books on powerpoint presentation skills

• By Illiya Vjestica
• - September 30, 2020

What are the Must-Read Essential Presentation Books?

We have put together, six of the best must-read presentation books on everything presenting and PowerPoint design. We began our own journey from these presentation books, and they can teach you too.

We’ve got to hand it to the internet. 

It teaches us a lot of things. On YouTube alone, there are tutorials for everything from doing eerily realistic special effects makeup to building a house. Elsewhere – at just a click of your mouse – you can find forums and websites full of insights across every skill imaginable. 

But there’s some knowledge you can only get from books. 

Books have a wealth of knowledge available to you, the feeling of turning the pages in your hand can’t be beaten. 

You can access specific interviews with leading figures in your industry. Learn tips and methodology that have been refined over decades – compiled precisely in the right order, in clear chapters, to help you digest it all. 

With that in mind, we’re always on the lookout for the best presentation books on presenting and presentation design. 

There are some brilliant titles out there that’ll help you to boost your presentation design and public speaking skills to a staggering degree – giving you an edge over your competitors.

The books we have selected will help you to deliver talks that capture hearts as well as minds. 

Here are our six must-read presentation books we’d recommend you add to your home library.

1. Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds, Carmine Gallo

In this book, Carmine Gallo puts forward a straightforward step-by-step method for anyone to deliver a presentation that is engaging, persuasive, and most importantly, memorable.

If you’re familiar with us at The Presentation Designer, you’ll already know we’ve created slides for TED talks before. They’re the gold standard when it comes to public speaking… and with this book, you can learn all the tricks of the trade from some of the best TED presenters around. 

From interviews with popular TED speakers to insights on how to design and deliver your presentation, this handy guide will help you to present like a pro. Are you ready to knock your audience’s socks off?

2. Presentation Zen Design: A simple visual approach to presenting in today’s world, Garr Reynolds

There’s probably nobody better qualified to give presentation advice than Garr Reynolds (other than us, of course!). 

A best-selling author and popular speaker, he’s got wisdom on tap when it comes to delivering terrific talks – and nailing every element of your presentation design. I’ve read every single book Garr has published.

Presentation Zen Design is the book I would recommend to anyone thinking about creating more effective presentation slides.

Throughout, you’ll find simple design principles and techniques that are guaranteed to enhance your presentations. In Garr’s book you will also gain an insight into Japanese Zen and how you can apply some of its principles to improve engagement with your audience.

It doesn’t matter how smart and a detailed a slide design can be, Garr’s methods prove that ‘keeping it simple is best’.  

Check out his tips on the best ways to use colour, data, mixed mediums (including video) and more to create simple, synergistic and stunning presentations. Check it out. 

3. slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations: The Art and Science of Presentation Design, Nancy Duarte

In slide:ology, communications expert Nancy Duarte delivers innovative advice around “visual thinking” – helping your audience to understand your key messages through imagery. 

Connect with specific experts, create easy-to-understand graphics and use the power of art to persuade. Using her intriguing insights and step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to master the craft of presenting. 

There are plenty of case studies to refer too, which demonstrate how some of the world’s leading brands have used Duarte’s visual theories and methods to achieve their goals. 

Want to learn how to create slides an audience can process? 

Then, this is the book for you, it’s difficult not to also recommend ‘Resonate’, her follow-up, as another must-read book.

Her second book will take your learning further to help you create better stories for your presentation and develop supporting visuals that fit your narrative.

Thank you, Nancy! You have taught me so much! 

4. Confessions of a Public Speaker, Scott Berkun 

Stage fright. Bored audiences. Forgetting your lines. Even the most confident of us have fears when it comes to giving presentations. Fortunately, author and public speaking specialist Scott Berkun is sympathetic to that – and between his practical advice and hilarious, insightful anecdotes, Scott teaches you how to present perfectly… without the panic element. Sounds good to us. 

Through his years of experience speaking to crowds of all different sizes, you’ll gain an insight to:

• How to work a tough audience
• The science of not boring people to sleep
• How to survive the attack of nerves or worry
• What to do when things go wrong

5. Show and Tell: How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary Presentations, Dan Roam

There are two decades worth of presentation wisdom in Dan Roam’s  Show and Tell . His theory is that we’re all natural-born storytellers.

In his book ‘Show and Tell’ he guides our focus on unlocking our innate presenting abilities in a fun, engaging and informative way. Through fundamental truths (including our personal favourite: “passion = self-confidence”), hand-drawn pictures and simple-to-remember tips, you’ll find a fantastic foundation for both your presentation design and delivery.

There’s a lot of informative content about telling better stories in our presentation and how to structure them to make them engaging. 

Cheers, Dan.

6. Interaction of Color, Josef Albers

At The Presentation Designer, we’re serious when it comes to harnessing the power of colour in presentation design. It’s a good thing, too, as colour theory and psychology play massive roles in the potential impact of your slides. 

Josef Albers’ famous book,  Interaction of Colour , is testament to that fact: a comprehensive guide on the principles of colour theory that’s been in circulation since the 60s. 

Age certainly equals wisdom, here, because Albers’ in-depth manual – which discusses everything from colour relativity to the illusion of transparency – is chockablock with all the information you’ll ever need to know about using colour. You’ll be the Picasso of presentations in no time. 

I’ve included this video from painter Albert van der Zwart who explains the concepts around Josef Albers principles of colour theory well.

There you go, I hope you’ve enjoyed our recommended presentation books. Let us know any you think we’ve missed in the comments.

Other Recommend Reading:

If you have enjoyed this post we’ve also included some helpful links to our blog posts that you might find useful:

• 5 PowerPoint Tips You Should Know
• How to Improve Presentation Retention Rates
• How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking
• 5 Classic Presentation Fonts

Don’t want to go it alone? We’ve got a  brilliant process in place  to help you build your presentation… and we’ll give you a free quotation, too. Come say hi!

Illiya Vjestica

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Top 10 Best Presentation Books: Transform Your Public Speaking Skills

September 21, 2023

Presentation and Pitch Expert. Ex Advertising.

$100mill In Funding. Bald Since 2010.

In an increasingly competitive world, standing out from the crowd can be a daunting challenge.

One critical skill that sets exceptional individuals apart is the ability to deliver powerful and persuasive presentations. However, mastering this art is no easy feat, and many struggle to captivate their audience, effectively convey their message, and leave a lasting impression.

To overcome these hurdles, it’s essential to learn from the masters of the craft. By studying the techniques and strategies of expert presenters, you can unlock the secrets to creating truly engaging and impactful presentations.

They’ve honed their craft through years of experience, discovering secrets that make presentations truly unforgettable. That’s why we’ve curated a list of the top 10 best presentation books these maestros wrote.

Imagine confidently stepping onto the stage, captivating your audience from the very first moment, and leaving them with an unforgettable message. This can become a reality with the right guidance and resources.

Hey there, I’m Viktor, a  pitch deck expert ,  creative strategist  and burger lover. I’ve been a pitch deck expert for the past 10 years and helped clients raise millions and win pitches, with my unique approach to creating pitch decks.

My aim is to guide you through a transformative journey, revealing the books that explain the techniques and strategies employed by the world’s most successful presenters. 

So, dive in and let these masters of communication elevate your presentations to new heights of clarity, engagement, and persuasiveness.

Here are the 10 must-read presentation skills books for anyone standing in front of an audience (even if it’s just your wife and you’re trying to convince her).

Hey , before you read on:

Consider doing what others like you did. Reading how to make presentations will take a-lot of time. You need one today (probably) . Let me help you develop a killer presentation and save 10+ hours of your time for a fraction of the cost. All it takes to start is a free 30 min call with me.

The least you will get is 10 actionable tips & strategies to own that next presentation, worth $599, for free.

Key concepts and techniques

“slide:ology: the art and science of creating great presentations” by nancy duarte.

900+ Pros like yourself read the book

Nancy Duarte’s book is a comprehensive guide that aims to revolutionize the way people create and deliver presentations.

The book highlights the importance of visual communication and teaches readers how to design slides that effectively convey their message. Duarte provides a step-by-step approach to crafting visually engaging and impactful presentations, with a strong focus on audience needs and preferences.

Drawing from her extensive experience working with some of the world’s top brands, Duarte shares practical tips and techniques for creating visually stunning slides that leave a lasting impression on the audience.

The book covers various aspects of presentation design, including color theory, typography, layout, and storytelling. “Slide:ology” also emphasizes the significance of simplicity and clarity in slide design, guiding readers to eliminate clutter and focus on the essential elements of their message.

By applying the principles and strategies outlined in this book, you can transform your presentations into powerful tools for communication and persuasion.

