best books on presentations

16 public speaking books you need to read

James Haynes
August 12, 2022

Introduction.

Starting a speaking business is exhilarating and rewarding… and very stressful. Being a public speaker isn’t easy, and if you’re like most people you’ve probably looked for public speaking tips to help you become a better speaker.

These 16 public speaking books — now updated in 2024 with four new resources! — listed below can help you learn how to become a public speaker, how to improve your public speaking skills, and how to develop a talk for an audience. Books on public speaking are plentiful, but these ones have stood out, some over decades, as great guides and resources for your public speaking career.

Find Out Exactly How Much You Could Make As a Paid Speaker

Use The Official Speaker Fee Calculator to tell you what you should charge for your first (or next) speaking gig — virtual or in-person!

Want to learn how to become a better public speaker? Read on for 16 public speaking books that you need to read. (Book descriptions from Amazon)

1. The Successful Speaker by Grant Baldwin (2020)

We’d be remiss not to mention this one! Do you have a message you want to get out into the world? Have you ever dreamed of speaking for a living? Is there something you have to say, but you just aren’t sure what to do next? The Successful Speaker is a proven, easy-to-follow guide to helping you do just that.

Whether you want to speak at your next board meeting or community gathering, start making some extra money on the side, or become a full-time professional speaker, Grant Baldwin knows how to get you from here to there. Why? Because he’s done it himself and has coached over 2,000 speakers.

In The Successful Speaker, you will learn the five-step road map to start and scale a speaking business from the ground up, including

– how to hone your message and know exactly who it’s for – the preparation process to help your next speech move an audience to action – what it takes to establish yourself as an in-demand expert – practical steps to finding and booking paid speaking gigs – how to know when it’s time to grow your impact and income

In each chapter, you will get specific action steps and case studies from professional speakers to put you on the fast track to booking gigs, getting paid, and building your speaking platform.

2. How to Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie (1976)

Drawing on Dale Carnegie’s years of experience as a business trainer, this book will show you how to overcome the natural fear of public speaking , to become a successful speaker, and even learn to enjoy it.

His invaluable advice includes ways to:

-Develop poise -Gain self-confidence -Improve your memory -Make your meaning clear -Begin and end a presentation effectively

Interested in going deeper in the mechanics of how to give a talk? Here are 25 tips to help you become a better speaker.

3. Ted Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson (2017)

Since taking over leadership of TED in 2001, Chris Anderson has worked with all the TED speakers who have inspired us the most. In this book, he shares insights from such favorites as Sir Ken Robinson, Salman Khan, Monica Lewinsky, and more— everything from how to craft your talk’s content to how you can be most effective on stage.

Want to learn more about TED Talks? Check out our blog post on how to get and give a TED Talk here!

4. How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling (2022)

Over the past twenty-five years, the directors of The Moth have worked with people from all walks of life—including astronauts, hairdressers, rock stars, a retired pickpocket, high school students, and Nobel Prize winners—to develop true personal stories that have moved and delighted live audiences and listeners of The Moth’s Peabody Award–winning radio hour and podcast. A leader in the modern storytelling movement, The Moth inspires thousands of people around the globe to share their stories each year.

Now, with How to Tell a Story , The Moth will help you learn how to uncover and craft your own unique stories, like Moth storytellers Mike Birbiglia, Rosanne Cash, Hasan Minhaj, Betty Reid Soskin, John Turturro, and more.

Whether your goal is to make it to the Moth stage, deliver the perfect wedding toast, wow clients at a business dinner, give a moving eulogy , ace a job interview, be a hit at parties, change the world, or simply connect more deeply to those around you, stories are essential.

Wondering how do you tell stories that stick long after you’ve finished speaking? Have a listen to our podcast on how to tell stories that stick with Kindra Hall.

5. How to Win an Argument: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Persuasion by James May (2016)

6. speak with no fear by mike acker (2019).

It can easily seem like everyone is a gifted speaker when you watch TED talks or compare yourself to skilled co-workers giving presentations. But you don’t have to get caught up in the costly comparison trap. Instead, you can take action to improve your ability and to overcome your fear.

Through this book you will learn 7 strategies you can begin today. These strategies will give you a new perspective, they will prepare you, and they will give you actions to practice. As you implement these strategies, your fear will begin to fade.

