Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery 1st Edition

by Garr Reynolds (Author)

355 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0321525659

ISBN-10: 0321525655

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Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)
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Presentation designer and internationally acclaimed communications expert Garr Reynolds, creator of the most popular Web site on presentation design and delivery on the net — presentationzen.com — shares his experience in a provocative mix of illumination, inspiration, education, and guidance that will change the way you think about making presentations with PowerPoint or Keynote. Presentation Zen challenges the conventional wisdom of making "slide presentations" in today’s world and encourages you to think differently and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of your presentations. Garr shares lessons and perspectives that draw upon practical advice from the fields of communication and business. Combining solid principles of design with the tenets of Zen simplicity, this book will help you along the path to simpler, more effective presentations.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Please don't buy this book! Once people start making better presentations, mine won’t look so good. (But if you truly want to learn what works and how to do it right, Garr is the man to learn from.)"
Seth Godin
Speaker and Blogger
Author, Meatball Sundae

"Garr is a beacon of hope for frustrated audiences everywhere. His design philosophy and fundamental principles bring life to messages and can invigorate careers. His principles of simplicity are as much a journey of the soul as they are restraint of the mouse."
Nancy Duarte
CEO, Duarte Design

"Presentation Zen is just fantastic. Best of all it's not another recipe book about “how to make slides” — this is about re-imagining how your entire presentation will work together as a persuasive and integrated show, from conception through delivery. Awesome."
Merlin Mann
43folders.com

About the Author

Garr Reynolds is an internationally acclaimed communications expert, and the creator of the most popular Web site on presentation design and delivery on the net: presentationzen.com. A soughtafter speaker and consultant, his clients include many in the Fortune 500. A writer, designer, and musician, he currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Management at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. Garr is a former corporate trainer for Sumitomo Electric, and once worked in Cupertino, California as the Manager for Worldwide User Group Relations at Apple, Inc. A longtime student of the Zen arts and resident of Japan, he currently lives in Osaka where he is Director of Design Matters Japan.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ New Riders Pub; 1st edition (January 4, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 229 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0321525655
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0321525659
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.07 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.25 x 0.25 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #298,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #34 in Microsoft PowerPoint Guides
- #40 in Presentation Software Books
- #394 in Running Meetings & Presentations (Books)

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Flatfive

good advice that could be shared in a few pages

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2013

Verified Purchase

Like most of the business-targeted books I've seen, this
spreads a few good ideas thinly across many pages. Even
with lots of redundancy, the book can be read in a couple
of hours.

I agree with many of Reynolds' points, especially the problem
for the audience of trying to read slide text while listening
to the speaker, and the need for the presenter to clarify
the message "off line", before working on slides. But:

- much of the advice is targeted towards "pitch"-type
presentations (it wouldn't do for me to use a slide with
two words on it and a stock photo of a crying child)

- the frequent references to Japan and use of Japanese
words was gratuitous and distracting

It's ironic that the author decries "slideuments", but
the book itself straddles the line between a traditional
book and slideware.

If in doubt, get a used copy.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Barry L. Davis

Exceptional guidance on presentations!

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2009

Verified Purchase

Subtitled, "Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery," the author of this exceptional book is a writer, designer and musician who lives and works in Japan. Drawing upon zen principles throughout the book, each of the three key chapters (Preparation, Design and Delivery) is full of practical insights and examples of the primary principles for enhancing the reader's ability to make their points powerfully and concisely. Multiple topics close with an "In Sum" page that repeats the key principles of that portion of the book. Beautifully illustrated with scores of examples of both good and bad presentation slides (the book is not really about PowerPoint or Keynote, but the entire presentation process), Reynolds and his contributors provide excellent, practical insights on the entire process.

Some key takeaways from the book include:
-Seek to realize the maximum effort with the minimum means.
-Never start your design on a computer. Presentation software is not designed for the brainstorming necessary. Consider using Post-its on a wall or a storyboard.
-There are three documents in a presentation - the slides you show, the notes you use and the handouts you provide after the presentation.
-Avoid "slideuments" - Documents that are masquerading as PowerPoint slides.
-Be sure your presentation answers the two main questions: 1. What is your point? 2. Why does it matter?
-Practice the six Main Principles in your presentation - Simplicity, Unexpectedness, Concreteness, Credibility, Emotions and Stories (the acronym is SUCCESs).
-Regarding design (there are scores of examples in the book), remember the Big Four: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity.

