By my reckoning, around 60% of this book is dispensable. Much of the advice concerns such common sense matters as how to make sure the venue is equipped for your needs, or the dangers of using profanity or lewd remarks in your speech.

Additionally, much of the book felt like it was aimed at people preparing to give a speech in a commercial setting, rather than an educational or political occasion—although most of the advice transfers across contexts fairly well. It was a bit frustrating that each chapter ends with one of history's truly great speeches (although, with a bias towards US presidential addresses), and yet the points in each chapter's interior are usually supported with more pedestrian examples from executive addresses.

But strip these things away and there is a kernel of useful advice, especially around the use of rhetorical techniques and body language in speaking. This advice is presented in a format that looks more like a textbook than a self-help book. That's a good thing! If you are serious about improving your public speaking then you should approach it like a serious learning task than an ailment to be cured by the self-help industry's snake oil. I also appreciated some clever tips about formatting printed notes for a speech.

So, by all means give this book a look. But be ready to skim over those parts of least interest. ( )

Too much "how to", too little meaty example. ( )