Customer Reviews

Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking: A Proven Method

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This is an excellent book, clearly the best on the subject that I have read. In just 140 pages, it explains why delivering a speech is a common problem to many people, and more important: how can one effectively overcome that problem. The arguments used by the author are based on actual teaching experiences, and are presented intelligently and with a clear structure: The first chapter explains three main factors that intervene in creating speech anxiety. The second chapter starts with a questionnaire to gauge anxiety levels, and defines the symptoms and factors associated with that common ailment. Chapter three suggests the adoption of a "communication orientation" instead of the prevalent "performance orientation" as the most important step in overcoming public speaking anxiety, and delivering a "good" speech. Chapter four suggests an approach to achieve a comfortable and effective speech delivery. The fifth chapter explains several key points regarding speech content. The last chapter reviews the book and provides a summary of key themes. All chapters are complemented with exercises and there is a brief bibliography of 14 references at the end. Bottom line: an excellent handbook on the subject.

I read this book in preparation for two speeches I had to do at university. Although what the book said (like adopting the communication orientation and not memorizing your speech) sounded really good and believable on paper, in reality, the book just did not work for me. I still got nervous during my speeches (I think in my case my subconscious or my nervous system is just too used to respond nervously to public speaking) and have since looked for other approaches to lower my nervousness. My mother also read the book and still got noticeably nervous during a speech she had to do. I don't think it is enough and more specific and intensive techniques are required to eliminate fear of public speaking for some people.

This book tells it how it is. With the helps I have overcome many of the fears of public speaking. I can preach with a confidence that I haven't had in many years.

This book is a must in anyone's library as it shows that speaking is just conversation that has only one person speaking to a group of people.

Buy this book, you will be thrilled at the outcome.

Ed Thompson