Give Your Speech, Change the World: How to Move Your Audience to Action

The concept of giving a speech is very different from the more general concept of public speaking. For example, a trainer who teaches a class for five days is a public speaker; however, she is not really giving a speech. A speech is shorter in nature and very focused. One might argue that a training class is just a collection of speeches, but this is untrue. The public speaker - acting as a trainer - must involve the audience more so that they really learn and retain the information. The public speaker - acting as an orator or speech giver - does not have the same demands placed upon him.

Why all this discussion of speech versus training? Because this book seems to indicate that it is about public speaking (the back cover says, "There are several universal truths about public speaking") in general, but it is really about giving a speech. I point this out because the research shows that many recommendations in the book are completely wrong when applied to training though they are correct when applied to speeches.

For example, recommending that you do not use slides (I won't say PowerPoint because there are many presentation tools used for delivering slides) is a great suggestion for a speech but a horrible recommendation for training. Visual aids are absolutely and scientifically proven to improve the learning process in a training event. Slides should definitely be used to represent processes, show technical concepts and so on in a training class. The question is this: are you going to get extremely technical in a speech? It's doubtful; however, if you are, you should probably use handouts with the speech.

This is why I gave the book four stars. I think it's one of the best books I've read on giving speeches; however, it is not the best book on the more general topic of public speaking - which includes training. The back cover should be clearer about the focus of the book. Believe the cover and not the description is the best advice.

In fairness though, there aren't a lot of good books about public speaking in general that give the right advice for the varied types of presentaitons. You usually do need to get a book on the specialized mode of presentation in which you'll be involed. This book is an excellent one for giving speeches.

I'd recommend Beyond Bullet Points as another excellent book that shows how slids can be effectively used in a speech and Life is a Series of Presentations for a general resource on public speaking.

Strangely enough, it actually takes some of the pressure off when you forget yourself and turn your attention outward by making your presentations audience centered.

The first two sections, History/Overview and Preparing the Content, were fantastic, though I would have liked a few more examples in the context of actual speeches. I am definitely trying to implement the idea of archetypal story into my presentations. These two sections were fascinating and challenged me to think of presentations / speeches in a whole new light (and not the dim PowerPoint light that normally accompanies presentations!).

The last two sections, Rehearsing the Presentation and Stand and Deliver, offer good, solid advice. For the most part, it's nothing new or particularly earth shaking, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded of the basics - get a good night's sleep, get there early, relax, and PRACTICE.

I'm halfway through the book Give Your Speech, Change The World and can already tell that my work will be different as a result. (In good ways...)

I've read tons of books about storytelling and all of that. This book truly helps me get to the `how' of it all and allows me to think about specific ways to shape and sculpt, push and pull my language, my message, my delivery and also continually revisit my true intentions.

I live in the world in a very deep way and seek that in all I do. As an artist I desire to instigate big changes in people's hearts, minds and lives. I also long for that in my experiences of art---to be changed, to have my insides shift and rearrange themselves. I want to be inspired and nourished at these same big, deep levels. I also have a wild, active sense of humor and tons of mischief, so I'm ultimately always looking to do what I'm doing while having a good, good time.

This book is a gift, written in such user-friendly ways about large concepts and ideas. I'm giving a big keynote soon and am already having fun chewing on it in new ways as a result of Nick Morgan's influence.

As soon as you dive into Nick Morgan's recommendations for effective speechmaking, you'll start nodding your head in agreement.

Maybe his suggestions aren't earth-shattering. But boy do they make a lot of sense.

After all, why have arguably hundreds of thousands of speakers for several decades now all willingly accepted their posts behind podiums and delivered their comments into attached microphones? Or, why have panelists just as willingly accepted their positions behind draped tables, rising above the crowds assembled below? More importantly, why have so few speakers questioned what it is, exactly, that might interest, excite and motivate their audiences?

Nick Morgan offers highly valuable recommendations to you. If you ever make presentations in public, you must buy and read this book before you embark on your preparations.

Again, it's not rocket science. But in a way, maybe it is, since no one has seemed to challenge the (boring) speech-making orthodoxy until Nick Morgan has with this wonderful book.

Nick Morgan changed the title of Working The Room when it went from hardcover to paperback. I like the new title -- Give Your Speech, Change the World. That reflects better the point of the book, that your goal in preparing for and giving a speech will reflect how you well you give it. And if you are going to give a speech, might as well decide to change the world with it. Why not?

Nick Morgan has done a careful analysis of speech-making. Many books on the subject are written by amateurs, who give some help, but often resort to tricks and gimmicks. Nick Morgan is a professional, which is probably why the Harvard Business School Press chose to publish the book. Sometimes that makes him rather didactic. Some of the things he says firmly I think are little iffy. For example, not to use PowerPoint slides at all.

But all in all, this book should be read by those of us who want to improve our speeches. (Even those speeches that viewed most optimistically will never be world-changers.) Can we all be more powerful in speaking, and in moving our audience to action? I think so. Read Give Your Speech, Change the World, and I think you will agree.