Top Public Speaking books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Public Speaking books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Public Speaking

Understanding the concepts of Public Speaking starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln: 21 Powerful Secrets of History's Greatest Speakers

Author, historian, and world-renowned speaker James C. Humes—who wrote speeches for five American presidents—shows you how great leaders through the ages used simple yet incredibly effective tricks to speak, persuade, and win throngs of fans and followers.

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The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platform

The Successful Speaker is a proven, easy-to-follow guide to helping you do just that. Whether you want to speak at your next board meeting or community gathering, start making some extra money on the side, or become a full-time professional speaker, Grant Baldwin knows how to get you from here to there.

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What's Your Message? Public Speaking with Twice the Impact, Using Half the Effort

Practical SQL is an approachable and fast-paced guide to SQL (Structured Query Language), the standard programming language for defining, organizing, and exploring data in relational databases.

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Public Speaking for Success

In Public Speaking for Success, Dale Carnegie argues that anyone can learn to speak with confidence and poise regardless of prior experience or the all-too-common fear of speaking in public. By following his lessons, Carnegie says, you'll be well on your way to owning your voice and the stage.

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World's Greatest Speeches (Deluxe Hardbound Edition)

Step into the world of history-makers with this edition, enriched with the eloquence of individuals who shaped and reshaped their destinies. Experience the artistry of master orators as their meticulously crafted speeches transcend the boundaries of time and space, captivating the minds and hearts of their audiences. A literary gem for all, this exquisite hardbound edition features a ribbon bo…

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The Naked Presenter: Delivering Powerful Presentations with Or Without Slides

The Naked Presenter teaches readers how they can reach an audience by stripping away all that is unnecessary to get at the essence of the message. The naked presenter approaches the presentation task embracing the ideas of simplicity, clarity, honesty, integrity, and passion.

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Additional Public Speaking Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Public Speaking, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World's Most Inspiring Presentations

"How To Deliver A TED Talk" is a complete guide for creating presentations that inspire others through your story. Based on intensive study of the most popular TEDTalks, this step-by-step playbook shows you how to select your topic, craft your narrative, master your delivery, and refine your design.

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Presentation Zen

Presentation Zen challenges the conventional wisdom of making "slide presentations" in today's world and encourages you to think differently and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of your presentations.

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How to win friends and influence people. How to stop worrying and start living

Some key points include showing genuine interest in others, remembering people's names, encouraging others to talk about themselves, and making the other person feel important. These principles can be applied when other methods of influence or persuasion seem to fail.

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Do You Talk Funny? 7 Comedy Habits to Become a Better (and Funnier) Public Speaker

Public speaking can be terrifying. For David Nihill, the idea of

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Speak With No Fear: Go from a Nervous, Nauseated, and Sweaty Speaker to an Excited, Energized, and Passionate Presenter

Full of personal anecdotes, executable tips, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this book teaches you 7 unconventional strategies to help you find your inner presenter. Don't wait any longer. Today is the day you take charge of your anxiety, calm your nerves, and – most importantly – speak with no fear.

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How To Develop Self-Confidence & Influence People By Public Speaking

Develop poise Gain self-confidence Improve your memory Make your meaning clear Begin and end a talk Interest and charm your audience Improve your diction Win and argument without making enemiesHow to Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking also offers hundreds of practical and valuable tips on influencing the important people in your life: your friends, your customers, …

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Specializations and Deeper Public Speaking Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. Public Speaking is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

You Got This: Everything You Need to Master Authentic Public Speaking

Which of these phrases best describe your speech presentations? Lisa Kleiman is a speaking consultant with a passion for communication. She has coached hundreds of individuals and facilitated classes, workshops, and seminars across the globe. In You Got This , she shares her secrets about stepping out in front of any group and successfully delivering your message with clarity, confidence, and …

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This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

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