Nancy Duarte covers several key concepts and techniques that can help readers create effective and visually engaging presentations. Some of these key concepts and techniques include:

• Audience-centric approach: Understanding the needs, preferences, and expectations of the audience is crucial in crafting a presentation that resonates with them. 
• Storytelling: Integrating storytelling into presentations makes them more memorable and compelling. 
• Simplicity and clarity: Effective slide design requires simplicity and clarity. 
• Visual communication: Slide:ology emphasizes the importance of using visuals to support the message, as images and graphics are often more effective than text alone. 
• Color theory: The book covers the basics of color theory, explaining how different colors can evoke specific emotions and reactions in the audience. 
• Typography and layout: Typography and layout play a significant role in making slides readable and visually appealing. 
• Data visualization: Presenting complex data in a clear and concise manner is a critical skill in effective presentations. 
• Slide preparation and organization: The book offers strategies for organizing slides and building a coherent flow throughout the presentation. 

“Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences” by Nancy Duarte

Another one by Nancy Duarte and for a good reason (I always thought I could’ve been her prodigal son) The book she wrote offers a comprehensive guide to creating impactful presentations. Duarte emphasizes the importance of telling a compelling story to engage and persuade an audience, and presents a framework for doing so.

It builds on the concepts introduced in Slide:ology. While Slide:ology focuses on creating effective visual presentations, Resonate takes a more comprehensive approach by emphasizing the importance of storytelling and emotional connection.

The book outlines the five stages of a persuasive presentation, beginning with understanding the audience and their needs, and culminating in a call to action. Along the way, Duarte emphasizes the importance of creating a strong emotional connection with the audience and structuring the presentation to build tension and excitement.

Duarte also offers practical advice on designing effective visual aids, such as slides, diagrams, and charts. She emphasizes the importance of keeping visuals simple and uncluttered, and using them to support and reinforce the key points of the presentation.

Overall, Resonate is a valuable resource for anyone looking to create persuasive and engaging presentations that connect with audiences on a deeper level.

“Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery” by Garr Reynolds

600+ Pros like yourself read the book

Garr’s book is a guide to creating compelling and effective presentations (as are all of the books here!). The book emphasizes the importance of simplicity and clarity in both the design and delivery of presentations.

Reynolds argues that too many presentations rely on cluttered slides, bullet points, and irrelevant details. Instead, he encourages presenters to focus on a simple message and use visuals to support that message. He also stresses the importance of rehearsing and delivering presentations in a natural and engaging manner.

Throughout the book, Reynolds offers practical advice on design principles such as layout, color, and typography, as well as tips for using technology effectively to enhance presentations.

You’ll notice that both Nancy and Garr talk about similar points – that’s because they’re really important in presentation design and delivery.

“The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience” by Carmine Gallo

800+ Pros like yourself read the book

This book with an insanely long name by Carmine Gallo is a guide to improving presentation skills through the example of Steve Jobs, the legendary you know who.

Gallo identifies seven key principles that Jobs used to create engaging and memorable presentations. These principles include simplifying the message, creating a clear and compelling storyline, and using visuals to enhance the message.

The book also offers practical advice on how to apply these principles to one’s own presentations, including tips on using technology, preparing for presentations, and delivering speeches with confidence and enthusiasm.

Throughout the book, Gallo uses examples from Jobs’ presentations to illustrate his points, and includes interviews with other successful presenters who have used these principles to achieve success.

Remember the iPod speech? Well, you could potentially make the same impact if you apply the principles of this book.

“Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds” by Carmine Gallo

4000+ Pros like yourself read the book

Another great book by Carmine Gallo. This is a guide to improving public speaking skills by analyzing the techniques used by some of the most successful TED speakers.

Gallo identifies nine key principles that successful TED speakers use to create compelling and memorable presentations. These principles include storytelling, using humor, and focusing on a clear and compelling message.

The book provides practical advice on how to apply these principles to one’s own presentations, including tips on using body language, using multimedia effectively, and engaging with the audience.

Throughout the book, Gallo uses examples from successful TED talks to illustrate his points, and includes interviews with successful TED speakers to provide additional insights and inspiration.

Overall, Talk Like TED is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their public speaking skills and create more engaging and memorable presentations. By focusing on the techniques used by successful TED speakers, Gallo provides a roadmap for creating truly inspiring speeches.

“Show and Tell: How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary Presentations” by Dan Roam

300+ Pros like yourself read the book

Show and Tell is a guide to improving presentation skills by using a visual approach to communication.

Roam argues that the most successful presentations are those that use visual aids to tell a compelling story. He introduces a framework for creating effective presentations that focuses on three key elements: the message, the audience, and the medium.

The book provides practical advice on how to use visual aids, such as sketches and diagrams, to support the message and engage the audience. Roam also emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience and tailoring the presentation to their needs and interests.

Throughout the book, Roam uses examples from successful presentations to illustrate his points, and includes exercises and templates to help readers apply his ideas to their own presentations.

By focusing on the visual aspect of communication, Roam provides a fresh perspective on how to create truly effective presentations.

“The Art of Explanation: Making Your Ideas, Products, and Services Easier to Understand” by Lee LeFever

300 Pros like yourself read the book

Lee wants to show us through this guide how to improve communication skills by mastering the art of explanation. Abit different than the other books and for a good reason.

LeFever argues that the most successful communicators are those who can explain complex ideas in simple and understandable terms. He introduces a framework for creating effective explanations that focuses on three key elements: clarity, brevity, and context.

The book provides practical advice on how to use analogies, metaphors, and storytelling to help audiences understand even the most complex ideas. LeFever also emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience and tailoring the explanation to their needs and interests.

Throughout the book, LeFever uses examples from successful explanations to illustrate his points, and includes exercises and templates to help readers apply his ideas to their own communication challenges.

By focusing on the art of explanation, Lee provides a practical and actionable guide for making even the most complex ideas understandable to others.

“Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die” by Chip Heath & Dan Heath

5000+ Pros like yourself read the book

Chip and Dan Heath (or Chip and Dale) explore the elements that make ideas memorable and influential. The authors present six key principles, encapsulated in the acronym SUCCESs:

• Simplicity : Effective ideas are simple, core messages that are easy to understand and remember.
• Unexpectedness : Ideas that surprise or challenge expectations are more likely to grab attention and stick in people’s minds.
• Concreteness : Concrete ideas, with specific examples and tangible details, are more relatable and easier to visualize.
• Credibility : Ideas backed by credible sources, statistics, or testimonials are more persuasive and memorable.
• Emotions : Ideas that evoke emotions, either positive or negative, create a stronger connection with the audience.
• Stories : Telling stories helps to convey ideas in a compelling and engaging way, making them more likely to be remembered and shared.

By applying these principles, individuals and organizations can develop more effective communication strategies and make their ideas stickier.

“Confessions of a Public Speaker” by Scott Berkun

500+ Pros like yourself read the book

Scott Berkun offers an honest and entertaining look into the world of professional public speaking. Berkun shares his personal experiences and insights to help readers improve their presentation and communication skills. The book covers a wide range of topics, from overcoming stage fright to engaging audiences effectively.

Berkun emphasizes that practice, preparation, and self-awareness are crucial to becoming a successful public speaker. He advises readers to know their material thoroughly, understand the audience, and create a strong opening to capture attention. To keep audiences engaged, he suggests using humor, storytelling, and varying one’s speaking pace and tone.

The book also covers handling difficult situations, such as dealing with technical issues, unresponsive audiences, or hostile questions. Berkun stresses the importance of staying calm, thinking on one’s feet, and learning from every experience. Ultimately, “Confessions of a Public Speaker” provides valuable tips and candid stories to help anyone become a more confident and effective communicator.

“Steal the Show: From Speeches to Job Interviews to Deal-Closing Pitches” by Michael Port

Michael Port offers a comprehensive guide to mastering the art of public speaking and persuasive communication in various settings. Port emphasizes the importance of performance in all aspects of life, from delivering speeches to acing job interviews and winning business deals.

The book provides actionable strategies for improving one’s performance skills, such as understanding the audience, crafting compelling stories, and developing a strong stage presence. Port stresses the need to be authentic and genuine, while also being aware of nonverbal communication and vocal dynamics.

“Steal the Show” also covers essential preparation techniques, including extensive research, rehearsal, and mental visualization. Port advises readers to manage their nerves through mindfulness and self-awareness. He also shares tips on handling challenging situations and improvising when things don’t go as planned.

Best Presentation Books Wrap Up

In conclusion, the top 10 best presentation books provide a wealth of knowledge and practical advice for mastering public speaking and persuasive communication.

These books, including “Made to Stick,” “Confessions of a Public Speaker,” and “Steal the Show,” among others, offer valuable insights into various aspects of delivering engaging and effective presentations.

Exploring these resources is highly recommended for anyone looking to improve their public speaking skills, whether they are seasoned professionals or just starting their journey. By learning from the experiences and expertise of these accomplished authors, readers can develop their unique style and confidence in presenting their ideas.

Effective presentations play a crucial role in both personal and professional life, as they help convey ideas, persuade others, and create lasting impressions. By investing time and effort in honing one’s presentation skills, individuals can unlock new opportunities, foster meaningful connections, and make a significant impact on others.

If you got here, then you should reconsider my offer.

Additional Resources

If you’re still looking to improve your presentation skills, check this list on the best books for pitching.

Or explore more resources on presentations and pitches:

Also don’t miss out on my massive presentation specialist guide , last minute presentations and best business projector buyers guide.

