Confessions of a Public Speaker

By the time I was reading the end of the 2nd chapter of this book, I was thinking of all the friends that I wanted to tell about this book. That obviously got me thinking about all the other books I wanted them to read as well. And from there, I was thinking about a list of books that I would have on my, "XXX books you must read no matter who you are or what you do!" This book definitely found its place on that list.
This book is funny, interesting, and insightful. And for people who speak often or wish to speak often in public settings (like me), it can be immensely helpful. This book is definitely on my gifts/prizes list of things to give my friends and members of my audience. Kudos to Berkun.

I found Berkun’s book to be a fun and informative read, a primer for public speaking. His honest advice and observations about public speaking are very practical. Though I don’t necessarily have a variety of venues or AV gadgets, the points about audience perspective and preparedness (and unpreparedness) are good. As a high school teacher, I really appreciated Chapter 9. His point about making “your audience members’ minds feel active even if their bodies are not” is especially poignant.

My favorite observation is that “Nothing kills your power over a room as much as a lack of silence.” This is so true (though I wouldn’t identify it as “my” power), especially as a teacher because silence is often seen as an show more invitation for students to start chattering or going off task. Poet Jackson Mac Low said, “During silences when you, as a performer, don’t do anything for a while, other things that are happening become part of the piece.” I like that because silence is no longer antagonizing, but a partner for the performance. Once, after reading a particularly moving piece, there was a long silence. One class clown type, probably not even cognizant of the silence, muttered, “This is powerful shit.” We all heard him and started laughing; he then explained why he felt this way. If I hadn’t let silence, my partner, have a few moments, then we would have all missed out on this funny and heartfelt discussion, the student’s part in the performance, and killed the power of the written word over the room.

A very good book for any person who attempts to communicate, in any capacity, with anything more sentient than a lamppost. show less

The first thing you need to do with this book is ignore the extremely boring cover design. It is so at odds with the way the text of the book will entertain you that it's tempting to think it was designed ironically. (Maybe it was.) The book is fast paced and entertaining throughout. I especially love the first paragraph of Chapter 9: "After years of studying learning theory, the science of how we learn, I can tell you this: most of what you need to know is easily learned from what happened to me in 1989 when I almost killed three people." Could you read that line and not be eager to read the rest of the chapter?

If you are or will in the near future be a public speaker, if you are or will be a teacher, or if you just like an enjoyable show more book filled with both thoughtful and "laugh out loud" anecdotes, buy this book. You'll be glad you did. show less

This is a book that practices what it preaches. After finishing, I realized that Berkun's narrative construction of the contents matched his advice for putting presentations together, outlined in the early chapters. The work is very much settled in a particular cultural framework (technologically savvy, white-collar professional, predominantly male) while neither apologizing for that fact, nor trying to reach beyond it. Clear language, informal tone, a lot of humor, a masterful use of footnotes for information and comic effect, and images to highlight points are all wonderful features in what turned out to be much more than an industry how-to guide. I found much that I can use, much common sense that I needed to read, and much that will show more make me listen to speakers I hear this year differently than I would have otherwise. show less

It is not often that a reader gets to experience a book that is both memoir and textbook. But Scott Berkun's /Confessions of a Public Speaker/ is it. As I read through the narrative-like chapters I thought I was getting to know Scott but as it turned out, I was also learning about public speaking and everything that it involves. The style of writing is honest and to-the-point without the stilted prose and textbook-like instruction. His advice comes from experience and is written from that experience, with no vague principles or 3-step programs. A highly recommended read for those public speakers who want to learn about the trade but shy away from textbooks.

The one downside to the book is that it often gets too specific for the average show more public speaker. Some of the pages would only be applicable to people who are "on the circuit" (a phrase I now know the origins of after reading Berkun's book). But that said, you will fly right through those pages because of the wit and humor and will be back to helpful information in no time. show less

Part memoir, part “how-to” manual, [Confessions of a Public Speaker] by [[Scott Berkun]] comes together as a thoroughly enjoyable read. Devouring the irresistibly named chapters including “I Can’t See You Naked”, “$30,000 an hour” and “The Science of Not Boring People”, I could not put this book down, and I would recommend this book to anyone who even infrequently gives presentations.

So why didn’t I give it 5 stars?

Although extremely well written, the book frequently drifts into a specific subset of public speaking – the paid professional. I give sales presentations all of the time, I’ve experienced many of the incidents in his book (including a simultaneous translation of my presentation), and I’ve even show more spoken to larger than normal sized audiences (although capping at only about 500 compared to his mammoth venues). But at no point did I ever have a contract, a handler or many of the other “professional” items Berkun includes in the book - in short, I am NOT a speaker-for-hire. Basking in the glow of Berkun’s humor and wit, I would suddenly get hit with one of these professional anomalies and stop short. Admittedly though, it was simple enough to shrug it off and dive back into the book. The fact remains that most of the content is easily applied to many day to day business experiences, and the sheer joy in reading his casual writing style covers a lot of sins.

If you are a professional speaker, this book is definitely a 5 star read and a must have addition to your library. Not a professional? Pick it up anyway. You’ll love it. show less

I've read pretty much any book I can get my hands onto about public speaking as I've recently started speaking at conferences and was expecting this one to be similar with the same trite advice as everyone else. This was not the case at all. Scott speaks regularly around the world and offered first hand knowledge and experience through out the book. He openly speaks of his flubs and what he learned from them and how the reader can learn from their own mistakes. Unlike other books Scott openly admits he isn't perfect and neither will the reader and quotes the move Fight Club to say that "perfection is boring."

He offers practical sound advice in an easy to read format. In the parts of the book where he backs his claims with citations, he show more translates whats being said into his own writing style. Overall a great read. show less