On Speaking Well

Author - Peggy Noonan ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Paperback Book item from Collins was reviewed on 12-Dec-2008.

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1) Paperback Book On Speaking Well by Collins. Better know today as a conservative columnist for the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan also has a very strong pedigree as a political speech-writer for George H. Bush and Ronald Reagan.

In Simply Speaking she outlines very simply and coherently the basic rules of good speech writing and communication. As with most of the good books written on speech writing you are not likely to find major new insights. You will however find the key elements she addresses well illustrated with relevant speeches - many of which, by the way, she helped draft e.g. George H. Bush´s acceptance speech at the Republican convention 1988 and Ronald Reagan´s fortieth anniversary D-Day speech at Pointe du Hoc. Noonan goes through the speeches in detail, helping the reader to better appreciate the context and genesis for the respective speeches.

Noonan suggestions include:
A speech should never be more than twenty minutes.
Write the text out.
Humor is essential.
Sentences should be short and simple.

The book is a bit limited in that the author constantly returns to Reagan and his oratorical style but other speeches that Noonan quotes in a worthwhile book include Christopher Reeve´s speech at the 1996 Democratic convention, John F Kennedy´s Inaugural, Bill Clinton´s Inaugural - which she pans and Mother Teresa´s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast which reads well, but it was this amazing nun´s presence and credibility which truly impacted the room.

I return to this book reasonably often because it is interesting and hits the key points for a speaker. But, the book could benefit from a good checklist and summary of key points. Noonan also shows her political colors too much in a book about speech writing. The reader doesn´t need to know about her palpable disdain for the Clintons, a disdain which colors her judgment on the former President´s communication ability which is often exceptional.

However, Simply Speaking is a good book for the budding speechwriter and speechmaker: a worthwhile and interesting refresher for the experienced speaker.

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2) Paperback Book On Speaking Well by Collins. I love reading Peggy Noonan´s WSJ column; so let´s get that out of the way right now. Peggy generally writes in a stream-of-consciousness form that I like. It captures my attention from the first sentence and holds me to the end. But not this book. After a page or two I noticed I was skipping ahead, looking for the bait and the hook. It´s not there. That´s Writing 101. She knows that! What I suspect is this: Her publisher contracted with her for a give-back linked to something else, and she wasnt interested in the project. It shows!¤

3) Paperback Book On Speaking Well by Collins. The book was cheaper than in the store, was shipped the same day as ordered, and arrived in new condition (it was new!) so I am well pleased.¤

4) Paperback Book On Speaking Well by Collins. Written by former presidential speechwriter, Peggy Noonan, On Speaking Well will teach you how to write and deliver effective speeches. Although much can be learned from this book, I hesitate to recommend it to political neophytes, because Noonan´s fallback theory on politics is that you should just "be yourself." Obviously I agree -- who wants to vote for a phony? But inexperienced readers might misconstrue this to mean they don´t have to study how to win -- and that would be a shame for them. As Mrs. Noonan points out, even President Reagan made it a point to spend time learning how to be a "Great Communicator."
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5) Paperback Book On Speaking Well by Collins. I couldn´t beleive how bad this book is. Not really a presentation on how to speak well, but full of recollections of her career-long speaking days. There was nothing useful in this book, except if you want to hear her reflections on talking her grades up with the professors in college back in the ´60´s. A complete waste of time and money.¤

6) Paperback Book On Speaking Well by Collins. For anyone who fears the thought of writing and giving a speech--be it to business associates, or at a wedding--help is at hand. Acclaimed presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan shares her secrets to becoming a confidence, persuasive speaker demystifying topics including:

• Finding you own authentic voice

• Developing a text that interest you

• Acing the all-important first paragraph

• Using logic to move your audience

• Creating, developing, and reinventing the "core speech" for diverse audiences

• Strengthening your speech with a vital element: humor

• Winnowing your thought down to the essentials

• Handling professional jargon, clichés, and the sound bite syndrome

• Presenting your speech in the best way

• Collecting intellectual income--conversing your speech treasures

• Breaking all the rules and still succeeding

• Reading for inspiration--how to use the excellence of others

Complete with lessons, tips and memorable examples, On Speaking Well shows us how to create forceful, persuasive, relevant speeches that will resonate with our audiences. Engaging, informative, and always entertaining, this is undoubtedly the authoritative how-to guide for anyone writing or giving a speech¤

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 9-Jan-2009, 00609874059780060987404, 050-250-160-120-980-480-36B-8

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