The set up is this: I’m going to be completely honest with you. I have license, via the title, to call bullshit on myths, and legends that get in the way of speaking better, and to tell you useful things some are too polite to mention. I can share the messed up things that happen backstage, what speakers really think of their audiences, etc.

I’m telling real stories. Many books take on a “I’m a perfect speaker” tone that doesn’t help people learn. I know I’m far from perfect, as my speaking experiences over the last 15 years, which include many embarrassing, comical, and occasionally criminal behavior. I learned the very hard way and I’d love for you to do better. I also have stories from other veteran speakers, teachers, and professors who were happy to share their honest thoughts about all this.

It also sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun. Not enough of the thousands and thousands of pages written about presenting take advantage of all the funny, sad, harrowing, wince-inducing, triumphant, memorable stories that are the natural result of the somewhat unnatural act of placing yourself in front of an audience.

The early reviews look good. Confessions of a Public Speaker is now available for pre-order from Amazon.

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Categories: Bookwatch
Tags: confessions, narrative, public speaker, Scott Berkun, stories

"Bookwatch: Confessions of a Public Speaker" was originally posted on Breaking Murphy's Law on October 01, 2009. Copyright 2009 Lee Potts and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0. All other rights reserved.

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