last more than 20 minutes; the text should be written out (no ad-libbing from outlines); humor is essential; read your draft speech aloud (speaking is different from writing); keep sentences short (the audience is hearing it, not reading it). One section deals with the special requirements of writing for other people. Shorter sections deal with situations such as toasts, tributes and eulogies. There are also tips on handling questions, walking up to the platform and meeting the audience afterward. The anecdotes deal chiefly with Noonan's adventures on the political circuit and in the White House with Presidents Reagan and Bush and are the fluffy sort of things the author herself probably uses facing audiences. The advice is practical and fairly obvious, but if speaking in public is indeed most people's Number One Fear, this is a calming, logical and sometimes entertaining guide.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Noonan, author of the best-selling What I Saw at the Revolution (LJ 3/15/90), presents a guide to communication that succeeds because of the entertaining and informative anecdotes drawn from her experience as a speech writer for presidents Reagan and Bush. She provides good, basic, but not original advice?keep speeches to 20 minutes, use plain language, incorporate humor, and, most important, be sincere. The author includes insightful commentary on Earl Spencer's eulogy for his sister, Princess Diana; President Clinton's oratory, which she faults for its reliance on cliches and for its emphasis on style rather than substance; and President Reagan's skill at using speeches to connect with the public. Recommended for public libraries, especially as an overview of presidential speechmaking.?Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, Pa.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (February 17, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060987405
• ISBN-13: 978-0060987404
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.6 x 8.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Eloquence in Advice September 13, 2001

By N. Cardon

Format:Paperback

Ms. Noonan is among the most eloquent people I have come across in modern times. Quick-witted and intelligent, she uses the common tongue to express uncommon ideas. She has written a book that provides a good background for public speaking. She able to draw on her long experience as a speechwriter to enable her pupils to understand the challenges of both writing and giving speeches. Moreover, Ms. Noonan is so good with words that I would read that book if had no concern with speechmaking.

Read this book, you will enjoy it.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and Well Written June 24, 2003

By Lorna Goodman

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

What I loved best about Peggy's book is the delightful conversational style in which she writes which makes for an entertaining "how-to" read. I learned as much about people and history as I did about speech writing. Who says learning has to be dry or boring? A great book to expand a liberal arts education and improve your writing skills.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A good reference source December 27, 2002

By "helganpaul"

Format:Paperback

If you're a speech writer or a person who is often called upon to speak in public, you'll find this slim volume full of nice advice. I liked best the sections that featured passages from some of the memorable speeches Ms. Noonan has written for others. Maybe it's time for a collection of her writings from Time, the Wall Street Journal, as well as complete texts of her classic speeches? Publishers & editors should look into this.