Customer Reviews

There's No Such Thing as Public Speaking: Make Any Presentation or Speech as Persuasive as a One-on-OneConversation

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Henderson's book, There's No Such Thing as Public Speaking, is THE BEST book on presentational speaking I have ever read. It's a wonderful blend of solid concepts, practical applications, and invaluable techniques. It takes the speaker from the planning stage through to the execution stage of any presentation. It addresses not only speaking in front of a crowd, but also one on one and small group interactons.
This book is a must read for every corporate executive and military officer if they are truely serious about their career.

For someone who has already done some public speaking and presentation, this will serve as an excellent book that helps the speaker build confidence by focussing on a single member of the audience. It's such a simple and helpful technique that many of us who have been speaking publicly for years may be surprised why we didn't know it.

Further to this, the author also offers a lot of tips on attire, eye contact, pitch, gestures, pauses, microphone issues and so on. I strongly recommend any public speaker to buy and keep a copy of this book for reference before any presentation.

Very valuable reference for the sesoned public speaker or someone with a bit of experience, but for those still struggling with stage fright, it won't help that much.

Roy and Jeannette Henderson are two of this nations best public speaking authorities. I have taken their course and have been privileged to have known them for over 20 years during the course of my professional career. Their research is impeccable and their "theories" are easily translated to the podium. I have seen good speakers become remarkable speakers in a matter of days and weeks. Any person in a leadership position (or who are aiming for that top spot) should read their book and take their course. It really works.

Jeanette and Roy Henderson have published practical methods and tips on confidently speaking before any-sized group. They emphasize that if you can talk to a group by using eye contact just like a one-on-one conversation.

This book will aid the newbie in becoming a much better speaker - and perhaps take some of the butterflies out of the stomach if that is a problem for the reader. Of course it's a good title if you are a believer that one on one conversations are persuasive. However, I think this book is much better than the title - since its proven that a speaker carries more weight than a conversation between people. So forget the title the book has a very good explanation of strategies to help make your speech very impactful and persuasive. You can't go wrong with it.

Two other books along the same line (again, forget the titles, both are VERY good) are:

How To Preach Like A Preacher!: A Complete Training How-To Book For Preaching Like A Pro!

Mastering Persuasive Public Speaking: The Influence Approach

See you on stage!

Over the years I have given many book reviews, taught in a public high school and have made several curriculum presentations at state teachers' workshops. After reading Roy and Jeanette's book and studying their speaking concepts, I feel that I am a more effective communicator. In addition, I have seen remarkable results in other public speakers after speech coaching using their "one-on-one conversation".

I am happy to see this very talented couple share their life's work in this dynamic, reader-friendly book, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PUBLIC SPEAKING.

Jane Alter

"There's No Such Thing as Public Speaking" is one of those rare reading gems that actually delivers on what it promises. It may not eliminate the "butterflies" we all get when we have to speak in public, but it does show
us how to get them to fly in formation, and to "make any presentation or speech as persuasive as a One-on-One Conversation." Examples of the authors'
expert advice include: The six truths behind every conversation-and how to use them at the podium. The three steps to inspiring an audience. The seven secrets of using your voice and body language effectively. The seven tools every speaker uses-or misuses. Amateur and professional speakers alike will benefit from buying and reading this excellent contribution by the Hendersons.

Having taught and coached presentation skills courses for many years, I have always emphasized the one-on-one communication aspects of public speaking. I have also developed classroom exercises to transition timid speakers from a one-to-one speaking style to a one-to many speaking style. Until now, I have not encountered a book that adequately describes this transition. This book does an excellent job of explaining the psychology and physic of effective public speaking, breaking the process down into easily digestible steps. The authors do a thorough job of exploring the most important aspects of public speaking without ever dragging us too far into the minutia.

While it does not delve into a lot of depth on content organization and modification, it stands as a solid text on the most important component of public speaking - the act of speaking and, more importantly, communicating effectively. I will be using this as a student reference in future training seminars and public speaking workshops.

Tom Dendy
[...]

......light on content. There are many public speaking books that are far better than this one: Confessions of a Public Speaker (English and English Edition)

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Now here's a book that communications students, and instructors, public speakers, and anyone who has been conned into giving a talk, should read. This book is practical, funny, reasonable, and covers all the points in a textbook in a concise and delightful way.

Definitely worth reading.

Kim Burdick
Stanton, DE