Why Most PowerPoint Presentations Suck (Third Edition)

First, a few quibbles. * The index is worthless. I'm not sure why the author (or the book editor?) dropped the ball on the index, but it's almost non-existent. If this book were more of a typical reference book, you'd lose some points for that, but since it's more of a handbook, it's not so bad. * No mention of the Macintosh versions (it's not going away -- deal with it :-). I've had more than my share of issues where I prepared my Powerpoint on a Macintosh and then (for whatever reason) had to present on some Windows machine that was tied to the conference room projector. Or, I had to share presentations with teammates who used Windows (and vice versa). Fonts, graphics, video files, animation -- there are plenty of potential cross-platform issues that could really benefit from the author's expertise. * Size. Yes, size does matter when you are sending presentations to team members via email. PPT files can get really big really fast. I was surprised that there wasn't a short section that addressed ways to minimize the file size of presentations. I've looked at a lot of computer books over the years, and this book is far better than most. The key thing the author does (that most computer books don't) is really address the user needs as opposed to just outlining the information and regurgitating it. Nicely done.

In his introduction, Rick Altman opines that his book attempts to reduce his billble hours by half, because of all the advice he has packed into its 271 pages. In fact, Altman's billings will probably explode because in this book he firmly establishes himself as the leading expert on every aspect of PowerPoint. It is a remarkable acheivement. The book is packed with tips on the mechanics of creating PowerPoint presentaions. It is also packed with advice on how to make your PowerPoint presentations interesting. I have a number of books on PowerPoint and none are anywhere near as complete as this one. While Altman covers PowerPoint 2007, his hints and tips are mostly applicable to earlier versions as well. This is a book that every PowerPoint user, no matter what level of expertise they think they possess, should buy and read every page of. It is truly that good. Jerry

Big "thumbs-up" for Rick Altman's "Why Most PowerPoint Presentations Suck..." Everybody admits - our PowerPoint presentations need to improve. There's an understatement! But how? What can we do to make a real difference for our self - and our audiences? Have stacks of PPT how-to books. This is the first one that finally got the mix of technical, creative & presenter savvy right. -- and the first (I think) that I actually read cover to cover! The conversational tone of the writing was more like a personal tutor walking you through the subtle nuances of the software that both designers & presenters need to know. This book is filled with the great ideas, practical examples, and good background information you've been looking for. There's a good selection of practical techniques you can put to work immediately -- they've already influenced how I think about the shows I develop. The methodology & layout made sense and was easy to follow to achieve the promised results. There are also numerous links that enable the reader to download working examples of the techniques he describes, as well as valuable insights about complementary third-party software. It was also a "shot in the arm" for a long-suffering PPT user trying to push the envelope a little with each show! If you're not getting the results you want with PPT, quit blaming MS -- maybe you need to learn something new. This book is top rate.

This book is essential for everyone who does presentations, period. It both presents PowerPoint techniques with amazing depth and detail, and integrates all kinds of insights for making your PowerPoint show part of an overall effective presentation. How many books on PowerPoint discuss the importance of freeing your hands for gestures while presenting PowerPoint slideshows, and show you how to do that? Rick Altman brings a wealth of experience as both a communicator and a presenter to this book. Additional tools and examples at a companion web site add another dimension to the book's value.

I was NOT disappointed. It is the first book on PowerPoint which I picked up and read cover to cover (with stops in between airports). I found it useful, amusing, full of tips, and wisdom from Rick's experience A valuable resource. Now, your next book will be about macros?? Well worth the price, actually you could have gotten more $$ but that's MY gain.