An incredibly useful (not to mention aesthetically striking) book for anyone who seeks to enhance their presentation skills.

To quote Seth Godin (one of the contributors and no slacker in this area himself!), "Please don't buy this book! Once people start making better presentations, mine won't look so good. (But if you really want to learn what works and how to do it right, Garr is the man to learn from.)"

One person found this helpful

Helpful

How-To, Self-Help, Philosophy, and Art Meet

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2011

Verified Purchase

Remember that old commercial showing a guy eating chocolate and a guy eating peanut butter crashing into each other as they round a corner? It was a smart way to advertise Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, which considered itself an ideal marriage of ingredients that most people would never have dreamed of.

PRESENTATIONZEN is a lot like that commercial. You read it and feel as though four people, each intently oblivious in his own world, have crashed at a 4-way juncture, blending How-To with Self-Help, Philosophy, and Art. Let's start with Art. You can save five bucks and buy the Kindle version of this book if you wish, but I don't know why you would, so beautiful is the print version with its glossy photos of zen gardens and lovely slides showing many arresting images by way of example for those wishing to make Power Point presentations.

The philosophical aspect comes from the "Zen" you see in the title. Author Garr Reynolds, an expat resident of Japan himself, constantly weaves Zen-like wisdom into his advice by discussing the beauty of simplicity, the need for a less-is-more approach, and other bits of wisdom designed to thwart "death by Power Point" (we've all been there). This ties in with the "How-To." In simple steps, the book shows how you can make a live presentation, whether you work in business, education, or the public sector. Finally there's a dose of self-help to the book. Reynolds counsels would-be presenters on the need to get in touch with the child within all of us, the need to take risks, the necessity of connecting with the audience by ignoring negative voices that whisper fears of failure.

Each chapter ends with a section called "In Sum" which offers the highlights of what you read. Many visuals are provided as well. The only annoyance is that, sometimes, they are crowded together on a page with copy that you can barely read.

Overall, a wonderfully simple book with complex considerations. It should be required reading for all businessmen especially. By the nature of their job and its expectations, they are the worst offenders when it comes to carnage through Power Point (Professor Plum did it in the board room with a slide show). If their boss's won't buy them a copy, maybe their beleaguered audiences will. It's all in the name of mercy and Zen.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Jo Throckmorton

Good Reference Book

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2020

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When I'm working on putting together graphic design work - especially when it comes to doing a client presentation - I reference this book. It turns the idea of throwing a bunch of words onto a powerpoint slide on its head. You really begin to see the power and value of a great image to tell the story instead.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Ralph

Simple, but powerful, ideas on presentation design

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 7, 2013

Verified Purchase

Excellent book focussing on the visual aspect of presentation design.

Builds on Daniel Pink's "A Whole New Mind" book - encouraging you to think though a presentation in terms of Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning.

The main focus here being on Design - and encouraging simplicity, and the application of the CRAP principles of graphic design (Contrast, Reepition, Alignment, Proximity).

Eye opening!

One person found this helpful

joooc

Nice summary of some basic rules to follow for more compelling and effective presentations

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 7, 2012

Verified Purchase

Even though Garr is sometimes unsure whether to write about him self and his passion for Japan or actually the presentation skills, it's still a good resource, especially for those who haven't seen/created anything else than a bunch of poorly designed slides with tons of illegible texts :)

We all can do better and bore the others less ;)

Helen.

It's good but I wouldn't say groundbreaking

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 21, 2014

Verified Purchase

It's good but I wouldn't say groundbreaking. There are some nice design examples but it didn;t really teach me anything new.

John S

2nd hand purchase

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2019

Verified Purchase

Great value and good condition

Amazon Customer

Excellent asset to presenters and communicators

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2010

Verified Purchase

Good book with a lot of useful information. I have bought this book for others to read for whom I thought it would be useful.

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