A Complete Guide to Public Speaking
Author
Joseph A Grippo
Publisher
Outskirts Press
No Review Copies Left
As William Hewlett, Co-founder of the Hewlett Packard Corporation said: “How can I trust someone to manage multi-million dollar projects if he or she can't manage a half-hour speech?”
Effective presentations can change your buying habits, influence your vote, inspire and motivate but, they do not happen by chance. What is not well known is that public speaking is an art that can be learned.Regardless of your profession, e.g., business, science or engineering, government ... communicating in front of others is involved in most office jobs and more critical the higher up a person progresses. Thus, presentation skills are useful at all levels and in today's world are a necessity.
In “A Complete Guide to Public Speaking” the steps for preparing and delivering an effective presentation, whether to a large audience, to your management, or even to your colleagues in a meeting, are described in a straightforward and easy-to-follow manner.
Many topics are presented as: Factors to Consider Before Speech Preparation, Research on Message Retention, Winning Over an Audience, Opening & Closing Techniques, Developing Each Part of Your Speech, Taking the Terror Out of Speaking in Public, Pros & Cons of Various Visual Aids, Deadly Mistakes to Avoid and much more.
Many vital speaking tips are also discussed regarding: the use of humor, awareness of your eyes / body as well as verbal language / gestures, avoiding "brain death" during your speech, strong words to use & weak words to avoid, speaking speed and pauses, handling hostile questions and audience members ... even clothing to wear.
The author uses his extensive education, 35 years of management consulting and executive experience plus, research on public speaking to present a useful guide for public speaking in any arena.
Reviews
Joseph A. Grippo's "A Complete Guide to Public Speaking" is a short book presenting information on how one can give a speech on any topic in an informative, interesting manner. He explains how presentation skills are a necessary part of all professions, and everyone should have profficiency in them.
I found the book useful for anyone, from those still in school to those in the working world. I will use the information myself at work, where I provide group counseling services to prisoners.
The book presents topics such as Winning Over an Audience, Deadly Mistakes to Avoid, Factors to Consider Before Speech Preparation, Opening and Closing Techniques, and many more. The author has much experience to provide and uses this in his book. I give this book 4 stars.
Reviewed on 02/18/2012 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Christine Fenton
By Joseph A Grippo
Reviewed on 04/13/2011 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Kathleen Albertson
My favourite thing about this book was the ease of which it can be read.
Reviewed on 02/19/2011 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Tina Evans
Concise, to the point, and effective describes Joseph A. Grippo's award winning "A Complete Guide to Public Speaking." This book gives a step-by-step process of creating a speech; from choosing a topic to developing the body to delivery. As well, Grippo covers visual aids and speaking styles, including areas such dress, gestures and movements, voice inflection, and language patterns.
There is nothing new in Grippo's book, however the beauty of it is the presentation. What others say in 200 pages he says it in 46 pages. For those of us with busy lifestyles we don't have time to wade through tons of information only to find most of the words are fillers. There are no fillers in this book.
I believe this book is a good resource, yet, to concur with the author this book will not turn us into speakers. He recommends seeking out other sources such as books, joining Toastmasters International or enrolling at a local college. As well, Grippo advocates "... PRACTICE is vital to the process of becoming a good speaker!"
I have no problem recommending this book. It certainly will get the intention started in the right direction and with PRACTICE anyone could become an accomplished speaker.
Reviewed on 05/10/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Irene Watson
I remember reading a survey in a newspaper several years ago about what do people fear the most. The number one fear among people was public speaking. Wow that is incredible I thought to myself. It wasn't that people were afraid of snakes, rats or riding on a roller coaster but people are afraid of people.
I cannot say that public speaking is a fear for me, but after reading a tremendous book on the subject of public speaking which is called 'A Complete Guide to Public Speaking' by Joseph A. Grippo, I would have to say that the most important part of public speaking isn't that you have to have humor in your speech. This can help, but if you are not good at being humorous in a public setting, Mr. Grippo suggest you avoid it. Being prepared and researching and knowing the subject is the most important aspect I got out of this book.
'A Complete Guide to Public Speaking' covers every aspect from how to stand properly, how to speak in a tone that your voice doesn't go faint and the audience is gesturing for you to Speak Up!
Actually after reading this book, it will give you enough confidence to look forward to being asked to speak in public. This is truly a handbook on slicing and dicing this huge 'fear factor' among humans worldwide.
Mr. Grippo is not asking for you to not be yourself but for the sake of a 30 minute or a one hour speech, just be aware and be ready for whatever comes but be enthusiastic about your subject manner and always, always be polite.
i highly recommend this book! Mr. Grippo has done a fantastic job of breaking down each section piece by piece so you don't have to do the hard work. All you have to do is stand and smile.
Reviewed on 02/18/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Felicia M. Hazzard