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Table of Contents

• 35 Best Books on Presentations
• book reviews

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I’m really proud to announce that, based on a recent survey of presentation experts, Speaking PowerPoint was rated the #3 presentation book overall. See the full list of 35 books, according to presentation experts, in the SlideShare below.

The expert judges included Nancy Duarte , Bruce Gabrielle, Dr. Michael Alley, Gonzalo Alvarez , Andrew Dlugan , Nolan Haimes and Al Bonner . (And, no, I wasn’t allowed to vote on my own book 🙂 )

The judges rated books in several categories, and then overall. Top books, in their opinion, were:

Top 3 books OVERALL

• Presenting to Win , Jerry Weissman
• Moving Mountains , Henry M. Boettinger
• Speaking PowerPoint , Bruce R. Gabrielle

Top 3 books on PLANNING your presentation

• Give Your Speech, Change the World , Dr. Nick Morgan

Top 3 books on DESIGNING PowerPoint visuals

• slide:ology , Nancy Duarte
• Presentation Zen , Garr Reynolds
• Presentation Zen Design , Garr Reynolds

Top 3 books on DELIVERING your presentation

• You’ve Got to Be Believed to Be Heard , Bert Decker
• Real Leaders Don’t Do PowerPoint , Christopher Witt

Thanks to Gonzalo Álvarez Marañón, author of El Arte de Presentar , the driving force behind this study and who helped round up some impressive judges. I helped by analyzing the data and presenting it visually. I hope this turns you onto some books you hadn’t gotten around to yet.

By the way, El Arte de Presentar (the Art of Presentations) is also a pretty amazing book. It’s written in Spanish, but my daughter has been translating the book to me and I highly recommend it if you read Spanish.

About the author: Bruce Gabrielle is author of Speaking PowerPoint: the New Language of Business , showing a 12-step method for creating clearer and more persuasive PowerPoint slides for boardroom presentations. Subscribe to this blog or join my LinkedIn group to get new posts sent to your inbox.

speakingppt

Related posts, free download: storytelling with graphs chapter 1, strategic sales presentations (jack malcolm) book review, say it with charts (gene zelazny) book review.

Wonderful list, and 12 more purchases would complete my library.

No Tufte among the design books? Hard to believe he didn’t make the cut, despite the fact he has said he hates PowerPoint.

Thanks for your comments David. Hmmm…good question about Tufte. I believe “Cognitive Style of PowerPoint” was suggested as an early candidate, then rejected as not having instructional value. Perhaps we overlooked his other books in making that decision.

Note, all of the judges were invited to submit their candidates and Tufte was not suggested by anyone else. It would be a worthy consideration should we repeat the survey in the future.

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Top 35 Presentation Books: Expert Ratings

Some are bad. Some are good. And some are outstanding!

We want to help you find the outstanding books — books which truly help you build your presentation skills . That’s why we publish book reviews on Six Minutes .

So, when Gonzalo Álvarez invited me to join in a survey of experts to rate a collection of the best presentation books, I was happy to participate.

This article reports the results of this survey: the top 35 books on presentations .

Analysis and Participants

From the analysis summary:

We wondered: “What do the top presentation experts in the world read?” They told us. We asked 7 of the top presentation experts in the world to tell us what books most inspired them to be better presenters. Seven judges, including four published authors, provided feedback to a list of books. We present, for your consideration, their ranked list of the top 35 presentation books.

• Survey analysis was performed by Gonzalo Álvarez and Bruce Gabrielle. Their methodology and full results can be found in the embedded document later in this article. Thanks to both of them for leading this effort!
• Nancy Duarte
• Bruce Gabrielle
• Dr. Michael Alley
• Gonzalo Alvarez
• Nolan Haims
• Andrew Dlugan  (me)

Summary of the Results

• It’s very difficult to quantitatively compare speaking books, particularly when those books excel in very different ways.
• Books were scored according to their presentation focus along several criteria (content, structure, visual design, delivery). The total of the individual scores was used to rank the books overall.
• These totals can be misleading as they reward books with a very broad focus (books that touch on many speaking skills), and penalize books with a narrow focus. As an example, books like Made to Stick or The Story Factor  (which are both excellent books which focus almost entirely on storytelling) receive low overall scores.
• Each of these two groups are listed in the tables below.
• The “Amazon Rating” column in the tables below gives the “stars” ranking and the number of reader reviews.
• Most books (27 out of 35) are priced between $14 and $28 . Four books are less than $14, and one book is over $28. Three books are no longer carried by amazon, so no price is given.
• Links to these reviews are given in the tables below.
• Most of the remaining 21 books are on my personal wishlist, so it’s quite likely you’ll be seeing reviews for some of them in the future.

Books with a Content/Delivery Focus

Books with a focus on visuals, the full ratings data.

If you do not see the embedded document below, please visit the web version of this article .

How about you? Which are your favorites?

How many of these 35 have you read? Which ones do you like most? Why? Which book(s) would you add to the list?

Please share in the comments . I’d love to hear from you.

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14 comments.

The Art of the Explanation is my favorite. It’s written by Lee LeFever. He’s got steps on how to explain complicated things and ideas so NO ONE in the audience gets left behind.

Thanks Jaime.

I love Lee LeFever’s video explanations, and am curious to read his book.

2 Done; 33 to go. Wonderful timing. I was just looking for books to improve on my presentation skills. Andrew, you just handed over me the magic wand. 🙂

Thanks Andrew. Look forward to completing these.

Oh wow, that’s quite the list. I’ll be going over this and determining which ones I need to read NOW and which ones I’ll save for later. Thanks for taking the time to put together such a great list.

The one book I have never seen written is how to develop presentations for others to give. Many times I am faced with developing a corporate or sales presentation for the sales team to give to prospects – what are the best practices for this kind of presentation?

Thank you for providing an extremely useful list. However, it’s hard for anyone to keep up with what else those authors have been doing since the listed books were published. Check before you buy. For example, Stephen M. Kosslyn’s 2010 book Better PowerPoint: Quick Fixes Based on How Your Audience Thinks might be a better choice than the 2007 Clear and to the Point. Also, this year Dave Paradi published Present It So They Get It . I liked his The Visual Slide Revolution enough to post a review of it .

I’d add Dona M. Wong’s The Wall Street Journal Guide to Information Graphics to the list of books about visuals. I reviewed it briefly here .

Thanks for the detailed comments, Richard. I’ll have to check out those books.

considero una parte esencial de la vida el leer y leer pero el decidir cual o cuales libros son los mejores es dificil. por lo que agradezco esta presentacion seis minutos un momento de informacion que engrandece nuestro pensamiento. gracias

Since i am a scientist, my favorite is the craft of scientific presentation. I guess this one was intended for presenting scientific data and conference. For design, I prefer The non designer design book. For story telling, confessions of a public speaker is excellence. I read several other book, like the zen etc, but in my opinion they are for business-type presentation

a great list, but you left out a GEM. Gail Larsen’s Transformational Speaking . Truly, the best speaking book I’ve read.

MUST- ADD ALERT! Transformational Speaking , by Gail Larsen. This book is a comprehensive and unique guide to speaking with the most authentic voice we can bring forth. Gail’s teachings have not only helped me to become a better speaker, but have also helped me name and claim personal attributes that make me a better artist, workshop leader, friend, and mother. As former leader of the National Speaker’s Association, Gail knows the speaking world well. She can give a great speech any day at any time; but what interests her is the special ability we each possess to connect with people on a deeper level, through storytelling. In her book, Gail makes the case that if we don’t honor our unique offerings by sharing them, they will be lost to the world forever. She goes on to explain that this is a critical time in our world, a time we need everyone. Calling all voices! Please add this truly transformational gift to the world to your list of bests. I have never read a book that has changed my life more!

I think this is a great list you and your team have compliled. One I would add would be Jeremy Donovon’s How To Deliver A TED Talk which is a easy read that takes the best Ted Talks and dissects them.

I just read your ratings on the 35 presentation books and I can see I have a lot of reading a head of me.

I’m writing to you to ask if you would like to write a guest blog for our website? In return we can give you access to our PowerPoint Templates database and give you some room to promote your own product.

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Business School Presenting – Especially Powerful Books for 2013! — Jan 17th, 2013

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Top 9 Presentation Design Books (2023)

Hey there, slide slayer! 🦸‍♂️ Looking for the perfect resource to level up your presentation design game? Look no further! I've compiled a list of the best (and my favorite) presentation design books that will turn your slides from 'meh' to 'WOW.' Say goodbye to boring presentations and hello to captivating, engaging visuals. Let's dive in!

What Are the Best Presentation Design Books?

I've handpicked these amazing books, packed with insights, tips, and techniques to help you create stunning presentations. Whether you're a new grad or a working professional, these books have got you covered. Let's explore them one by one.

Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations

Written by presentation expert Nancy Duarte, Slide:ology is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their slide design skills. This comprehensive guide covers everything from storytelling to slide layout and design principles.

