Making Successful Presentations: A Self-Teaching Guide

I used this book as a reference in 1996 and provided copies to a dozen new trainers for a meeting where many of them would be training for the first time. We had another meeting in 2006 and I provided updated training resources... several of the folks still referenced this book as a good resource. It was updated in 1991 from 1984 and would benefit from another update (most of us use PowerPoint slides instead of 35 mm slides now). Even considering updated technologies - the concepts are sound and still every bit as valuable.

There are a couple of facts in life: Most people make horrible presentations, and they don't have a clue what makes them horrible or a total bore. This book, with its witty style and well-organized, well, presentation, is easy to read, and will help the reader overcome both. The real strong suit of this book is that Smith, unlike many other books on the subject, shows the reader how to deal with different types of hostile or loaded questions. (Anyone who listens to Hannity, O'Reilly or Limbaugh long enough will be able to recognize what I'm referring to here.) Considering many of us will be thrown into more situations of public speaking than we may realize, Smith's book is definitely worth the purchase, not when you are asked to present, but before. You might want to start reading a book like this right away.