Public Speaking for Dummies [Paperback]

Malcolm Kushner (Author)

Book Description

Series: --for Dummies | Publication Date: July 27, 1999

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:Give polished presentations with confidence and credibility.Prepare your presentation, from research and organization to connecting with your audience.Add power with body lanuage, eye contact, and movement.Use humor to score points and diffuse controversy.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Public speaking is one of the major fears people have, right up there with death and dentists. Now, two authors have put their advice for aspiring speakers on audio, and while the material may overlap some, listeners will find much to learn from each. Kushner, a professional speaker, narrates Public Speaking for Dummies and packs it full of solid information and advice. While this covers most aspects of public speaking, the majority of the tape focuses on preparationApicking a topic, finding out about the audience and location of the speech, and organization. Although some of his advice is common sense, all of it is quite helpful, and listeners will find several tips they may never have thought of. The tape clearly is an abridgment of a much more in-depth work (Successful Presentations for Dummies), and while Kushner's delivery is fine, the overall tone is that of a good book with most of the humor and elaboration removed for time's sake. Still, this is a solid instructional work that covers its topic well; an ideal purchase for audio collections, especially in libraries that have much demand for the Dummies series. The set by Chorbajian demonstrates how the audio medium can be used to its full potential. Although she covers some of the same topics as Kushner regarding preparation and content, she also offers instruction on the actual oratory of the speech, reflecting on such skills as pausing and stressing certain words for effect. She also gives tips on dealing with the fear of speaking before groups and how to triumph over such things as suddenly "going blank" in the middle of a speech. Packed with clear illustrations of speaking skills and full of extremely helpful information, Public Speaking & You is very highly recommended for all audio collections (and all librarians preparing for a speaking engagement!).ASally G. Waters, Stetson Coll. of Law Lib., St. Petersburg, FL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

"Uses humor effectively in illustrating how business people can make more successful presentations." Norman R. Augustine, former President & CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation "Intellectually sound, imaginative, entertaining, and useful." Walter Fisher, Professor, School of Communication, University of Southern California

Tried and true tips for dazzling speeches and presentations

Find out how to create spectacular visual aids

If you're like most people, giving speeches causes a little — or a lot of — anxiety. Use this friendly guide as your personal arsenal of tools to control jitters and build a rapport with your audience. From dressing for success to delivering knock-their-socks-off openings, these tips will help you get your point across with confidence.

Discover how to: Research your topic Use visual aids as your outline Speak with confidence Add power with body language Implement slides, charts, and more Answer questions the right way

The Dummies Way^™ Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun

Get smart! www.dummies.com Register to win cool prizes Browse exclusive articles and excerpts Get a free Dummies Daily^™ e-mail newsletter Chat with authors and preview other books Talk to us, ask questions, get answers

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Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (July 27, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764551590
• ISBN-13: 978-0764551598
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,287,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Malcolm Kushner, "America's Favorite Humor Consultant," is an internationally acclaimed expert on humor and communication. Since 1982, he has trained thousands of managers, executives and professionals how to gain a competitive edge with humor. His clients include IBM, Aetna, HP, AT&T, Bank of America, American Bar Association, American Medical Association and the IRS.

A co-creator of the humor exhibit at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, he also co-authored "Well...There You Go Again": The Humor That Shaped America (Volume I) -- the first multimedia CD-ROM devoted solely to Ronald Reagan. He has lectured about presidential humor at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the Smithsonian Institute and numerous leadership conferences.

Kushner is the author of "The Light Touch: How to Use Humor for Business Success" (Simon & Schuster). A main selection of the MacMillan Business Book Club, it has been translated into five languages. He is also the author of "Public Speaking For Dummies" (Wiley Books) and "Presentations For Dummies" (Wiley Books) which has sold over 100,000 copies. His latest books are "The Little Book of Humorous Quotes" (aka associates) and "The Official Book of Mob Humor" (Robert D. Reed Publishers).

Kushner holds an M.A. in Communication from the University of Southern California. and a J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. He has served as a staff attorney for the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, and practiced law with a major San Francisco firm.