What I Liked

• Step-by-step guidance on designing effective presentations
• Beautiful visuals and examples from well-known companies
• Great case studies highlighting the people
• Clear authority in the field since she designed Al Gore's famous climate change slide deck that was the basis for an Inconvenient Truth film
• Clear explanations of design concepts
• Focus on storytelling and audience engagement
• Good focus on timeless ideas
• The print book is beautifully designed
• More hands-on exercises and activities

Bottom Line

This book is perfect for anyone looking to master the art of creating visually stunning and impactful presentations, regardless of their design background.

Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences

Another gem from Nancy Duarte, Resonate focuses on the power of storytelling to create memorable and persuasive presentations. Learn how to connect with your audience and leave a lasting impact.

• Unique approach to visual storytelling
• Incorporation of narrative structure in presentations
• Emphasis on audience engagement and connection
• Variety of case studies from different fields
• Tips for effective slide design and layout
• Expanded section on slide design tools and resources

If you want to learn the art of storytelling in presentations and captivate your audience, this book is a fantastic choice.

DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story

DataStory, also by Nancy Duarte, is a valuable guide for those looking to effectively communicate complex data through storytelling. Discover how to turn numbers into compelling narratives that drive action.

What I Liked:

• Clear explanations of data visualization concepts
• Practical tips for transforming data into stories
• Examples from various industries
• Focus on audience understanding and decision-making
• Techniques for creating persuasive data-driven presentations
• More detailed guidance on data visualization tools
• Expanded coverage of data analysis techniques

Ideal for professionals working with data, this book will help you present complex information in a clear, engaging, and persuasive manner.

Everyday Business Storytelling: Create, Simplify, and Adapt A Visual Narrative for Any Audience

Authors Janine Kurnoff and Lee Lazarus provide practical guidance on using visual storytelling to create effective business presentations. Learn how to simplify complex ideas and adapt your message for any audience.

• Step-by-step process for crafting visual narratives
• Emphasis on audience-centered communication
• Real-world examples and case studies
• Tips for adapting messages to different audiences and contexts
• Techniques for simplifying complex information
• Plenty of examples with before and afters
• The section about email communication because not everything has to be a presentation
• Even more examples at the end

This book is perfect for business professionals who want to create engaging and persuasive visual narratives that resonate with any audience.

Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals

Written by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, Storytelling with Data teaches readers how to present data in a clear and compelling way. Gain valuable insights on data visualization techniques and best practices for business professionals.

• In-depth coverage of data visualization best practices
• Focus on audience-centric presentation design
• Strategies for simplifying complex data
• Tips for selecting the most effective chart types
• Guidance on using color and design elements effectively
• Additional exercises and activities for hands-on practice

This book is ideal for business professionals who want to master data visualization and deliver clear, compelling data-driven presentations.

Good Charts: The HBR Guide to Making Smarter, More Persuasive Data Visualizations

Authored by Scott Berinato, Good Charts is a comprehensive guide to creating data visualizations that effectively communicate complex information. Learn best practices and techniques for creating persuasive and informative charts and graphs.

• Practical guidance for creating effective charts and graphs
• Harvard Business Review's credibility and expertise
• Tips for improving existing data visualizations
• Strategies for engaging and persuading audiences with data
• Expanded coverage of advanced visualization techniques

This book is perfect for professionals seeking to improve their data visualization skills and create more persuasive presentations using data.

Good Charts Workbook: Tips, Tools, and Exercises for Making Better Data Visualizations

A companion to Good Charts, the Good Charts Workbook by Scott Berinato offers hands-on exercises and practical tools to help you create better data visualizations. Improve your skills with engaging activities and real-world examples.

• Interactive exercises and activities
• Focus on hands-on learning and skill development
• Complements the concepts covered in Good Charts
• Tips for refining and improving existing visualizations
• Greater variety of data visualization tools covered
• Inclusion of digital resources and templates

Ideal for those looking to practice and improve their data visualization skills, this workbook is a valuable resource for creating more effective and persuasive data-driven presentations.

The Elegant Pitch: Create a Compelling Recommendation, Build Broad Support, and Get It Approved

Written by Mike Figliuolo, The Elegant Pitch provides a structured approach to crafting persuasive business recommendations. Learn how to build support and get your ideas approved with a clear, compelling pitch.

• Step-by-step process for creating persuasive pitches
• Focus on clarity and simplicity in communication
• Tips for overcoming objections and building support
• Techniques for tailoring your pitch to different audiences
• Well written book with very actionable advice
• More of a hidden gem that isn't talked about as much
• Greater emphasis on visual presentation techniques

This book is perfect for professionals who want to learn how to create compelling recommendations and get their ideas approved in a business setting.

Presentation Zen Design: Simple Design Principles and Techniques to Enhance Your Presentations

In Presentation Zen Design, Garr Reynolds shares his expertise on creating visually stunning and engaging presentations. Discover simple design principles and techniques to transform your slides and captivate your audience.

• Focus on clean, minimalist design principles
• Practical tips for improving slide design
• Real-world examples from various industries
• Strategies for incorporating visuals effectively
• Techniques for engaging and connecting with audiences
• Very culturally sensitive
• Eastern cultural themes and analogies
• An updated edition is needed because, visually, some of the examples feel very out of date

This book is ideal for those looking to enhance their presentation design skills and create visually engaging slides that resonate with their audience.

So there you have it, my top picks for the best presentation design books. Whether you're just starting or want to polish your skills, these books will help you create captivating, engaging slides that leave a lasting impression.

Ready to get started? Grab one of these books and watch your presentations transform! 🚀

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Five Must-Read Presentation Skills Books

When you search Amazon.com for presentation skills books, you will get almost 18,000 results. It is difficult to choose which one to read.

Many of these presentations skills books are very good and will undoubtedly help you improve you presentations. A few of them, however, are absolute gems that should be in every presenter’s bookshelf.

In this post, I review five of my most treasured presentation skills books. Each one has a slightly different focus, ranging from how to add a stories to your presentation to tips for better slide designs.

“Resonate” by Nancy Duarte

This is Nancy Duarte’s first book, although it has been published two years after her “ slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations “, which taught presenters how to give more visually appealing presentations.

In “ Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences ,” Duarte shows just how important stories are for compelling presentations. She has studied great presenters and their presentations and suddenly it clicked: Those presentations all followed some form of pattern. A pattern that is not just found in great presentations, but also literary work and blockbuster movies. Drawing from this research, Duarte outlines these patterns and gives useful tips on how to add that special something to your presentations.

One of the most profound tips in the book is what Nancy calls the intentional placement of a S.T.A.R. Moment:  S omething  T hey’ll  A lways  R emember.  This moment should be so profound or so dramatic that it becomes what the audience chats about at the water cooler or appears as the headline of a news article. Planting a S.T.A.R. moment in a presentation keeps the conversation going even after it’s over and helps the message go viral.

“Presentation Zen” by Garr Reynolds

Presentation designer and internationally acclaimed communications expert Garr Reynolds, creator of the most popular Web site on presentation design and delivery on the net —  presentationzen.com  — shares his experience in a provocative mix of illumination, inspiration, education, and guidance that will change the way you think about making presentations with PowerPoint or Keynote.

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. Garr shares lessons and perspectives that draw upon practical advice from the fields of communication and business. Combining solid principles of design with the tenets of Zen simplicity, this book will help you along the path to simpler, more effective presentations.

“The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs” by Carmine Gallo

Apple CEO Steve Jobs’s wildly popular presentations have set a new global gold standard. This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to use his crowd-pleasing techniques in your own presentations.

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs  is as close as you’ll ever get to having the master presenter himself speak directly in your ear. Communications expert Carmine Gallo has studied and analyzed the very best of Jobs’s performances, offering point-by-point examples, tried-and-true techniques, and proven presentation secrets that work every time. With this revolutionary approach, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to sell your ideas, share your enthusiasm, and wow your audience the Steve Jobs way.

The author, Carmine Gallo, writes a bi-weekly column for Businessweek.com and has been a featured contributor to several other major websites including MSNBC, Military.com, Always On, AOL and Yahoo Finance. Gallo personally coaches leading executives for keynote speeches, media interviews, product launches, and book tours.

To read my detailed book review,  click here .

“Presentation Skills 201” by William R Steele

Presentation Skills 201  is for the good presenter who is determined to get even better. Containing over 70 pieces of detailed advice for higher performance,  Presentation Skills 201  can be read from cover-to-cover or used as a reference guide. It includes valuable, easy-to-implement tips for every facet of the presentation process from planning to delivery. It’s all here at an advanced level for high-performing professionals who desire that extra edge by increasing confidence and engaging audiences.

Readers will learn how to increase both the impact and memorability of their presentations. Included with the tips are scores of real-life examples and stories from the author’s over 16 years of helping highly-accomplished presenters find that one more thing that they can do to take it up notch and build their careers by making strong, positive impressions on their presentation audiences.

Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun

Scott Berkun is a former Microsoft executive who turned writer and professional speaker.  Confessions  is Berkun’s first-hand account of many years of public speaking, teaching, and television appearances.

In the book, he shares his successes, failures, and some frustrating experiences, to help readers with their delivery of their own presentations.  Confessions  contains practical advice in every chapter of the book. It teaches what to do when things go wrong: whether it is a tough crowd you are facing or technical difficulties you encounter.

