Strictly Speaking [Hardcover]

Reid Buckley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 1999

Tricks of the speaker's trade from a master of the art

Everyone wants to command attention and respect whenever it's necessary to speak in public. If the thought of addressing an audience gives you a dry mouth and shaky knees, help is here! Strictly Speaking can turn even the most tongue-tied person into a persuasive, charismatic speaker. It's packed with the exclusive, powerful techniques of Reid Buckley, America's most dynamic speaking coach, who's trained celebrities, top executives, and leading government figures. Brimming with humorous anecdotes and Reid Buckley's well-known eloquence and wit, this indispensable handbook goes directly to the core of what every good speaker needs to know. YouAEll quickly learn how to organize your thoughts....master the mechanics of voice, expression and delivery...and compose a lucid, compelling talk in decent English.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"After reading this, you will want to take up public speaking at once. Buckley knows how to instruct, cover all points of the scary art of holding an audience, soothe you, and keep you amused with his wonderful wit. Some magician!" ÑLetitia Baldrige, famed authority on etiquette and entertaining. "Rhetoric, the use of spoken words intended to persuade or inspirit, has somehow acquired a bad name. This is perhaps in part because the art of public speaking has fallen on hard times, as anyone can confirm by tuning in to C-SPAN. But Reid Buckley is not reconciled to this sorry state of affairs. If his wise, shrewd, and extremely funny book gets the audience it deserves, the Republic may just get the rhetoric it deserves." ÑGeorge F. Will, political columnist and author. One of America's most recognized rhetoricians, founder of The Buckley School of Public Speaking, and trainer to famous leaders of business and politics, Reid Buckley rides to the rescue of anyone who's ever trembled behind a podium. With dry wit, impressive learning, and infectious enthusiasm for the fine art of persuasion, this master speaker shows anyone how to survive and even triumph in public speaking, whether your audience is one or millions.

About the Author

Reid Buckley has been a champion public speaker since his debating days at Yale University, where he starred on a team that scored national and international wins. During the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, he toured the United States, debating with liberal columnist Max Lerner in clashes frequently compared to the Lincoln-Douglas debates. He is the founder and head of The Buckley School of Public Speaking, which has graduated many leading figures in business and government. He is also author of Speaking in Public: Buckley's Techniques for Winning Arguments and Getting Your Point Across and Sex, Power, and Pericles: Principles of Advanced Public Speaking.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (May 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071346104
• ISBN-13: 978-0071346108
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #488,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book on Speaking of 20 I have read and reviewed, December 16, 2000

By 

"ronlv" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Strictly Speaking (Hardcover)

No book on speaking does a better job on what to do immediately prior to a speech and the first minute of a speech. Among this advise is the reason for not beginning a speech with a joke. It is clearly spelled out. For those that have not had Toastmaster club experience and don't intend to enjoy that experience, the author's first commandment is worth the price of the book. "The very first paragraph of your talk should shock the audience with its complexity and difficulty, or with its outrageousness." He challenges the reader to be creative and original in supporting the edge put on your topic by serious research---or "go mutter someplace in private." When you are writing you have to be very careful with your approach, but when you speak you should play the more emotional side of the argument or aim at the core. Hit them at the gut level. "Go for the jugular."

His chapter 3 on Speaking Obligations Related to Your Business or Profession is exceptional. I have yet to find any book on speaking that gives such sound insightful advise for the high level or top management speaker. I am cautioning you that while the author whines about obscure business terminology, your dictionary will be you constant companion in reading this book. The kettle has called the pot black. In chapter 10 (How to Write...Brilliantly.) his rule 5 is: Set your thoughts down in the simplest language possible. Again, when ever you read this book you will need the dictionary at hand. Sometimes the fancy word choice improves the meaning after you have studied the new word. What does it say about the rule if the author can't be bothered with it. Maybe it is all about the Buckley family style of writing and speaking with words that others don't use so as to prove that they are well educated... well beyond their degrees.

The author's sixth commandment is: Be not only succinct, be brief. Their is easily 50 to 100 pages that could have be cut out of this book. Sometimes I was happy that the book was not shortened, because I liked the way that he told his stories He places a high value on humility and nonchalant manner on the platform. The author has the clearest reason's why you should request a Q&A period at all times.

In discussing Expanding Your Cultural Base, he explains why you should be well read--to be an excellent speaker. His unique discussion on why you should read diverse sources and subjects is distinctive to him in its clarity. Other speech books encourage reading one non-fiction book per week. Another book admonishes us to read five daily newspapers and several magazines. He is the only one that offers the challenge that with a little thoughtful selection you will be building sources of material for future speeches immediately. Most importantly, when you read far afield from your area of expertise you are certain to improve the creativity of your mind. He, further, encourages music, art, seeing things first hand and talking to diverse people as vital to improving your creative potential. Chapter 6 on finding Ideas you are passionate about is outstanding.

No author has handled bias better. He says: Of course he is biased in some areas and so are you,the reader. It is part of what makes us interesting.

The six chapters on the Mechanics of Speaking are incredibly good.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take Command of Your Message, May 20, 2003

By 

R. L Saunders "Robster" (Ochlocknee, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strictly Speaking (Hardcover)

After years of public speaking, personal and professional, I now come to know how awful I've been. I knew I could be better, but hadn't found a resource to help me command attention, respect my audience, and communicate openly.

This is the real "How To" book. He broadens your horizon with his vocabulary. You may want to keep a dictionary handy. (I had to!) Emphasizes your responsibility to get your facts straight, exposing many popular phrases that were never uttered or intentioned by the assigned authors. Phrases used daily.

Harry Beckwith was right... If they don't like you, they won't like your message... even if it planting petunias. The lower ratings given to this book ran a common theme.

Reid Buckley is brilliant, arrogant (a label we'd all like to be pegged with, secretly), and most importantly doggone' funny. It's a way he controls what his critics say about him. That kind of control is priceless.

He's definitely a National Treasure!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read on the subject., December 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Strictly Speaking (Hardcover)

This is by far the best book I've come across on the subject of public speaking. The best thing is that's it's full of practical excercises and specific recommendations to help you improve as a public speaker. Great for both the novice and the experienced speaker.