In The SpotLight: Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Performing (Paperback)

~ Janet E. Esposito M.S.W. (Author) "I never imagined I would be writing a book until a few years ago, when I came out of the closet about my fear of..." (more)
Key Phrases: Social Phobia, Fortune Telling, Mind Reading

Editorial Reviews

Review

In The SpotLight is a real gift to people experiencing any degree of fear or discomfort in speaking or performing in front of others, either in formal or informal settings. Janet Esposito demonstrates sensitivity, wisdom, and passion in guiding her readers on a path to overcoming their fears and discovering a new-found freedom and power in self-expression. Her enthusiasm for her topic makes for easy and lively reading. You will want to read In The SpotLight if you have any anxiousness in speaking or performing in front of others! -- Sharon McQuaide, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service

In The SpotLight should become a handbook for people in the performing arts as well as those who are interested in succeeding in other occupations. Its exercises are a guide to developing communication skills that are essential to all relationships, both professional and personal. Janet Esposito has done a tremendous service to those whose potential has been limited by their social anxieties. -- Cathy Lipper, M.S.W., D.C.S.W., Adjunct Professor, Western Connecticut State University

Self-Expression is the most basic of human needs. Some of us, however, become paralyzed by anxiety and fears and are unable to communicate or perform effectively in public settings. Janet Esposito's book can help readers transform their previous negative experiences into golden new opportunities in sharing themselves through self-expression. A must read for anyone who fears public speaking and performing! -- Dr. David N. Greenfield, Author of "Virtual Addiction: Help for Netheads, Cyberfreaks, and Those Who Love Them", CEO, The Center for Internet Studies, President, The Connecticut Psychological Association

Product Description

In The SpotLight: Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Performing is a perfect book for those who are afraid of speaking or performing in front of others. This book provides many different methods and strategies to help you get beyond stage fright and learn to speak or perform with ease and confidence. This book will also help anyone who is self-conscious and uncomfortable in any social situation.

You will discover how to:

* Dramatically decrease your feelings of fear, discomfort, and loss of control associated with speaking or performing in front of others
* Minimize your uncomfortable physical symptoms associated with fear
* Significantly reduce the dread of anticipating a speaking or performing event
* Eliminate your need to avoid situations of speaking or performing because of fear
* Create a relaxed and confident state of mind and body in preparing to speak or perform
* Break through your fear and create an inner peace around speaking and performing that you never imagined possible!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Strong Books (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928782078
• ISBN-13: 978-1928782070
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #296,799 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope and Healing, May 1, 2002

By A Customer

Fear of public speaking has been an enormous thorn in my side my entire adult life. Even when I haven't had to directly confront it for long stretches of time, thanks to my genius for avoidance behavior, it's always nagged at the back of my mind. I always knew I was basically well-adjusted, give or take a quirk or two, but, because of this seemingly insurmountable interior obstacle, this hidden limitation I told myself I couldn't get over, a small part of me clung to the idea that there might be something seriously wrong with me. If I gave a public presentation, I reasoned, the secret would be out; the world would know once and for all that I was "certifiable." Rejection, alienation and who knew what other horrible social tortures would befall me?

Then I read Janet Esposito's book and attended one of her weekend workshops.

My experience of the workshop: It was like being wheeled in wearing a body cast Saturday morning and walking out on my own two feet, with only a slight limp, Sunday evening.

As for this book: I've read a fair number of books on social phobia, shyness and so on, and Esposito's is, in my opinion, far and away the best of the bunch. Not only is it the only one that nails the bullseye on this specific fear, but it's also a joy to read - conversational, yet authoritative; concise, yet comprehensive.

If you feel like you're going to die at the very thought of public speaking or performing, get this book, go to the workshop [URL] and choose a new way to live instead.

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It worked!, October 19, 2000

By	B. Anderson (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The best advice I have for you if you want to overcome your fear of public speaking is to read Janet's book, attended her Level I weekend class and follow-through on your action plan that you develop in class. Your anxiety will definitely go WAY down.

Prior to doing that I had read many books and visited many websites. I even enrolled in Toastmasters and had performance coaching. I had only a small reduction in anxiety over the 18 months prior to going through Janet's class.

Why is she so effective? First, she's been there. You can totally relate to her as she describes her experiences. Second, Janet resolved to overcome her problem and tried many different approaches to do so. Her book and class focus on the most effective methods that attack the problem from several directions. Third, you confront your fear in a very supportive environment with others that are in the same boat. The impact of sharing this struggle openly and supporting others is very powerful. Finally, Janet is a inspiration and a great coach. She is totally committed to her mission of helping others get the fear of public speaking behind them.

I highly recommend her book and he class. You can get more info at performanceanxiety.com. Good luck. You can do it.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do yourself a BIG favor!, August 2, 2001

By	Sankhya (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

I agree with the many raves posted. In my opinion, this book is, hands-down, the most practical and helpful when it comes to actively overcoming a fear of public speaking--and I have read them all! I did take Janet's workshop, but I found the book very helpful even before taking her class. Anyone trying to overcome any of life's obstacles knows that there is no "magic pill"; Janet's strategy is no exception to that rule. But there are definitely shortcuts, and modeling yourself on people who have overcome a similar problem not only makes the process faster, but also gives the comfort of knowing that you're not alone--there are MANY otherwise competent and stable individuals who suffer from performance anxiety.

If you suffer from performance anxiety, do yourself a big favor and read this book. Go the next step and visit Janet's web site at www.performanceanxiety.com. And if you really want to overcome your fear, take her workshop. It changed my life.