Customer Reviews

Strictly Speaking

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

Grab your dictionary - one of the Buckleys has written another book that will expand the vocabulary of even the most well read. Famed orator and founder of the exclusive Buckley School of Public Speaking, Reid Buckley has produced what is perhaps the most thorough, honest, wickedly witty book on public speaking you will ever read. It's definitely the most brilliantly written. While his obvious conservative political bent may unsettle those who don't join him on the right, his writing and speaking advice transcends political, economic and social beliefs. We [...] recommend this book to everyone who ever has to utter a word to anyone for any reason, especially in public.

I have been looking for a book purely on the art of speaking in thse days and apparently this is the only one. Written in not-so-plain language and yet delivers a hugh collection of useful techniques. In particular, as pointed out by preceding reviewers, the six chapters on Mechanics are just great. hardly you can find so many practical advice in other public speaking books.

If you are troubled by a lack of eloquence in yourself or society in general...read this book. In the classic, edifying Buckley Brother tradition, "Strickly Speaking" enables you to diagnose and treat about any hang-up. He accomplishes this by underscoring the need for Truth and Virtue as well as technique. For example, one of his Cardinal Sins of speaking is using a quotation from a work not read in entirety. Buckley's work stands out in the grating, saturated, contemporary "communications skills" industry.

Buckley obviously has a flair for language most of us do not, however, as one who speaks before audiences at least weekly, I've found his advice right on the money. An excellent book for the beginner, and a great way to expand your skills if you're a "seasoned vet."

He's a great writer and he's full of wit and enthusiasm. This is definitely one of the best if not THE best references to public speaking I've seen. He covers the practical matters, preparation, the psychology of the audience - most anything you could need. It's solid information and as comprehensive as you could ask for. But reading it just wears me out:

* The guy's vocabulary is voluminous. Seriously. I think I have a pretty well developed vocabulary myself, but this guy sent me back to the dictionary at least once a chapter.

* He's very well read, meaning he regularly drops references that I have no reference for. Again with the searching.

* He's somewhat inconsistent in the delivery of the book. He lays down a number of laws for speaking, then contradicts himself at least every few pages. For example, following a long diatribe on keeping your language simple and appropriate to the audience, he drops words like "locutions", "raconteurs" and "pusillanimous". I haven't decided if he's assuming the intelligence of the reader, or if this is his sly humor.

It IS a great volume though, a 4 star book if I've ever read one. But I could have given it 5 if he would have just set the bar for entry a little lower. It rarely takes me a month to read a 300 page book.

I am a priest, and I purchased this book so I could improve my preaching. While it is geared mainly to the business community I still found it extremely helpful for the type of speaking I do. The sections on composition, what not to say, physical presence (mechanics) were especially good.

This is simply the best book on public speaking. Period. End of discussion.
If you are serious about learning the craft, you must read this book.