Successful Presentations for Dummies

This book is a comprehensive guide to the art and science of public speaking. It covers all the basics and then some. I am a professional speaker and a professional member of the National Speakers Association (www.nsaspeaker.com). I teach public speaking skills and always recommend this book. I totally disagree with a previous reviewer who says the way to better public speaking is through practice. Experience without foundation is not the best teacher where public speaking is concerned. There is much to be learned about presentation technique, content development, preparation, etc. The book also gives great tips for using humor to make your point, using audiovisuals appropriately (so many people use them inappropriately), handling questions and so much more. Whether experienced at speaking or a novice, everyone can glean something from this book.

I've had a copy of Successful Presentations for Dummies on my bookshelf since 1996 and found it to be a great reference and source of ideas for presentations as I have moved forward in my professional career. The book is broken up into various sections that address the most common problem areas for presenters and is easily referencable when you just need a quick review. I recommend this book, but it is now out of print.

As a professional speaker, I found this book full of useful information. The author covers everything from how to be introduced to how to end your presentation effectively. He tells you how to involve your audience, how to use humor, how to design your presentation, and more. It's full of tips and examples. While it's true that the best way to improve your public speaking is to just do it, this book will shorten your learning curve by years!