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Effective Presentation Skills (A Fifty Minute Series Book) Paperback – January 1, 1995

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Communication skills you need at work

12 award-winning speech and presentation skill books.

12 May 2021

Why is it difficult to find good communication books?

Most people search for a topic on Amazon and browse the first few pages of results. This approach usually shows the books with the highest rankings and highest sales. Usually, these are books that everyone has heard of. Those books get more sales, which in turn keeps the book at the top of the rankings.

Unfortunately, this approach keeps a lot of great books hidden from potential buyers. There are some great titles that lie hidden on results page five and beyond.

It takes time to wade through pages of search results on Amazon. So, to save you some time, here is a list of communication books that have won major book awards in the last 10 years. Each of these books was recognized at prestigious international awards including The Axiom Business Book Awards (USA), The Business Book Awards (UK), International Book Award, IPPY, and the Eric Hoffer award.

If you want to improve your communication skills at work there are many great books to choose from. But, if you want the cream of the crop, these are the award-winners.

Award-winning communication books about speech and presentation skills

The Speaker’s Coach: 60 Secrets to Make Your Talk, Speech or Presentation Amazing Graham Shaw, (Business Book Awards 2020).

Goodbye Glossophobia: Banish Your Fear of Public Speaking Esther Stanhope, (Business Book Awards 2020).

The Busy Person’s Guide To Great Presenting: Become a Compelling, Confident Presenter. Every Time Lee Warren, (Business Book Awards 2019).

You Were Born To Speak: So What’s Holding You Back? Richard Newman (2019 Axiom Silver and Rubery award 2019 finalist).

The Leader’s Guide to Presenting: How to Use Soft Skills to Get Hard Results Tom Bird and Jeremy Cassell (Business Book Awards 2018).

Get to the point: Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter Joel Schwartzberg (IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award silver winner and 2018 Next Generation Indie award winner).

Stop Lecturing Start Communicating: The Public Speaking Survival Guide for Business Maria D. Gallo (International Book Awards 2015, finalist).

Edge Presentation: Your Guide to Trust-Based Presentations Ben A. Ratje (2015 Axiom Bronze).

Boring to Bravo: Proven Presentation Techniques to Engage, Involve, and Inspire Your Audience to Action Kristin Arnold (2012 Axiom Bronze).

Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences Nancy Duarte (2011 Axiom Gold).

Putting Stories to Work: Mastering Business Storytelling Shawn Callahan (2017 Axiom Gold).

The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures Dan Roam (2009 Axiom Gold).

Disclaimer: I have read some of these books, but have not read them all (although I am working through the list at about one book a month). This list is not my personal recommendation, but they are recommended by the judges at some of the biggest book awards in the world. That alone makes them worth a look.

Affiliate links: If you buy one of these award-winning speech and presentation skill books after using the links on this page, I may earn a tiny commission from the Amazon affiliate program. This in no way influenced the inclusion of a book on this list. These are all legitimate award winners and that is the only criteria I used to put them on the list.

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Fundamental communication skills, improving technical to business communication.

Table of Contents

The Importance of Presentation Skills

Persuasive presentations, instructional presentations, informative presentations, inspirational presentations, basic presentation skills, what are the main difficulties when giving a presentation, recommendations to improve your presentation skills, closing statement.

Effective communication is the answer to reaching business and academic goals. The scenarios in which we can be required to deliver a presentation are as diverse as one can imagine. Still, some core concepts apply to all presentations.

 We define presentation skills as a compendium of soft skills that directly affect your presentation performance and contribute to creating a great presentation. These are not qualities acquired by birth but skills you ought to train and master to delve into professional environments.

You may ask: is it really that evident when a presenter is not prepared? Here are some common signs people can experience during presentations:

• Evasive body language: Not making eye contact with the audience, arms closed tightly to the body, hands in pockets all the time.
• Lack of interest in the presenter’s voice: dull tone, not putting an effort to articulate the topics.
• Doubting when asked to answer a question
• Irksome mood

The list can go on about common presenter mistakes , and most certainly, it will affect the performance of any presented data if the lack of interest by the presenter is blatantly obvious.  Another element to consider is anxiety, and according to research by the National Institute of Mental Health, 73% of the population in the USA is affected by glossophobia , which is the fear of public speaking, judgment, or negative evaluation by other people.

Therefore, presentation skills training is essential for any business professional who wants to achieve effective communication . It will remove the anxiety from presentation performance and help users effectively deliver their message and connect with the audience.

Archetypes of presentations

Persuasive presentations aim to convince the audience – often in short periods – to acquire a product or service, adhere to a cause, or invest in a company. For business entrepreneurs or politicians, persuasive presentations are their tool for the trade.

Unless you aim to be perceived as an imposter, a proper persuasive presentation has the elements of facts, empathy, and logic, balanced under a well-crafted narrative. The central pillar of these presentations is to identify the single factor that gathered your audience: it could be a market need, a social cause, or a revolutionary concept for today’s society. It has to be something with enough power to gather critiques – both good and bad.

That single factor has to be backed up by facts. Research that builds your hypothesis on how to solve that problem. A deep understanding of the target audience’s needs , concerns, and social position regarding the solution your means can offer. When those elements are in place, building a pitch becomes an easy task. 

Graphics can help you introduce information in a compelling format, lowering the need for lengthy presentations. Good presentation skills for persuasive presentations go by the hand of filtering relevant data and creating the visual cues that resonate with what your audience demands.

One powerful example of a persuasive presentation is the technique known as the elevator pitch . You must introduce your idea or product convincingly to the audience in a timeframe between 30 seconds and less than 2 minutes. You have to expose:

• What do you do 
• What’s the problem to solve
• Why is your solution different from others 
• Why should the audience care about your expertise

For that very purpose, using engaging graphics with contrasting colors elevates the potential power of your message. It speaks professionalism, care for details, and out-of-the-box thinking. Knowing how to end a presentation is also critical, as your CTAs should be placed with care.

Therefore, let’s resume the requirements of persuasive presentations in terms of good presentation skills:

• Identifying problems and needs
• Elaborating “the hook” (the element that grabs the audience’s attention)
• Knowing how to “tie” your audience (introducing a piece of information related to the hook that causes an emotional impact)
• Broad knowledge of body language and hand gestures to quickly convey your message
• Being prepared to argue a defense of your point of view
• Handling rejection
• Having a proactive attitude to convert opportunities into new projects
• Using humor, surprise, or personal anecdotes as elements to sympathize with the audience
• Having confidence
• Be able to summarize facts and information in visually appealing ways

You can learn more about persuasive presentation techniques by clicking here .

In the case of instructional presentations, we ought to differentiate two distinctive types:

• Lecture Presentations : Presentations being held at universities or any other educative institution. Those presentations cover, topic by topic, and the contents of a syllabus and are created by the team of teachers in charge of the course.
• Training Presentations : These presentations take place during in-company training sessions and usually comprise a good amount of content that is resumed into easy-to-take solutions. They are aimed to coach employees over certain topics relevant to their work performance. The 70-20-10 Model is frequently used to address these training situations.

Lecture presentations appeal to the gradual introduction of complex concepts, following a structure set in the course’s syllabus. These presentations often have a similar aesthetic as a group of professors or researchers created to share their knowledge about a topic. Personal experience does tell that course presentations often rely on factual data, adequately documented, and on the theoretical side.

An example of a presentation that lies under this concept is a Syllabus Presentation, used by the teaching team to introduce the subject to new students, evaluation methods, concepts to be learned, and expectations to pass the course.

On the other hand, training presentations are slide decks designed to meet an organization’s specific needs in the formal education of their personnel. Commonly known as “continuous education,” plenty of companies invest resources in coaching their employees to achieve higher performance results. These presentations have the trademark of being concise since their idea is to introduce the concepts that shall be applied in practice sessions. 

Ideally, the training presentations are introduced with little text and easy-to-recognize visual cues. Since the idea is to summarize as much as possible, these are visually appealing for the audience. They must be dynamic enough to allow the presenter to convey the message.

Those key takeaways remind employees when they revisit their learning resources and allow them to ruminate on questions that fellow workers raise. 

To sum up this point, building presentation skills for instructional presentations requires:

• Ability to put complex concepts into simpler words
• Patience and a constant learning mindset
• Voice training to deliver lengthy speeches without being too dense
• Ability to summarize points and note the key takeaways
• Empathizing with the audience to understand their challenges in the learning process

The informative presentations take place in business situations, such as when to present project reports from different departments to the management. Another potential usage of these presentations is in SCRUM or other Agile methodologies, when a sprint is completed, to discuss the advance of the project with the Product Owner.

As they are presentations heavily dependent on data insights, it’s common to see the usage of infographics and charts to express usually dense data in simpler terms and easy to remember. 

Informative presentations don’t just fall into the business category. Ph.D. Dissertation and Thesis presentations are topics that belong to the informative presentations category as they condense countless research hours into manageable reports for the academic jury. 