THE SEVEN STRATEGIES 1. Uncover & Clean the Wound 2. Imagine the Worst 3. You Be You 4. Speak to One 5. It’s Not About You 6. Channel The Power 7. Be in the Moment

Are you struggling to develop a stage presence? Check out this article on how to overcome fear of public speaking.

7. Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking by Mehdi Hasan (2023)

Win Every Argument shows how anyone can communicate with confidence, rise above the tit for tats on social media, and triumph in a successful and productive debate in the real world.

Arguments are everywhere―and especially given the fierce debates we’re all embroiled in today, everyone wants to win. In this riveting guide to the art of argument and rhetoric, Hasan shows you how. As a journalist, anchor, and interviewer who has clashed with politicians, generals, spy chiefs, and celebrities from across the world, Hasan reveals his tricks of the trade for the first time.

Whether you are making a presentation at work or debating current political issues with a friend, Mehdi Hasan will teach you how to sharpen your speaking skills to make the winning case.

8. How Your Story Sets You Free by Heather Box and Julian Mocine-McQueen (2019)

Everyone has a story to tell. Sharing that story can change you, your community, or even the world. But how do you start?

Discover the tools to unlock your truth and share it with the world: Storytelling coaches Heather Box and Julian Mocine-McQueen reveal how to embrace the power of personal storytelling in a series of easy steps. You’ll learn how to share your experiences and invaluable knowledge with the people who need it most, whether it be in a blog post, a motivational speech, or just a conversation with a loved one. How Your Story Sets You Free is the path to finding the spark that ignites the fire and reminds you just how much your story matters.

Personal storytelling is insanely powerful when done well. For more tips here, check out this new podcast episode with Ravi Rajani on how to create and share powerful stories!

9. How to Speak, How to Listen by Mortimer J. Adler (1983)

With over half a million copies in print of his classic How to Read a Book in print, intellectual, philosopher, and academic Mortimer J. Adler set out to write an accompanying volume on speaking and listening, offering the impressive depth of knowledge and accessible panache that distinguished his first book.

In How to Speak, How to Listen , Adler explains the fundamental principles of communicating through speech, with sections on such specialized presentations as the sales talk, the lecture, and question-and-answer sessions and advice on effective listening and learning by discussion.

10. Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences by Nancy Duarte (2010)

Presentations are meant to inform, inspire, and persuade audiences. So why then do so many audiences leave feeling like they’ve wasted their time? All too often, presentations don’t resonate with the audience and move them to transformative action.

Nancy Duarte created the slides in Al Gore’s Oscar winning An Inconvenient Truth. In this book, she unpacks how to apply visual media to your talk. Her book Resonate helps you make a strong connection with your audience and lead them to purposeful action. The author’s approach is simple: building a presentation today is a bit like writing a documentary. Using this approach, you’ll convey your content with passion, persuasion, and impact.

11. The Public Speaking Bible: A Survival Guide for Standing on Stage by Marcus Alexander (2020)

The Public Speaking Bible; a Survival Guide for Standing on Stage is a depository of essential speaker’s knowledge designed to further your career whether you aim to be a full time speaker, undertake management roles or simply wish to improve your voice and stage presence. All the tips within come via the author and guest performers, adding up to a combined three hundred years of essential speakers’ know-how.

Within this bible:

Technical advice: how to effortlessly project your voice, audience manipulation, crowd control, body language, hand gestures and more.

Additionally: a frank approach for overcoming stage fright, a foolproof recipe for memorising a speech, how to overcome a sore throat and using the physics of sound to your advantage.

Business advice: how to price your speech, approaching agencies, talking overseas, understanding unique selling points, the most complete list of global public speakers’ agencies and more.

12. How To Talk To Anybody :14 Speaking Techniques To Instantly Connect With Anyone by Ryan Harrison (2022)

How many opportunities, relationships, and experiences have you missed out on because you didn’t know how to talk to people with confidence and skill?

Well, from now on, you will know exactly what to say and how to say it in a way that makes people open their eyes with surprise and delight as you talk. You’ll capture the attention of everyone you engage with. Your words will have impact and influence, and your opinion will make a difference.

