On Speaking Well

A presidential speechwriter offers practical wisdom and insightful tips in this authoritative guide to writing and giving a speech.

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 voiceDeveloping a text that interests youAcing the all-important first paragraphUsing logic to move your audienceCreating, developing, and reinventing the "core speech" for diverse audiencesStrengthening your speech with a vital element: humorWinnowing your thoughts down to the essentialsHandling professional jargon, clichés, and the sound bite syndromeRespecting simplicity and clarity—big ideas need small wordsPresenting your speech in the best wayCollecting intellectual income—conversing your speech treasuresBreaking all the rules and still succeedingReading 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.