Since these informational presentations can be perceived as lengthy and data-filled, it is important to learn the following professional presentation skills:

• Attention to detail
• Be able to explain complex information in simpler terms
• Creative thinking
• Powerful diction
• Working on pauses and transitions
• Pacing the presentation, so not too much information is divulged per slide

The leading inspirational platform, TEDx, comes to mind when talking about inspirational presentations. This presentation format has the peculiarity of maximizing the engagement with the audience to divulge a message, and due to that, it has specific requirements any presenter must meet.

This presentation format usually involves a speaker on a stage, either sitting or better standing, in which the presenter engages with the audience with a storytelling format about a life experience, a job done that provided a remarkable improvement for society, etc.

Empathizing with the audience is the key ingredient for these inspirational presentations. Still, creativity is what shapes the outcome of your performance as people are constantly looking for different experiences – not the same recipe rephrased with personal touches. The human factor is what matters here, way above data and research. What has your experience to offer to others? How can it motivate another human being to pursue a similar path or discover their true calling?

To achieve success in terms of communication skills presentation, these inspirational presentations have the following requirements:

• Focus on the audience (engage, consider their interests, and make them a part of your story)
• Putting ego aside
• Creative communication skills
• Storytelling skills
• Body language knowledge to apply the correct gestures to accompany your story
• Voice training
• Using powerful words

After discussing the different kinds of presentations we can come across at any stage of our lives, a group of presentation skills is standard in any type of presentation. See below what makes a good presentation and which skills you must count on to succeed as a presenter.

Punctuality

Punctuality is a crucial aspect of giving an effective presentation. Nothing says more about respect for your audience and the organization you represent than delivering the presentation on time . Arriving last minute puts pressure on the tech team behind audiovisuals, as they don’t have enough preparation to test microphones, stage lights, and projector settings, which can lead to a less powerful presentation Even when discussing presentations hosted in small rooms for a reduced audience, testing the equipment becomes essential for an effective presentation.

A solution for this is to arrive at least 30 minutes early. Ideally, one hour is a sweet spot since the AV crew has time to check the gear and requirements for your presentation. Another benefit of this, for example, in inspirational presentations, is measuring the previous presenter’s impact on the audience. This gives insights about how to resonate with the public, and their interest, and how to accommodate your presentation for maximum impact.

Body Language

Our bodies can make emotions transparent for others, even when we are unaware of such a fact. Proper training for body language skills reduces performance anxiety, giving the audience a sense of expertise about the presented topic. 

Give your presentation and the audience the respect they deserve by watching over these potential mistakes:

• Turning your back to the audience for extended periods : It’s okay to do so when introducing an important piece of information or explaining a graph, but it is considered rude to give your back to the audience constantly.
• Fidgeting : We are all nervous in the presence of strangers, even more, if we are the center of attention for that moment. Instead of playing with your hair or making weird hand gestures, take a deep breath to center yourself before the presentation and remember that everything you could do to prepare is already done. Trust your instincts and give your best.
• Intense eye contact : Have you watched a video where the presenter stared at the camera the entire time? That’s the feeling you transmit to spectators through intense eye contact. It’s a practice often used by politicians to persuade.
• Swearing : This is a no-brainer. Even when you see influencers swearing on camera or in podcasts or live presentations, it is considered an informal and lousy practice for business and academic situations. If you have a habit to break when it comes to this point, find the humor in these situations and replace your swear words with funny alternatives (if the presentation allows for it). 

Voice Tone plays a crucial role in delivering effective presentations and knowing how to give a good presentation. Your voice is a powerful tool for exposing your ideas and feelings . Your voice can articulate the message you are telling, briefing the audience if you feel excited about what you are sharing or, in contrast, if you feel the presentation is a burden you ought to complete.

Remember, passion is a primary ingredient in convincing people. Therefore, transmitting such passion with a vibrant voice may help gather potential business partners’ interest.  

But what if you feel sick prior to the presentation? If, by chance, your throat is sore minutes before setting foot on the stage, try this: when introducing yourself, mention that you are feeling a bit under the weather. This resonates with the audience to pay more attention to your efforts. In case you don’t feel comfortable about that, ask the organizers for a cup of tea, as it will settle your throat and relax your nerves.

Tech Skills

Believe it or not, people still feel challenged by technology these days. Maybe that’s the reason why presentation giants like Tony Robbins opt not to use PowerPoint presentations . The reality is that there are plenty of elements involved in a presentation that can go wrong from the tech side:

• A PDF not opening
• Saving your presentation in a too-recent PowerPoint version
• A computer not booting up
• Mac laptops and their never-ending compatibility nightmare
• Not knowing how to change between slides
• Not knowing how to use a laser pointer
• Internet not working
• Audio not working

We can come up with a pretty long list of potential tech pitfalls, and yet more than half of them fall in presenters not being knowledgeable about technology.

If computers aren’t your thing, let the organization know about this beforehand. There is always a crew member available to help presenters switch between slides or configure the presentation for streaming. This takes the pressure off your shoulders, allowing you to concentrate on the content to present. Remember, even Bill Gates can get a BSOD during a presentation .

Presentations, while valuable for conveying information and ideas, can be daunting for many individuals. Here are some common difficulties people encounter when giving presentations:

Public Speaking Anxiety

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, affects a significant portion of the population. This anxiety can lead to nervousness, trembling, and forgetfulness during a presentation.

Lack of Confidence

Many presenters struggle with self-doubt, fearing that they may not be knowledgeable or skilled enough to engage their audience effectively.

Content Organization

Organizing information in a coherent and engaging manner can be challenging. Presenters often grapple with how to structure their content to make it easily digestible for the audience. Artificial Intelligence can help us significantly reduce the content arrangement time when you work with tools like our AI Presentation Maker (made for presenters by experts in presentation design). 

Audience Engagement

Keeping the audience’s attention and interest throughout the presentation can be difficult. Distractions, disengaged attendees, or lack of interaction can pose challenges.

Technical Issues

Technology glitches, such as malfunctioning equipment, incompatible file formats, or poor internet connectivity, can disrupt presentations and increase stress.

Time Management

Striking the right balance between providing enough information and staying within time limits is a common challenge. Going over or under the allotted time can affect the effectiveness of the presentation.

Handling Questions and Challenges

Responding to unexpected questions, criticism, or challenges from the audience can be difficult, especially when presenters are unprepared or lack confidence in their subject matter.

Visual Aids and Technology

Creating and effectively using visual aids like slides or multimedia can be a struggle for some presenters. Technical competence is essential in this aspect.

Language and Articulation

Poor language skills or unclear articulation can hinder effective communication. Presenters may worry about stumbling over words or failing to convey their message clearly.

Maintaining appropriate and confident body language can be challenging. Avoiding nervous habits, maintaining eye contact, and using gestures effectively requires practice.

Overcoming Impersonal Delivery

In virtual presentations, maintaining a personal connection with the audience can be difficult. The absence of face-to-face interaction can make it challenging to engage and read the audience.

Cultural and Diversity Awareness

Presenting to diverse audiences requires sensitivity to cultural differences and varying levels of familiarity with the topic.

In this section, we gathered some tips on how to improve presentation skills that can certainly make an impact if applied to your presentation skills. We believe these skills can be cultivated to transform into habits for your work routine.

Tip #1: Build a narrative

One memorable way to guarantee presentation success is by writing a story of all the points you desire to cover. This statement is based on the logic behind storytelling and its power to connect with people .

Don’t waste time memorizing slides or reading your presentation to the audience. It feels unnatural, and any question that diverts from the topic in discussion certainly puts you in jeopardy or, worse, exposes you as a fraud in the eyes of the audience. And before you ask, it is really evident when a presenter has a memorized speech. 

Build and rehearse the presentation as if telling a story to a group of interested people. Lower the language barrier by avoiding complex terms that maybe even you aren’t fully aware of their meaning. Consider the ramifications of that story, what it could lead to, and which are the opportunities to explore. Then, visualize yourself giving the presentation in a natural way.

Applying this technique makes the presentation feel like second nature to you. It broadens the spectrum in which you can show expertise over a topic or even build the basis for new interesting points of view about the project.

Tip #2: Don’t talk for more than 3 minutes per slide

It is a common practice of presenters to bombard the audience with facts and information whilst retaining the same slide on the screen. Why can this happen? It could be because the presenter condensed the talk into very few slides and preferred to talk. The reality is that your spectators won’t retain the information you are giving unless you give visual cues to help that process. 

Opt to prepare more slides and pace your speech to match the topics shown on each slide. Don’t spend more than 3 minutes per slide unless you have to introduce a complex piece of data. Use visual cues to direct the spectators about what you talk about, and summarize the principal concepts discussed at the end of each section.

Tip #3: Practice meditation daily

Anxiety is the number one enemy of professional presenters. It slowly builds without you being aware of your doubts and can hinder your performance in multiple ways: making you feel paralyzed, fidgeting, making you forget language skills or concepts, affecting your health, etc.

