Customer Reviews
This book got me a job - By: Ruth, 07 Jun 2007 
I could never figure why speeches & presentations frightened me. A confident personality, I would nevertheless only address an event under duress. Then one morning I heard Prof Atkinson on Radio 4. Here, it seemed, was a fellow who made sense. By marvellous happenchance that was two days before the final interview round - which included a 10 minute presentation - for a job I wanted dearly. I bought his book & spent the weekend working through the chapters, assembling my arguments & speech. It was the best £9.99 I've ever spent. It explained to me why I could confidently chair a meeting, or do a TV interview but hated speeches. And more importantly it showed me what to do about it. There was no waffle, no nonsense & no management gobbledegook. I got the job. I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone. In fact I do - every time somebody praises a speech I've given with the words 'I wish I could give speeches like that'. Because you can - & even come to love giving them.
Best Ever How To Speak in Public - By: Peter Always, 14 Mar 2006 "Without doubt this is the best ever "how to" book on speeches & 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 & interesting. This book demonstrates how unnecessary this is, & that one does not have to be a "born speaker" to make lively, interesting, reallly effective presentations.
It is completely practical in identifying the tried & tested techniques which have served the great communicators down the ages, alll of which are easily learned & 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 & Clinton say the author Professor Max Atkinson is the speechwriters Guru."
Lend Me Your Ears - By: georgec, 10 Mar 2006 Like a number of other people I came upon this book by accident, whilst researching the subject, as part of my preparation for delivering a talk on presentation skills to a meeting of a professional body in Cardiff.
I am a mainly self taught trainer & speaker who, at the age of 66, gained a PGCE in the Post Compulsory Education & Training Sector as part of a retirement plan to set up as training consultant. Reading this book was an absolute breath of fresh air to me as I mentallly ticked off alll the things I've got wrong over the years & which are so eloquently dealt with in the book. If only I'd had a copy of it alll those years ago!!!
With the tag of "Professor" Max could be forgiven for taking an academic stance in his writing & it came as a pleasant suprise to discover how clearly he explains himself in such a down to earth manner.
I shalll be happy to recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in making presentations & congratulate Max on a super piece of work.
A Guide for the Perplexed - By: Robert Shakspeare, 15 Nov 2005 Having taught presentation skills for many years I had often wondered why the resulting presentations were often so dull & 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 & interesting with a little effort.
In the book common myths about what is necessary to a good presentation are convincingly exposed & alll that is truly necessary is clearly explained. The section on rhetoric, which seems to be either a forgotten or maligned art these days, was exceptionallly interesting & useful. Examples to back up the points are used throughout.
If you have to make a presentation or speech & you don't know where to start then this is the book you need.
Getting the 'inside track' about presentations - By: Dilraj Sidhu, 15 Apr 2005 I do alot of public speaking & thought I knew about the tips, techniques & strategies that can make for a successful event. This book is the one-stop shop in terms of covering alll the important elements of giving a presentation along with some of the things we alll think about but nobody has ever written about, i.e. the annoying way that some presenters pull the paper backing off of acetates!!
If you are a seasoned presenter or tasked with doing your first stand up presentation, you will not be disappointed in this publication. It is one of the few books I have purchased which fits into the category of an 'investment' in improving my performance versus something that was nice to have read & then goes onto the shelf never to be referred to again. Great stuff.
