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Product Description
Book Description
A groundbreaking, yet practical guide to the art of public speaking
Product Description
The past twenty years has seen the emergence of an industry standard model of presentation - the slide show. Yet research has shown that audiences are deeply dissatisfied with this mode of public speaking. In Lend Me Your Ears Max Atkinson - a highly experienced speaker and trainer, having been involved in speech writing for business, politics and the arts for 30 years - uses the findings of recent scientific research combined with the rules of classical rhetoric to highlight the secrets of successful persuasion. Using extensive research based on empirical evidence, Max has developed a new and provocative way of looking at speech making, providing the reader with practical and simple guidelines, exercises and tips to improve performance, including:--advice on the use of classical rhetoric--how to prepare speeches when in a rush--the myths surrounding visual aids --the use of body language. And much more! This is destined to be the definitive text in this area. (20030723)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having taught presentation skills for many years I had often wondered why the resulting presentations were often so dull and forgettable. Now I know. Throughout the book I found myself saying "Yes, that's exactly the problem I've been having!". I am now convinced that any presentation or speech can be made memorable and interesting with a little effort.
In the book common myths about what is necessary to a good presentation are convincingly exposed and all that is truly necessary is clearly explained. The section on rhetoric, which seems to be either a forgotten or maligned art these days, was exceptionally interesting and useful. Examples to back up the points are used throughout.
If you have to make a presentation or speech and you don't know where to start then this is the book you need.
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Without doubt this is the best ever "how to" book on speeches and presentations, no matter what the topic - business, social, political, or technical.
As a CEO I have sat through so many turn-off presentations by people I know to be literate and interesting. This book demonstrates how unnecessary this is, and that one does not have to be a "born speaker" to make lively, interesting, really effective presentations.
It is completely practical in identifying the tried and tested techniques which have served the great communicators down the ages, all of which are easily learned and applied. It is also first class on how to use (but not overuse) modern computer aids to great effect.
No wonder speechwriters to Presidents Reagan and Clinton say the author Professor Max Atkinson is the speechwriters Guru."
37 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book has high praise from people involved in public speaking and good reviews. I can definitely see why, but I don't think it is perfect.
Max is an acknowledged expert in public speaking, and brings his obvious experience to the book: all the way through you get the sense of experience coming through. His bias is towards political speeches, but there is enough in the book to be genuinely useful for any kind of speech. His specific area of interest is in rhetorical devices: things like contrasts, and analogies, and the like, that help get your point accross. On this territory he is excellent.
But this is just one chunk of the book. The other bits were less perfect, although all were very sound. His discussion on visuals was a bit muddled: swinging from exhortations to make bullet points appear one at a time in Powerpoint, to condemnation of words on slides at all.
The section on the use of the voice was good, and clear.
Where I think the book was weak was in two areas: firstly on body language. He rightly asserts that lots of the modern body-language hype is meaningless, but he never serious tries to talk about how body language can be another visual aid at the lecturn (compare the expressionate Tony Blair and paper-shuffling Gordon Brown for a good and poor body language speaker). He also never gives constructive suggestions for using the body to retain eye-contact, and other ways to command a stage seen in all the top-paid keynote speakers.
And secondly I think it was weak in terms of structuring the speech. Rhetorical devices are only one part of rhetoric. The construction of an argument is also crucial, and it would have helped to understand how to put the whole speech together in a more concrete way that 'pre-introduction, introduction, main-bit, summary, conclusion'. The structuring of the speech section was very week I felt, and I really wanted to know more.
I'm not an expert by any means, and despite the fact that I didn't learn some things I was very keen to learm, I did get a lot from the book. It is very readable, and I would recommend it.
Max is an acknowledged expert in public speaking, and brings his obvious experience to the book: all the way through you get the sense of experience coming through. His bias is towards political speeches, but there is enough in the book to be genuinely useful for any kind of speech. His specific area of interest is in rhetorical devices: things like contrasts, and analogies, and the like, that help get your point accross. On this territory he is excellent.
But this is just one chunk of the book. The other bits were less perfect, although all were very sound. His discussion on visuals was a bit muddled: swinging from exhortations to make bullet points appear one at a time in Powerpoint, to condemnation of words on slides at all.
The section on the use of the voice was good, and clear.
Where I think the book was weak was in two areas: firstly on body language. He rightly asserts that lots of the modern body-language hype is meaningless, but he never serious tries to talk about how body language can be another visual aid at the lecturn (compare the expressionate Tony Blair and paper-shuffling Gordon Brown for a good and poor body language speaker). He also never gives constructive suggestions for using the body to retain eye-contact, and other ways to command a stage seen in all the top-paid keynote speakers.
And secondly I think it was weak in terms of structuring the speech. Rhetorical devices are only one part of rhetoric. The construction of an argument is also crucial, and it would have helped to understand how to put the whole speech together in a more concrete way that 'pre-introduction, introduction, main-bit, summary, conclusion'. The structuring of the speech section was very week I felt, and I really wanted to know more.
I'm not an expert by any means, and despite the fact that I didn't learn some things I was very keen to learm, I did get a lot from the book. It is very readable, and I would recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
My eyes as well as, happily, my ears ..
What comes through, in each chapter of Max Atkinson's excellent book, is the experience and wisdom garnered over several decades. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Colin McLean
Lend Me Your Ears: All You Need to Know About Making Speeches and...
LEND ME YOUR EARS - Prof Max Atkins is an invaluable expertise of a renowned author and professor of Communication Arts with many years' experience. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Iyke Ozemena
The definitive guide to professional presentations and speeches
Anybody who has to make any type of presentation or speech should read this book. Much of the advice given is common sense. Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2009 by R. Youngs
The definitive book on how to give presentations
If you're about to open PowerPoint to create a presentation - STOP! Don't type another word until you've read Lend Me Your Ears. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2009 by Mr. G. Southorn
If you make speeches, presentations or just talk to small groups, you...
As part of my professional life I have to make many speeches and presentations. I couple of years ago, I had to go out on a world tour of speeches and training. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2009 by Matts Cotty
Arguably, the only book in its field
Can I count the hours I've spent standing in bookshops or clicking through 'look inside' trying to find a decent book on public speaking? Read more
Published on 11 July 2009 by Mooch011196
Lend Me Your Common Sense
I'm currently 92 pages into the 371 page behemoth that is 'Lend Me Your Ears'. This is by no means a master class. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2009 by O. Watson
To all of you who are cynical about the use of rhetoric in business...
This book is a follow up to ` Our Masters Voices', which focused on the skills of political orators and unearthed successful technique to inspire and persuade an audience. Read more
Published on 28 April 2009 by Olivia Macdonnell
Britain's pre-eminent public speaking guru
This book is beautifully written by an author who has devoted his life to the study of public speaking. Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2008 by William Cohen
This book got me a job
I could never figure why speeches and presentations frightened me. A confident personality, I would nevertheless only address an event under duress. Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2007 by Ruth
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