The author – Ryan Harrison – has spent 30 years studying linguistics and communication and has distilled his knowledge into these 3 books.

13. Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun (2009)

In this hilarious and highly practical book, author and professional speaker Scott Berkun reveals the techniques behind what great communicators do, and shows how anyone can learn to use them well. For managers and teachers — and anyone else who talks and expects someone to listen — Confessions of a Public Speaker provides an insider’s perspective on how to effectively present ideas to anyone. It’s a unique, entertaining, and instructional romp through the embarrassments and triumphs Scott has experienced over 15 years of speaking to crowds of all sizes.

With lively lessons and surprising confessions, you’ll get new insights into the art of persuasion — as well as teaching, learning, and performance — directly from a master of the trade.

Highlights include:

Berkun’s hard-won and simple philosophy , culled from years of lectures, teaching courses, and hours of appearances on NPR, MSNBC, and CNBC
Practical advice , including how to work a tough room, the science of not boring people, how to survive the attack of the butterflies, and what to do when things go wrong
The inside scoop on who earns $30,000 for a one-hour lecture and why
The worst — and funniest — disaster stories you’ve ever heard (plus countermoves you can use)

Filled with humorous and illuminating stories of thrilling performances and real-life disasters, Confessions of a Public Speaker is inspirational, devastatingly honest, and a blast to read.

14. Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds by Carmine Gallo (2015)

Public speaking coach and bestselling author Carmine Gallo has broken down hundreds of TED talks and interviewed the most popular TED presenters to reveal the nine secrets of all successful TED presentations. Gallo’s step-by-step method makes it possible for anyone to deliver a presentation that is engaging, persuasive, and memorable.

Many people have a fear of public speaking or are insecure about their ability to give a TED-worthy presentation. Carmine Gallo’s top 10 Wall Street Journal Bestseller Talk Like TED will give them the tools to communicate the ideas that matter most to them, the skill to win over hearts and minds, and the confidence to deliver the talk of their lives.

15. Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln by James Hume (2002)

Ever wish you could captivate your boardroom with the opening line of your presentation, like Winston Churchill in his most memorable speeches? Or want to command attention by looming larger than life before your audience, much like Abraham Lincoln when, standing erect and wearing a top hat, he towered over seven feet? Now, you can master presentation skills, wow your audience, and shoot up the corporate ladder by unlocking the secrets of history’s greatest speakers.

Author, historian, and world-renowned speaker James C. Humes—who wrote speeches for five American presidents—shows you how great leaders through the ages used simple yet incredibly effective tricks to speak, persuade, and win throngs of fans and followers. Inside, you’ll discover how Napoleon Bonaparte mastered the use of the pregnant pause to grab attention, how Lady Margaret Thatcher punctuated her most serious speeches with the use of subtle props, how Ronald Reagan could win even the most hostile crowd with carefully timed wit, and much, much more.

16. Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results by Rob Biesenbach (2018)

Unleash the Power of Storytelling offers a practical roadmap to crafting and delivering more powerful, persuasive stories that you can use to get more of what you want out of your career and your life.

Taking a fun, no-nonsense approach, Unleash the Power of Storytelling will teach you:

•The hard science behind why stories work •A simple three-part structure for telling any story •The role of emotion in fueling great stories •How to cut the clutter and focus your story on the essentials •How and where to find great stories •Tips for delivering your stories in the most effective way possible

Want to learn how to create your own underdog Rocky story? Have a listen to our podcast with Clint Pulver, who used his story to build powerful relationships with speakers he admires and respects, and how he created his own board of directors as a result.

Free Download: 6 Proven Steps to Book More Paid Speaking Gigs in 2024

Download our 18-page guide and start booking more paid speaking gigs today!

Are 16 books not enough for you? Check out our podcast archive for more tips and lessons on public speaking. Still want more? Satiate your desire to learn more about public speaking by checking out The Speaker Lab blog here. Happy reading!

Last Updated: March 6, 2024

Explore Related Resources

Learn How You Could Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig In 90 Days or Less

We receive thousands of applications every day, but we only work with the top 5% of speakers .

Book a call with our team to get started — you’ll learn why the vast majority of our students get a paid speaking gig within 90 days of finishing our program .