Meditation is an ancient practice taken from Buddhist teachings that train your mind to be here in the present. We often see the concepts of meditation and mindfulness as synonyms, whereas you should be aware that meditation is a practice that sets the blocks to reach a state of mindfulness. For presenters, being in the here and now is essential to retain focus, but meditation techniques also teach us to control our breathing and be in touch with our body signals when stress builds up. 

The customary practice of meditation has an impact on imagination and creativity but also helps to build patience – a skill much needed for connecting with your audience in instructional presentations.

Having the proper set of presentation skills can be quite subjective. It goes beyond presentation tips and deepens into how flexible we can be in our ability to communicate ideas.

Different presentations and different audiences shape the outcome of our efforts. Therefore, having a basic understanding of how to connect, raise awareness, and empathize with people can be key ingredients for your career as a presenter. A word of advice: success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes dedication and patience to build communication skills . Don’t condition your work to believe you will be ready “someday”; it’s best to practice and experience failure as part of the learning process.

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Table of Contents

A list of the top 40 books on presentation skills.

With recent the passing of Casey Kasem , I allowed nostalgia to grab hold of me this week and decided to dive into a Top 40 list.

Following are the top 40 books listed under the category of “ Running Meetings & Presentations ” as ranked by Amazon.com on Monday, June 16, 2014. A few of these are classics and must-reads. I had never heard of some of these books and have added them to my reading list. It surprised me to find some of these titles so high on Amazon’s rankings. And a word of advice: if you want a highly ranked book on the topic of presentations, you might want to put “TED” in your title.

If you think there’s an important, influential or classic book on presentation skills not included on this list, let me know in the comments section at the end of this article .

• How to Win Friends & Influence People: The Only Book You Need to Lead You To Success (Dale Carnegie)
• Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking when Stakes are High (Kerry Patterson)
• Power Cues: The Subtle Science of Leading Groups, Persuading Others, and Maximizing your Personal Impact  (Nick Morgan)
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us  (Daniel Pink)
• Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds  (Carmine Gallo)
• How to Design TED Worthy Presentation Slides: Presentation Design Principles from the Best TED Talks  (Akash Kana)
• Pitch Perfect: How to Say it Right the First Time, Every Time  (Bill McGowan)
• A Social Strategy: How We Profit from Social Media (Mikolaj Jan Piskorski)
• Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone  (Mark Goulston)
• World Class Speaking in Action: 50 Certified Coaches Show You How to Present, Persuade and Profit  (Craig Valentine)
• Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins: How to Use Your Own Stories to Communicate with power and Impact  (Annette Simmons)
• Secrets of the Voice: Read People and Influence Others Using the Voice  (Ehud Segev)
• Sell from the Stage: Without Toasting Rubber Chickens  (Sam Crowley)
• Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind (Al Ries)
• Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling  (Edgar Schein)
• Death by Meeting: A Leadership Fable… About Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business  (Patrick Lencioni)
• Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading and Winning the Deal  (Oren Klaff)
• How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World’s Most Inspiring Presentations  (Jeremy Donovan)
• Crucial Accountability: Tools for Resolving Violated Expectations, Broken Commitments and Bad Behavior  (Kerry Patterson)
• Public Speaking: Storytelling Techniques for Electrifying Presentations  (Akash Karia)
• How Successful People Think Differently (Akash Karia)
• Body Language Expert, Male Focus: How to SUCCESSFULLY READ & SHOW a Man’s Body Language in Business, Social Skills and Dating  (F. R. Lifestyle)
• The Power of Presence: Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others  (Kristi Hedges)
• Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust & Get Extraordinary Results  (Judith Glaser)
• Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (Henry Robert)
• It’s the Way You Say It: Becoming Articulate, Well-spoken and Clear  (Carol Fleming)
• Magic of Impromptu Speaking: Create a Speech that will be Remembered for Years in Under 30 Seconds  (Andrii Sedniev)
• Designing for Growth: A Design Thinking Toolkit for Managers  (Tim Ogilvie)
• How to Deliver a Great TED Talk: Presentation Secrets of the World’s Best Speakers  (Akash Karia)
• Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery  (Garr Reynolds)
• Liespotting: Proven Techniques to Detect Deception  (Pamela Meyer)
• The Sketchnote Handbook: The Illustrated Guide to Visual Notetaking  (Mike Rohde)
• Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences  (Nancy Duarte)
• The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People  (Gary Chapman)
• slide:ology (Nancy Duarte)
• Networking is Dead: Making Connections that Matter  (Melissa Wilson)
• The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be Insanely Great in Front of any Audience  (Carmine Gallo)
• Show and Tell: How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary Presentations  (Dan Roam)
• HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Communication (Harvard Business Review)
• Emotional Intelligence – The Ultimate Guide to Develop your Emotional Intelligence and Improve Your Communication Skills Now   (Patrick Cogen)

So there you have it. Go forth, read a lot, apply what you’ve learned and amaze your audiences. As Casey would say: keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

Brian Washburn

Brian has over 25 years of experience in Learning & Development including the last 7 as CEO of Endurance Learning.

Brian is always available to chat about learning & development and to talk about whether Endurance Learning can be your training team’s “extra set of hands”.

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More From Forbes

20 strategies for introverts to improve their presentation skills.

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Working in business development requires a high level of personal interaction, which can be challenging for people who are naturally introverted. Along with one-on-one meetings, business development leaders often make presentations, a medium where it can be more difficult to create connections with audience members.

Below, 20 members of Forbes Business Development Council share their advice on how introverts can improve their presentation skills. By making time to prepare, utilizing visual aids and leaning into their natural strengths, introverts can showcase their knowledge and make a lasting impression on their audience.

1. Practice Your Presentation

Introverted biz dev leaders can enhance presentation skills by practicing in low-pressure settings, focusing on their strengths and preparing thoroughly. They can also utilize storytelling and active listening to engage audiences, build rapport and make meaningful connections, ultimately driving better results for their bottom line. - Dr. Saju Skaria , Digitech Services

2. Focus On Building Connections

“Supercommunicators,” as introduced by Charles Duhigg, prioritize connection over mere extroversion or polished presentation skills. They excel at building rapport, demonstrating genuine care and asking insightful questions. To enhance your presentation skills, focus on your audience’s interests and find meaningful ways to connect. - Quyen Pham , Releady

3. Showcase Your Passion

Introverted leaders can significantly improve their presentation skills by harnessing their emotional qualities. They should focus on the passion behind their ideas and connect emotionally with the audience. Visualizing success and truly believing in their perspective can turn nervous energy into the most amazing presentations, making genuine connections with their teams. - Jacob Collins , Collins Ecom

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Toyota s suv lineup is new and refreshed which one is right for you, the top 10 richest people in the world (may 2024), 4. be prepared by planning ahead.

Here are some strategies through which introverted biz dev leaders can improve their presentation skills: 1. Prepare and practice; 2. Focus on strengths; 3. Utilize visual aids; 4. Engage the audience; 5. Practice active listening; 6. Build authentic connections; 7. Seek feedback and continuous improvement and 8. Leverage technology. - Nandhakumar Purushothaman , Mphasis Limited

5. Be Genuine To Connect With Your Audience

I am an introvert, and a piece of advice that stayed with me was to remember that I was an expert on the topic that I was speaking on. Take a deep breath and look at the experience and expertise that you bring to the table. You are of value. If the topic is interesting to you, then it's likely it will be for others. Be yourself; people connect with those who are genuine. - Sheila Halvorson , Harvest Revenue Group LLC

Forbes Business Development Council is an invitation-only community for sales and biz dev executives. Do I qualify?

6. Draw On Your Personal Experiences

If you are a business development professional and consider yourself an introvert, consider yourself lucky. Your strengths have already overshadowed your perceived weakness in your journey to becoming a professional. Harness your inner introvert power and use it for good. Create presentations that include personal experiences that will resonate with the people you are looking to connect with. - Jason Holden , Akkerman

7. Use Technology To Practice

Introverts may not want to practice presentations in front of their peers or managers. Instead, they can use technology to practice speaking and presentations in a self-paced, bite-size manner. Several AI-powered enablement platforms allow leaders to practice talking points, record themselves and receive AI-generated feedback on their tone, word choice, message delivery and more. - Hayden Stafford , Seismic

8. Focus On Your Strengths

For introverts, preparation is key to success. They have to prepare, prepare, prepare and leverage their inner strengths. So, if someone is passionate about what they do but is introverted, they should focus their presentation on the areas that make that passion come alive. By leaning into those strengths, introverts become more confident and can more easily articulate their ideas. - Wayne Elsey , The Funds2Orgs Group

9. Discover Your Communication Style

Introverted business development leaders can improve their presentation skills by tapping into insights provided by "Human Design" and aligning with one's natural energy patterns. For example, "Projectors" excel when they wait for invitations to share their insights, while "Reflectors" benefit from allowing themselves time to process information, which helps them make more meaningful connections. - Bryce Welker , The CPA Exam Guy

10. Find Opportunities To Hear Feedback

By appraising the total skills to deduce the biz dev resource requirements, diverse team members can enhance team presentation skills. Daily standup for the progress check would be helpful for the introverted leaders because the diverse characters from the team members will create ideas and take charge of the roles in each step to help the biz dev leaders improve their pitch. - Gyehyon Andrea Jo , MVLASF

