2017: Best new books for speakers
What is currently on your reading list? Do you need some inspiration when it comes to the best new books for public speaking tips?
We’ve compiled this list of the top 12 book recommendations published in the past year. There are a plethora of books filled with contemporary ideas on how you can grow your speaking business, and improve your presentation skills.
While more classical resources (like Dale Carnegies “How to Develop Self-Confidence And Influence People By Public Speaking” published in 1926) will always have a place on our bookshelves, staying up to date on the latest trends and technological advancements will help you develop your skills to match a modern audience.
Here are the top twelve highest-rated books on public speaking and audience engagement so far from 2017.
1. Reach
Author: Andy Molinsky
Topic: Overcome the thing you are most afraid of doing and make it a proud part of your personal repertoire.
Review:
“This book is helpful for anyone facing a new challenge or trying to move past the limitations of fear or anxiety. Dr. Molinsky covers a complex topic in a surprisingly readable way, distilling scholarly research into everyday language with clear examples and practical tools to help readers apply the principles.”
2. TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking
Author: Chris Anderson
Topic: How to craft your talk’s content to how you can be most effective on stage.
Review:
“If you get only one book on public speaking, let it be this one. I further recommend that no matter how many other books you have on public speaking, if you are a serious student of this engaging art, then get this book. The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking is beautifully and thoughtfully put together. It is detailed and thorough, yet not difficult or dry. It has five sections (Foundation, Talk Tools, Preparation Process, On Stage, & Reflection). It is simultaneously pragmatic and inspiring.”
Link: TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking
3. Set Your Voice Free
Author: Roger Love and Donna Frazier
Topic: How to make your voice sound authentic, persuasive, distinctive, and real
Review:
“Amazing resource, well written with easy to understand and demonstrated vocal exercises online...take the time and change your life!”
Link: Set Your Voice Free: How to Get the Singing or Speaking Voice You Want
4. We Are the Change We Seek
Authors: E.J. Dionne Jr. and Joy-Ann Reid
Topic: A collection of Barack Obama's 26 greatest addresses
Review:
“This is an amazing, hopeful, and aspirational book. It is a breath of fresh air in this time...It gives renewal to the progressive values of inclusion, acceptance of others, and social justice in practice. It gives the reader the encouragement to look forward to a future full of hope and promise for the American Dream which is presented as entirely possible both right now and for the future.”
Link: We Are the Change We Seek: The Speeches of Barack Obama
5. Get Picked: Tips, Tricks, and Tools for Creating Irresistible Speaker Proposals
Author: Aurora Gregory
Topic: Take what you know and pitch yourself as a conference or workshop presenter.
Review:
"Get Picked is very well written, well organized and filled with insightful and extremely practical help for the novice, the experienced, and the most ADD among us. It is organized into six very readable, even scannable, chapters with Pro Tips (learned from decades of being in the trenches) and helpful list of concise reminders and summaries of “The Big Takeaways” for each chapter. The authors guide us along the journey to find the place to speak, create the proposal to convince the organizers to entrust their audience to us, to polishing the actual presentation we give, and the follow up afterward."
Link Get Picked: Tips, Tricks and Tools for Creating Irresistible Speaker Proposals
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6. The Storyteller's Secret
Author: Carmine Gallo
Topic: The keys to telling powerful stories that inspire, motivate, educate, build brands, launch movements, and change lives.
Review:
“Carmine Gallo both tells stories, and understands them. In "The Storyteller's Secrets" Gallo dives more deeply than ever before into how to harness the power of story, whether to sell a product, inspire a movement, or re-shape a life. The structure of the book keeps the reader engaged, and makes it easy to learn the lessons he has to offer.”
7. Speaking Up without Freaking Out
Author: Matt Abrahams
Topic: Anxiety management techniques that are based on scientifically supported theory and evidence.
Review:
“The book gives a clear overview of the physiological changes when fearing something; then a brief description of 5 theories of how and why people react to fear the way they do. From each theory the author then gives helpful tips on managing the fear of speaking in public. I found this book to be informative and useful.”
Link: Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting
8. Fearless Public Speaking
Author: Patrick King
Topic: How to destroy anxiety and be unforgettable and captivating as a speaker.
Review:
“King's in-depth analysis of what makes a great speaker is a very helpful resource to up your speaking. The chapters of "Always Be Storytelling" and "Know Your Audience" were really important principles for me lately and made my last speech go much better, be more fun to give, and more fun for the audience to hear, hands down.I also came away with a new respect for speech writers like comedians.”
Link: Fearless Public Speaking: How to Destroy Anxiety, Captivate Instantly, and Becom
9. Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges
Author: Amy Cuddy
Topic: Harness the power of presence by tweaking our body language, behavior, and mind-set in our day-to-day lives.
Review:
“This is wonderful practical advice for anyone who wants to be empowered in the world. Based on scientific research too. How to bring your best self to any situation. Worth reading!”
Link: Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges
10. Show and Tell
Author: Dan Roam
Topic: Understand your audience, organize your content, build a clear story line, create effective visuals, and channel your fear into fun.
Review:
“Show And Tell is a picture book itself, filled with Dan's (well, I hope they're Dan's) delightfully quirky drawings. This is a go-to resource whether you're preparing a TED talk, a local Pecha Kucha or Ignite talk, or your company's 3rd quarter outlook. I only wish Dan were at my side, narrating, as I dip back into the book for guidance. I was lucky enough to hear him on his "super secret" Webinar for pre-order buyers. His voice is calming and clear. He turns a big scary task (creating PPTs) into something doable and fun.”
Link: Show and Tell: How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary Presentations
11. Storytelling Secrets for Successful Speeches
Author: Mark Davis
Topic: 7 strategies for telling stories people love
Review:
“Regardless of the ages you are working with, as humans we are captivated by stories. We remember lessons because of their stories. A story can make a speaker's presentation memorable. If you are a lecturer, a writer, or just want people to hang on your every word, get this book and apply it! The ideas Mark presents can help you to weave tales that will entrance your audience”
Link: Storytelling Secrets for Successful Speeches: 7 strategies for telling stories people love
12. Do You Talk Funny?
Author: David Nihill
Topic: How to beat anxiety and use humor to engage audiences
Review:
“David magically weaves business, humor, tragedy, and action into this brilliant read. He draws from marketing masters like Seth Godin and Gary Vaynerchuk, comedy masters like Jerry Seinfeld and Matt Groening, and literary masters like Mark Twain and William Shakespeare to show you how to deliver your message - regardless of the topic.”
Link: Do You Talk Funny?: 7 Comedy Habits to Become a Better (and Funnier) Public Speaker
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