If you’re ready to control your schedule, grow your income, and make an impact in the world – it’s time to take the first step. Book a FREE consulting call and let’s get you Booked and Paid to Speak ® .

About The Speaker Lab

We teach speakers how to consistently get booked and paid to speak. Since 2015, we’ve helped thousands of speakers find clarity, confidence, and a clear path to make an impact.

Get Started

Let's connect.

[email protected]

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.

Illiya Vjestica

Share this post:, leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Speech Writing
Delivery Techniques
PowerPoint & Visuals
Speaker Habits
Speaker Resources

Speech Critiques

Book Reviews
Browse Articles
ALL Articles
Learn About Us
About Six Minutes
Meet Our Authors
Write for Us
Advertise With Us

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.

Please share this...

This is one of many public speaking articles featured on Six Minutes . Subscribe to Six Minutes for free to receive future articles.

Add a Comment Cancel reply

E-Mail (hidden)

Subscribe - It's Free!

Find More Articles Tagged:

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.

1 Blog Link

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

Books We Recommend

Read our permissions policy , privacy policy , or disclosure policy .

Comments? Questions? Contact us .

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

best presentation books - presentation zen

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

best presentation books - Presentation secrets by Steve Jobs

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

best presentation books - the art of explanation

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

best presentation books - confessions of a public speaker

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

best presentation books - steal the show

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.

THE Pitching Guide – How To Create a Winning Pitch

https://viktori.co/pitching-example/

44 Public Speaking Tips

Persuasion IQ summary

4 thoughts on “Top 10 Best Presentation Books: Transform Your Public Speaking Skills”

Pingback: The 10 Best Books For Pitching You Must Read In 2023
Pingback: 26 Best Communication Books | Improve Your Communication Skills - Viktori
Pingback: TV Show Pitch Deck (Guide, Templates & 1 Example) - Viktori

Excellent will explore further

100 Best Presentation Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best presentation books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

Presentation Zen

Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery

Garr Reynolds | 5.00

See more recommendations for this book...

Made to Stick

Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

Chip Heath, Dan Heath | 4.97

Cristian-Dragos Baciu I highly recommend all the books written by the Heath brothers, especially Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive And Others Die. This one's a must-read for marketers. The reason I enjoyed their work so much is because they offer real-life stories and insights that makes it so much easier for the reader to imprint that information in his mind (Source)

Tudor Mihailescu First thing first, finance people need to be decent communicators, ideally awesome communicators. There is an art in building a case or in delivering a presentation and we need to treat this step as seriously as we have treated the other steps. I do believe this is a top priority for an aspiring or practicing CFO - There are plenty of books on this topic, I would recommend the works of Chip and... (Source)

Steve Lance Made to Stick is about what makes a message memorable. Why is it that we can all say ‘Call me Ishmael’ and remember this opening line to Moby Dick, and yet none of us can say the second sentence. Made to Stick is a thoughtful, fact-based empirical study about this idea of stickiness. (Source)

The Psychology of Persuasion

Robert B. Cialdini | 4.96

Charles T. Munger Robert Cialdini has had a greater impact on my thinking on this topic than any other scientist. (Source)

Dan Ariely It covers a range of ways in which we end up doing things, and how we don’t understand why we’re doing them. (Source)

Max Levchin [Max Levchin recommended this book as an answer to "What business books would you advise young entrepreneurs read?"] (Source)

slide:ology

The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations

Nancy Duarte | 4.94

Crucial Conversations

Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High

RON MCMILLAN JOSEPH GRENNY, AL SWITZLER, KERRY PATTERSON | 4.75

Max Levchin A now-venerable guide to having tough conversations in a way that engages the debaters. (Source)

Deke Bridges Picked up this great book @Powells to read. Better conversation and listening enables you to get deeper into subjects at hand. When talking with people, this makes your communication skills a very powerful tool. Always be learning. #growth #education #leadership https://t.co/r0ujX9IPqh (Source)

Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences

Nancy Duarte | 4.75

Brian Burkhart But the book which really hit home was “Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences,” by Nancy Duarte. It’s interesting, I didn’t agree with her methodology or like much of what I read. It was too complex and not realistic for people to use in everyday life. That said, it did help confirm to me that I was onto something. It was a different kind of validation than Godin—that the... (Source)

