14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Three Stars, November 28, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The Power of Speech: Effective Technique's for Dynamic Communication (Paperback)
As a business professional with twenty-five years of teaching and public speaking experience, I give The Power of Speech by Marie Stuttard two stars for style, three stars for content, and three stars for usability, for an overall ranking of three stars.
Ms. Stuttard endeavors to be a personal speech coach. She works to raise the reader's self confidence with assurance that anyone's speech can be improved, speech barriers can be overcome, and vitality and eloquence are possible just by reading her book. She personalizes her discussions with "I" and "you" and tries to build a partnership by suggesting "we" can do or try or manage together.
Her attempt at friendliness often degenerates into condescension. I found the section "Positive or Negative" particularly irritating. After using "we" fifteen times, she ends with "... we have to make sure we look good - well dressed and groomed ..." and " ... it's head up, a big smile, and you're on your way!" I left that page annoyed at her suggestion of partial ownership of my speeches, insulted by her inference that I have poor personal hygiene, and feeling like I had just been patted on my bottom while walking to the podium.
Picturing her audience as busy professionals in the corporate world, she presents her information in the style of the One Minute Manager - brief, easy to read, and easy to learn. The book is chopped into seventy-four sections. Each section consists of one page of verbiage on a fifth or sixth grade level and a summary in graphics or word art on the face page. The development of each topic follows a consistent pattern: the need for the skill, the use of the skill, and tips or drills to develop the skill. This consistency enables the reader to quickly locate desired information.
Brevity sacrifices depth. The first sentence in "The Simple Hum" describes my conversational tone: "She sounds nasal ... and has a harsh quality to her voice." I eagerly devoured the page and then tried the suggested exercise to improve resonance. After a few failures to achieve the described results, I felt cheated that there were no trouble-shooting tips to explain what I might be doing wrong.
Some of Ms. Stuttard's practical tips are useful. Dabbing petroleum jelly on the lips is a good idea to stop the urge to wet them with your tongue. Critically listening to television speakers to identify characteristics of good and bad communicators could turn otherwise unproductive time into learning opportunities. Pausing before an important word, punching it out, and pausing after the word will add variety and vitality to speech.
Some of the drills are either overdone or non-existent. Ms. Stuttard goes overboard with eight pages of tongue, lip, face and breathing exercises, leaving the reader exhausted. However, in "Bursting Through," she whets the appetite to improve passion for more convincing speech but doesn't offer any measurements or drills to enable the reader to develop the skill.
In summary, fellow Amazon.com Shopper, I would recommend you continue your search through Amazon's self-help books for one that gives you more meat for your money.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great adventure to learn speech, November 28, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: The Power of Speech: Effective Technique's for Dynamic Communication (Paperback)
I have improved a lot to give a speech after I read "the power of speech." Even though my first language is not English, but there is no obstacle. The author explains the strategy with very simple concept to let the reader could understand very easily. I could apply it to my own language with no problem. Also, it's not just for giving speech, I think it is a lesson that we can learn how to communicate with people more efficiently and not bore other people. It is a great adventure and experience to learn the power and passion of language.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Powerful Tool For Speakers, March 13, 2001
This review is from: The Power of Speech: Effective Technique's for Dynamic Communication (Paperback)
In my work as a professional Civil Marriage Celebrant of New Zealand'The Power of Speech,' by Marie Stuttard is my bible. I have used this book ever since it was given to me by a friend in 1994 and reccommend to all new celebrants.
In a clear and concise way, the author, shares her passion and life long experience with language and speech. By simply opening the book one can unlock the mysteries and learn how to be a more powerful and confident public speaker.
This book helps to remove the fear associated, by many, with public speaking because it brings language alive and shows how important clear and positive speech is in every day life. Anyone who wants to be a more polished, more confident and more professional speaker should have 'The Power of Speech,' on their bookshelf.
To me, one of the secret of a truly successful speaker, lies in the passage on page 84-85 - the 'Six Ps.' An easy to remember formula, Pitch-Pace-Pause-Power-Passion all add up to Professionalism and if you want to succeed in todays world, professional is what you have to be.
The author speaks from the heart and shares her love and passion for language and speechcraft with openess and warmth. The reader is not made to feel inferior or ignorant but is encouraged in a positive and friendly way to learn and grow though the experience of reading this gem of a book.
'The Power of Speech,' takes the reader through the process of the speechmakers craft in easy to read terms, just open the book and the teaching begins. From preparation,and presentation, to body language and breaking the habits and from the written language to the spoken word, this book covers the many aspects of good public speaking. If you want to be a more dynamic, vibrant and professional public speaker then buy 'The Power of Speech,' by Marie Stuttard today.
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