Frequently interviewed by the media, he has been profiled in Time Magazine, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post and numerous other publications. His television and radio appearances include CNN, National Public Radio, CNBC, "Voice of America" and "The Larry King Show."

Kushner is also the creator of the widely quoted "Cost of Laughing Index" -- a price index of the 16 leading humor indicators in America. The annual Index has been featured on Good Morning America, The Tonight Show and the front page of The Wall Street Journal. It is routinely picked up for April Fool's Day by wire services around the world.

A popular speaker at corporate and association meetings, Kushner is based in Menasha, Wisconsin. For more information, and lots of humor you can use in your next presentation, check out www.kushnergroup.com or www.museumofhumor.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From mediocre to DAZZLING, June 20, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Public Speaking for Dummies (Paperback)

I have been giving speeches for the past 16 years, and am well acquainted with the ropes. I was looking for a book that wouldn't just tell me "how not to be nervous" etc., but a book that would sharpen my speeches and make me a more polished speaker. Well, that's exactly what happened. I took Malcolm's ideas and started incorporating them into all my talks, classes, and speeches. It seems that overnight, I was being complimented more and more, and I myself feel that my speeches have much more "pizzaz" - but not only. They also are more well-built, educational, and get my points across fast. Malcolm Kushner's book is also very humorous. Perhaps sometimes the humor is just a little bit TOO much, but the easy, informative way he writes is a real treasure. Recommended!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for Dummies and Non-Dummies Alike, May 4, 2006

By 

David Bennett (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Public Speaking For Dummies (Paperback)

While I am not a huge fan of buying a book advertised as being for "dummies," I find the "...for Dummies" series to be very helpful for those of us unfamiliar with a certain topic. Needless to say, I am very unfamiliar with public speaking, unless you count the class I had in high school ten years ago, which I barely remember.

I am grateful for Kushner for taking a complex topic and making it easy to understand. Even though I am naturally outgoing and like to talk to groups, I wanted to learn an effective method of public speaking. I picked up the book because some friends and I have started an internet broadcast (called a podcast) and I wanted tips and suggestions on how to improve my speaking ability and organizational skills. I eventually want to branch out and do public speaking.

Generally, I liked the book, and even read it in a single day. I especially enjoyed the chapters about speech organization and the ones about voice and body language. I am going to practice his techniques during my spare time before either the mirror or a camera, to try to make them come more naturally. I am also going to thoroughly prepare for any speech I make, using the methods outlined in this book. He gives plenty of tips on how to start a speech, how to end one, and how to fill the speeches with humor and other interesting elements. Even though the book is an overview, putting his many suggestions into practice will keep anyone busy for awhile.

The only drawback to this book is that being a "...for Dummies" book, I feel like I need to read another more advanced book to actually get the best handle possible on public speaking. While I am glad this book is for complete beginners, some of the material is more about basic time management skills and common-sense psychology than public speaking. Also, I expected to read something about how to record myself and then how to evaluate/correct any mistakes I made. I didn't read anything about this. Webcams and microphones are so cheap these days that it only makes sense to suggest recording yourself speaking, and then watch it and evaluate it. I know that just editing my own (and others') podcast talks has helped me see how often I use "um," trail off, and ramble.

Overall, this is a very helpful and easy-to-read introduction to public speaking, with many advanced suggestions thrown in. I would suggest that anyone interested in public speaking read this book, and then get out and practice, practice, practice. That is what I plan to do.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Resource, Not for "Dummies" Only, December 22, 2004

By 

Mollie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Public Speaking For Dummies (Paperback)

While the author entices the reader with a fair measure of humor, ensuring that the book is a lot more interesting than the generic title would suggest, the humor doesn't detract from the informative nature of the work. The writing style is clear and the author takes a comprehensive approach to his subject. He provides an abudance of advice to various types of speakers. I have already put some of Mr. Kushner's ideas into practice, and have noticed that my audiences are more attentive -- and I am more confident. I recommend this book highly!!!