His voice was irritating

Narrator was annoying and American. Trying to now make up the word count count count.

6 people found this helpful

A must read if you deliver presentations.

A very beautiful and inspiring book if you wish to win the hearts of your audience through your presentation. It teaches you how important good communication is if you are to actually get your message across. As I was listening to this book I was envisaging implementing these public speaking techniques to my presentations at work and I could already see the difference it would make: I am clearly inspired, motivated and eager to try something new straightaway - the effects of a good self- development book.
At the end of each chapter the author gives you a TED note wich summarises the main points in each chapter. It helped me grasp the content easier and remember more:

- Be inspired first if you are to inspire others - your true inspiration will rub off on other people.
- Tell a personal story to connect with your audience ("brain coupling") - don't lecture.
- Be authentic but keep in mind that authenticity doesn't come naturrally, it takes practice: record yourself and ask for feedback; speak in a conversational tone, slow the rate of your speech.
- Believe in yourself to break any incongruence between your words and actions.
- Use "eager non verbal style" - don't let your hands hang below your navel, use gestures within your "power sphere" (from your waist line up to your eyes), make solid eye contact and stand tall.
- Develop "command presence": eliminate your fidgeting, tapping and jiggling.
- Go for the Novel, be creative and introduce "jaw dropping moments" for more dopamine in  the brains of your audience - the chemical that helps you retain information (if exciting).
- Unleash "an emotionally charged event" with an element of surprise.
- Lighten up your presentation with videos and photos.
- Use humour to give the brain a mental break and to lower defence.
- Establish a limit to your presentation to provide a framework for creativity to flourish.
- Keep your presentation to 18- 20 minutes and simplify it - the human mind can only consumme about three chunks of information.
- Give your audience a multi-sensory experience, visualise your context, give auditory senses with your pitch, volume, rate, intensity, articulation; make your audience feel what they hear and see.
- Stay in your lane, be authentic, open and transparent and put in some time.
- Leave your audience on a high note.

All these techniques are backed up by neuroscience research and credible science.
Nevertheless, I still tend to believe that some people are naturally inclined to public speaking and thus, they are naturally authentic while the others who are trained to be authentic carry along a trail of cunning.

3 people found this helpful

A worth while listen

A worth while read. slightly self indulgent but has some good techniques for confidence in speaking.

3 people found this helpful

Inspirational presentation skills unleashed

Amazing read - now I can relate better to most of my dull presentations. This will surely change - thanks Carmine.

3 people found this helpful

Useful, but drags on a bit.

Useful, funny in parts, but chapters often repetitive and over explain some quite simple points. I thought it would delve more into the lives and history of the TED speakers (there was a bit of that), but it was mainly corporate style self help. Overall, a good set of ideas to help someone improve their public speaking like TED speakers, but in parts tedious and lacking in TED originality.

2 people found this helpful

Loved it, interesting and informative

Considering I only got this as it was in the sale. I really enjoyed this and have downloaded loads of Ted talks to help me even further.

1 person found this helpful

Interesting insight into presentation technique

Had some very interesting and useful techniques on improving your presentations with a VERY heavy focus on TED style presentations.
A shame there was no conclusion to the (audio)book to recap the main topics he covered in the story.
Was well told with correct emphasis, pacing and tone.
Would definitely recommend to those wanting to improve their presenting.

1 person found this helpful

Overrated, boring and uninspiring

A full paid advertisement book on TED talks. All of its contents can be detailed summarised in 2 pages and few links to videos.
The author voice is annoying and high pitched.

1 person found this helpful

Exactly what I expected

Loved it. It has changed my v perception on presentations. Will read it again. Definitely

1 person found this helpful

Simple, inspiring, beautifully put together

Loved listening to the audio for the second time. I have bought the paperback, also reading for the 2nd time. This is a must read for anyone looking to deliver presentations that don’t just land but inspire people to take action.