On Speaking Well: How to Give a Speech With Style, Substance, and Clarity

The title of this book is a misnomer. The author is a professional political writer and she uses political anecdotes throughout the book to drive the points home. This book should be called "On Speaking and Writing Political Speeches Well". Also, the book has no table of contents and only has a modicum of sections. This makes it difficult to read. And I find that the index is not very useful. However, this is not to say that the tips and lessons cannot be extrapolated to cover all conceivable situations. In fact they can, if you have the patience. I therefore agree with the blurb that 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". This book consists of hundreds of blinding insights. 10 of them are: (1). The reality you are imagining is worse than the reality that will be; (2). Reagan used to say that noone wants to sit in an audience in respectful silence for more than 20 minutes; (3). I have made more than 100 speeches and I still cannot do it from cards, every word has to be written down in a text; (4). Reagan always needed a joke at the top of a speech because he needed the quick victory of laughter; (5). Tell'em what you you've gonna tell'em - tell them - then tell them what you told'em; (6). True things are usually said straight, and plain and direct; (7). The most moving thing is a speech is always the logic, not its poetic or flowery; (8). Speeches actually have to say things. And great speeches are great because they say great things; (9). Style is not a replacement for substance, and cannot camouflage a lack of substance; and (10). The future does not belong to the fainthearted, it belongs to the brave. Because this book contains hundreds of blinding insights, I am prepared to give it 5 stars. Digest this book and your public speaking skills will improve dramatically.

Peggy Noonan provides a witty and concise look at speaking, writing speeches and understanding the dynamics of various types of presentation - such as eulogies - in this concise and well written book. Having spent the last 25 years speaking in front of audiences, I recently have had a few less than stellar moments, and was looking for a quick refresher/primer and Noonan's book provides it. Yes, she was a political speechwriter. Yes, she is on TV as a conservative talking head. Separate the politics from the pedagogy. This is a good book, and an interesting read. The insights she provides into speech giving and speech writing at the highest levels of the craft are unparalleled.

I have the Kindle version. The author knows her subject and presents it well. The book is relatively short and flows well. I've never been a speechwriter, but I do some writing and speaking and I try to inform myself on what others, like Ms. Noonan, think are best practices for both activities. Reading the book, you may think as I did, this is about how to be a Presidential speech writer, which I will never be. Just accept that this is writing and speaking at the highest level and I will try to apply these lessons as best I can at my level. So, it's well written and a fairly quick read. I thought it I interesting that she hammered on the importance of logic in the speech; a purpose on which all else hangs. Rhetorical flourishes are not so necessary and may detract from the speaker's message. First, have a message. The author provides examples. Princess Diana's brother's eulogy of her at her funeral was one. I found it moving in light of the obvious family stresses. I gave it four, and not five, stars because the book was published in 1998 before the ubiquity of social media. It would be interesting to hear how the author thinks that social media has affected the writing and delivery of speeches. If you do write and present speeches and talks to audiences, the book provides some useful guidance. For these purposes I recommend it.

Peggy Noonan is a master with language. This book is great.

Peggy Noonan is a professional in every sense of what that means. Here she shares her experience and the experiences of others who have written, delivered, or listened to effective, and not-so-effective speeches. This valuable little book is chock full of tidbits that will help everyone new to public speaking as well as reminding veteran speakers and speechwriters to get back to basics. Top shelf stuff; highly recommend.

This book is written by a great writer and a great speaker. Easy to read and great tips and incites. If you have to give talks, it should be a must - especially if you are not a natural at it.

I'm not 100% sure why I bought this book when I have Detz's "How to Write and Give a Speech". I think it's the fact that Noonan, the author, has a lot of experience with speech-writing and -giving in reference to politicians. It sparked my curiosity. Speaking Well is a book that does have lots of helpful suggestions, though they do feel a bit dated sometimes, but I found it less practical than Detz's book. For one, a lot of the book is anecdotal and Noonan does ramble. There are no convenient checklists or other aids to help you sort through all the thoughts that come up when you present a speech. Overall, I think the book is worth reading if you're just as interested in hearing stories of Noonan's career as you are some (again, bit dated) advice on writing speeches. Personally, I found it boring and skipped through the last half of the book. It's just not what I was looking for. The book is filled with lots of different excerpts from what Noonan believes are effective speeches. It's a real shame that, at least on the Kindle version, there are no clear divisions between what's the quoted speech and what's Noonan writing. It's not always 100% obvious if it's Noonan or one of the quote speakers.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. At first, I wanted to give it five stars because the advice she gives about public speaking (which also actually translates remarkably well for creative writing in general) is exceptionally easy to follow and useful. So I was all in on this book for the first quarter of it or so. However, the later parts of the book made me want to give it three stars (or even less) because she does two things that I find infuriating... first, she lets her partisan bias show. I know she was a Republican speechwriter, but every anecdote in the book is either "Here's a great speech from a Republican and why this Republican is a genuinely brilliant politician" or "Here's a bad speech from a Democrat and why this Democrat is a terrible politician." Second, and perhaps far more grating, she doesn't take her own advice. Early in the book, she gives several genuinely insightful nuggets of wisdom about how to be concise, not bore the audience, know where the line is between making your point and going on too long... and later in the book she literally (and repeatedly) says things like, "May I indulge in just one more anecdote to make my point?" after already using two or three. I would have liked this book a lot more if she had been a little less politically biased and had followed her own advice. That said, based on the quality of the advice in the first part of the book (which I found genuinely helpful), I split the differences and gave this book four out of five stars.

Don't buy, not worth the read, quality of print is not good either. Bought 2 years ago still couldn't bring myself to read it.

I have read many guides to speaking and writing. This is by far the best. I keep it near me, and consult it regularly, as I have for many years. I believe a person of any age, liberal or conservative, can absorb and benefit from Peggy Noonan's crystal clear thinking on this topic. I just gave it to my 14 year old grandson, because that is the age I was when my brain began its very eager and open quest for knowledge. This book will edify, strengthen and encourage you to express your own original self and your ideas in the most profound and effective way.

Correcto

So high level, Less takeaways

Es un buen libro para conocer tips para hacer discursos. Al principio parecía que no lo sería, daba muchas vueltas. Pero una vez que comenzó con los consejos fue ameno e instructivo. Sí valió la pena su lectura.