11. Reduce Presentation Pressure With Small Groups

Introverted leaders should focus on one-on-one or small group interactions, where they're likely to feel more comfortable and can make deeper connections. These settings can be more conducive to building the trust and relationships essential for business development success. Utilizing visual aids and technology can also help by diverting some attention away from the speaker. - Saurabh Choudhuri , SAP

12. Lean On Your Listening Skills

Play to your strengths—thoughtful insights, grounding energy, focused approach and good listening skills. As an introverted leader, you can listen for what's being said (and more importantly, what is not being said) in client and business meetings to drive growth for clients. Introverted biz dev leaders then collaborate effectively to solve client pain points. This creates a win-win situation. - Archana Rao , Innova Solutions

13. Apply Storytelling Techniques

Leveraging deep industry insights, introverted biz dev leaders can hone their presentation skills by focusing on clarity, storytelling and data visualization. Personalizing interactions, even in large settings, fosters stronger connections. By mastering these techniques, they can significantly enhance their impact, driving tangible improvements in their organization's bottom line. - Rahul Saluja , Cyient

14. Stay Focused On Your Audience

Excellent presentations require the presenter to focus on the needs of the recipient, not just the needs of the presenter. Be prepared and rehearse your presentation extensively. During the presentation, manage your anxiety by breathing deeply and building rapport with the audience. - Julie Thomas , ValueSelling Associates

15. Ask Questions For Audience Engagement

Active listening is key. Even when you're presenting to a room full of people, communication is two-way, so listening intently to your audience by asking them thoughtful questions is a tremendous way to foster engagement. This also makes the presentation more of a discussion and could help the introverted leader feel more comfortable and at ease. - Ben Elder , Simpplr

16. Solicit Feedback To Find Ways To Improve

Introverted biz dev leaders can boost presentation skills by thoroughly preparing, leveraging strengths like listening, practicing in smaller groups, using visual aids for engaging storytelling and seeking constructive feedback for continuous improvement. These steps enhance connection and impact. - Tina Gada , Vanguard Group

17. Integrate Visual Aids For Impact

In my experience, introverted leaders are deep thinkers and can be dynamic, thought-provoking presenters. What makes them successful is preparing thoroughly, practicing, using visual aids, engaging the audience and seeking networking opportunities. These strategies help build confidence, deliver compelling presentations and foster meaningful connections to their audience. - Scotty Elliott , AmeriLife

18. Have Confidence In Your Expertise

Focus on the fact that this is not a personal situation, and your main goal is to share your know-how or experience with others. Remember what your skill set is and the added value you bring. Your presentation should not be focused on you and your ego, but on the knowledge you bring to the business world. If you realize the value you bring to others, your introverted preoccupations will go away. - Anna Jankowska , RTB House

19. Train Your Presentation 'Muscles'

My first corporate job out of college was a sales role and I was terrified. I took an improv class to help me think on my feet. If improv classes aren't an option, practice, practice, practice. Record yourself giving an important presentation and critique it. Your ability to communicate is your superpower, and you need to train it like you would any other muscle. - Ashleigh Stanford , PracticeTek

20. Explore Different Ways To Engage

You don't have to push yourself to do public talks. You can still share your knowledge and build your reputation comfortably by writing articles, books or sharing reviews and comments online. This way, you can get your ideas out there without feeling uncomfortable, and it won't drop your visibility or impact. It might even help you connect better with others, improving your bottom line. - Dima Raketa , Reputation House

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How to build and protect skills in our modern workplace, a world filled with AI and robots

Researcher and technologist Matt Beane , an assistant professor in the Technology Management Department at UC Santa Barbara, is calling attention to an immediate and hidden concern in the modern workplace — and offering a surprising path forward. In his new book, “The Skill Code: How to Save Human Ability in an Age of Intelligent Machines” (HarperCollins, 2024), Beane focuses on how our use of intelligent machines, like surgical robots and ChatGPT, is deeply weakening the master-novice relationship, the tried-and-true system in which a trainee masters new skills by working closely with a senior employee to gain essential knowledge and experience.

“Technology is not a threat, but how we are using it is. We’re getting more productivity from experts with intelligent technologies at the expense of novice involvement, which blocks their skill development,” said Beane, who defines skill as something a person can reliably do under pressure. “We need to flip the script and use technology as part of the solution and the new system for how we build skills.”

Beane has spent more than a decade examining work involving intelligent machines, such as robots and AI. His studies are designed to uncover systematic positive exceptions that can be used across the broader world of work. In one of his first projects, Beane spent hundreds of hours observing surgeries and conducting interviews at hospitals around the country to understand how surgical training was being affected by the introduction of robots.

“My research shows that the lead surgeon controls the robot, and the trainee has become completely optional, many times simply observing the procedure from another control console,” said Beane, noting the drastic change from the previous method where the surgical trainee assisted the senior surgeon throughout the procedure.

While intelligent machines offer hospitals and other businesses unprecedented improvements in efficiency and quality, Beane found that the speed at which technologies like these are being incorporated into the workplace has far outpaced the redesign of skill development for junior workers.

Beane discovered a small subset of trainees who were building skill despite these barriers — through a process he called shadow learning. Those trainees went to extreme lengths to find new ways of building skills, even if it meant skirting approved modes of training, such as performing patient rounds and attending lectures.

“We need to flip the script and use technology as part of the solution and the new system for how we build skills.”

“People who became extremely competent in robotic surgery spent hundreds of hours watching videos of procedures on YouTube,” said Beane. “However, their mentors thought this was not effective or appropriate. One said to me ‘Watching movies doesn’t make you an actor.’”

Yet Beane’s data showed the contrary: certain video-review practices dramatically enhanced learning and were, in fact, necessary for skill progress given that novices could barely participate in actual surgery anymore.

The emerging issues in robotic surgery mirror those uncovered by Beane and other comparable research in more than thirty different professions, including warehousing, investment banking, bomb disposal and even content labeling for Chat GPT. Whatever their job — attorney, banker, surgeon, plumber — he has found that junior workers are being separated from experts in the workplace, which exacerbates our trillion-dollar problem of skilling and reskilling and prompts a few trainees to seek deviant methods to acquire skill anyway.

Challenge, Complexity, Connection

“I wrote my book because I felt like I had an obligation and a unique opportunity to dive into the research to find a common thread of training that workers were fighting to protect, regardless of the industry or technology,” said Beane, who is a regular contributor to publications such as Wired and MIT’s Technology Review . “It became clear in my own work and in surveying research across over a dozen disciplines that there were three basic components — challenge, complexity and connection — that are central to skill in any kind of work. These three C’s compose the DNA for how people build reliable skills.”

Beane refers to this DNA as the skill code, and explains it in-depth in his new book. He defines the first component of the skill code, challenge , as when a person is working near, but not at the edge, of their capability.

“They are struggling and could be performing better,” explained Beane. “But they’re also focused. That’s when we learn best.”

Complexity refers to our awareness of the broader circumstances and conditions that surround us while performing a task. Take, for example, the simple skill of using a clicker remote. As we master that task, we have a chance to understand what it is connected to — the clicker design or electronics, how it was manufactured, the presentation software, or even the worker who ordered it for us.

Matt Beane studies deviance in work involving machine intelligence - and specifically robotics. He asks when, where and how workers, organizations and even AI defy norms and rules in the 21st century.

“If someone understands more of the moving parts involved with a job, they are more flexible and less likely to be surprised or to struggle when something unexpected happens, and they can move to new areas of interest. This is how we grow our careers,” he explained.

The third component, connection , refers to the bonds of trust and respect between a novice and an expert. Senior workers are more willing to grant access and independence to a junior worker if there is a connection, while the novice is motivated to build a bond and develop their skill set.

In addition to introducing and explaining the three C’s, Beane in his book provides a ten-point checklist for each item so that readers can assess their own work environments, determine what is and is not working, how the situation can be improved and how the work can be redesigned. As an example, Beane says that the leader of an organization could respond by finding ways to increase junior workers’ involvement in the workflow and provide opportunities for them to experience challenge, complexity and connection. In any organization, he notes, there are pockets where the three C’s are healthy. A leader can conduct what in management theory is called an appreciative inquiry , finding the bright spots and determining why they are working and how to scale them.

“The core function of the book is to give readers the knowledge to look at the health of skill development in their own context, and then take independent action,” said Beane, who started working on this book, his first, shortly after discussing his findings on a TED Talk that  now has nearly two million views.

The book could also educate recent or soon-to-be college graduates on the work ecosystem and the need to fight for their skills in unprecedented ways, he added. Above all, Beane said he hopes that his book draws attention to the deep threat to the expert-novice relationship, as well as its importance, and to the need to develop a 21 st -century infrastructure for apprenticeship.

“The information can be just as valuable for the expert as it is to a trainee, because being forewarned is forearmed,” said Beane. The book is now available to pre-order at major retail outlets, set for release on June 11.

Sonia Fernandez Senior Science Writer (805) 893-4765 [email protected]

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