Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • The Gift of the Gab

  • How Eloquence Works
  • By: David Crystal
  • Narrated by: Derek Perkins
  • Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (10 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
The Gift of the Gab cover art

The Gift of the Gab

By: David Crystal
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £17.99

Buy Now for £17.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Making Sense cover art
It's the Way You Say It - Second Edition cover art
The Art of Speeches and Presentations cover art
Methods of Persuasion cover art
How to Give a Speech cover art
The Perfectionist's Guide to Public Speaking cover art
How to Make Your Point Without PowerPoint cover art
What's Your Message? cover art
The Art of Optimism: Your Competitive Edge cover art
English Fluency for Asian Speakers cover art
A Modest Book About How to Make an Adequate Speech cover art
Presenting with Super Confidence cover art
Speak Like You Want to Hear It: Speak Like a Pro cover art
The Art of Public Speaking cover art
The Art of the Tale cover art
The Art of Explanation cover art

Summary

We all know eloquence when we hear it. But what exactly is it? And how might we gain more of it for ourselves? This entertaining and, yes, eloquent audiobook illuminates the power of language from a linguistic point of view and provides fascinating insights into the way we use words. David Crystal, a world-renowned expert on the history and usage of the English language, probes the intricate workings of eloquence in this lively analysis.

Crystal focuses on the here and now of eloquent speaking - from pitch, pace, and prosody to jokes, appropriateness, and how to wield a microphone. He explains what is going on moment by moment and examines each facet of eloquence. He also investigates topics such as the way current technologies help or hinder our verbal powers, the psychological effects of verbal excellence, and why certain places or peoples are thought to be more eloquent than others.

In the core analysis, Crystal offers an extended and close dissection of Barack Obama's electrifying "Yes we can" speech of 2008, in which the president demonstrated full mastery of virtually every element of eloquence - from the simple use of parallelism and an awareness of what not to say, to his brilliant conclusion constructed around two powerful words: dreams and answers.

©2016 David Crystal (P)2018 Tantor

What listeners say about The Gift of the Gab

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely marvelous

I have read and listened to numerous books and resources on public speaking, rhetoric and eloquence, and this one is a gem. Very practical and educational, just the right balance between theory and reality. Will definitely read it again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful