Beyond Bullet Points: Using Microsoft PowerPoint to Create Presentations That Inform, Motivate, and Inspire

While Edward Tufte's The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint will continue to be, for me, the BEST book on making a good PowerPoint presentation, this book comes in second... and then there's a big jump to all others on the list. I can't believe I'm recommending a book published by Microsoft but this one is really good. With Atkinson's and Tufte's advice, I now regularly get compliments on my PowerPoint presentations.

I've also recommended this book to a few librarians when they've asked me how I've created my online animated tutorials; the advice here translates well to that forum.

Overall, a great book even if it can feel a little long in some areas. Hopefully the next edition is pared down a bit to make for a more enjoyable (and faster) read.

Some of the general ideas in this book are solid but I really, really didn't like how it is based on an extended tutorial. By using this template he gives, it restricts thinking abstractly about how to apply this to your own presentations. I don't like books that constrain your thinking this much. He takes an approach many programming tutorial books might takes which is not helpful when dealing with presentations. Coding is a very structured process whereas there are many different presentation styles and ways of delivering content. So, this is a good book for extreme beginners or people who really need help but not for good speakers who want to know how to be more effective. For the latter person, you would be better off reading show more something like Edward Tufte to get a more generalizable understanding of presenting. show less

I tend to be involved in more interactive meetings than the typical one-way PowerPoint presentation, but every discussion needs a framework at the beginning. The storyboarding templates alone are worth the price of the book. Unless, of course, you like to see people dozing off or checking their blackberries during your presentation.

Excellent advice on how to give attention-holding presentations. It boils down to: Write an outline; rehearse; write a speech based on the outline; rehearse; make some slides to go with the speech; rehearse. It really puts the emphasis on what is important - your presentation, not the slides that go with it. Sort of an alternative to Tufte's advice, which could be paraphrased as: don't give a PPT presentation; write a technical memo, instead.

Cliff Atkinson’s visual approach to PowerPoint slide presentations has become a virtual industry centered around this second edition of his book; his Beyond Bullet Points web site (http://www.beyondbulletpoints.com/) with a blog, free templates, and links to updated material; and plenty of samples being created and posted online by those who have learned what he is teaching. Showing readers how to avoid slides which are text-laden and full of bullet-point items read to bored learners by substandard presenters, Atkinson provides inspiration for anyone who wants to create online lessons which will be effective, memorable, and fun for everyone involved in e-learning.

Powerpoint and bullet points seem to be so synonymous with each other that I never think twice before working on any presentations. After reading 'Beyong Bullet Points ' it gave me another perspective of presenting my ideas. Thinking in terms of story is what we all do in our daily lives so why not use it professionally.
A very nice reading to deliver your ideas effectively by keeping the audience engaged.

This book really changes the way I make and deliver my presentations. Presentations are very important in my work; clear, well-argued, and persuassive presentations mean money. I am very pleased to say that all my prospects and clients really think my presentations are impressive and clear.