Start with Why

How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Simon Sinek | 4.66

Tony Robbins The basis of this book is so important to anyone looking to increase their influence, profits or impact. People won't truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the WHY behind it. When you start with the why, everything else falls into place. This book is so impactful, I consider it required reading. (Source)

Richard Branson Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. (Source)

Tony Hsieh Over the years he’s [] recommended well over 20 business books — including his own, the 2010 bestseller Delivering Happiness and you can always find what he’s currently reading atop his cluttered desk. Start with Why is amogst those titles. (Source)

The official TED guide to public speaking

Howard Hughes | 4.65

Chris Anderson In Apollo week, a great book recommendation: this more than a story of a computer--it's about the first shot in the man vs machine battles (should astronauts be pilots or "spam in a can"?) that foreshadowed today's debates about drones & self driving cars https://t.co/CidYughKHz (Source)

Talk Like TED

The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds

Carmine Gallo | 4.63

Emma Wedekind @yannln I love that book! (Source)

Shaen Yeo In the book Talk like TED, there were a few suggestions on how to make my speech better. I tweaked the way I speak using the advice, and produced a speech like never before. I had many people coming up to shake my hands and offer me name cards! (Source)

Radu Marcusu A book that most recently made a difference for me was Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds. My IMWorld speech this year benefited tremendously from Carmine Gallo's framing of the nine secrets of all time successful TED presentations. I believe Gallo's step-by-step method makes it possible for anyone to sell their ideas persuasively when delivering a presentation.... (Source)

Walter Isaacson | 4.61

Elon Musk Quite interesting. (Source)

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

Gary Vaynerchuk I've read 3 business books in my life. If you call [this book] a business book. (Source)

Don't have time to read the top Presentation books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

Carmine Gallo | 4.59

Jack H. M. Wong Question: What five books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path & why? Answer: Rich Dad Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki Second Chance - Robert Kiyosaki Why the Rich Are Getting Richer - Robert Kiyosaki The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience - Carmine Gallo The Little Voice Mastery - Blair Singer (Source)

Pitch Anything

An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal

Oren Klaff | 4.59

Jeff Gibbard This book single-handedly changed my life. BY learning the principles of "Frame Control" I have had much greater success in sales, public speaking, and in managing my team. (Source)

Michael Herrmann Great book on pitching, and more generally, sales. Funny too. Has some ideas very reminiscent of Thinking Fast and Slow. (Source)

Presentation Zen Design

Simple Design Principles and Techniques to Enhance Your Presentations

Garr Reynolds | 4.59

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook

How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World

Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tim Wheeler, et al | 4.57

Marvin Liao My list would be (besides the ones I mentioned in answer to the previous question) both business & Fiction/Sci-Fi and ones I personally found helpful to myself. The business books explain just exactly how business, work & investing are in reality & how to think properly & differentiate yourself. On the non-business side, a mix of History & classic fiction to understand people, philosophy to make... (Source)

Bill Widmer In general, I recommend Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki to learn more about assets and liability and how to view money. (Source)

Sa El This book started everything for me and put me on a path to a rich mindset, it helped me understand that dreaming wasn't enough, you had to actually place that dream into reality if you ever want to achieve it. (Source)

Never Split the Difference

Chris Voss, Tahl Raz | 4.57

Dustin Moskovitz [Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

Daniel Pink Emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence without sacrificing deal-making power. From the pen of a former hostage negotiator—someone who couldn’t take no for an answer—which makes it fascinating reading. But it’s also eminently practical. In these pages, you will find the techniques for getting the deal you want. (Source)

Adam Grant eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_6',164,'0','1'])); This book blew my mind. It’s a riveting read, full of instantly actionable advice—not just for high-stakes negotiations, but also for handling everyday conflicts at work and at home. (Source)

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information

Edward R. Tufte | 4.51

Michael Okuda Edward Tufte's classic book, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information is a fascinating, surprisingly readable treatise for anyone interested in infographics. When I hired artists for the Star Trek graphics dept, I sometimes asked them to read it.https://t.co/cK4GQqBDxp (Source)

The Non-Designer's Presentation Book

Principles for Effective Presentation Design

Robin Williams | 4.44

The Naked Presenter

Delivering Powerful Presentations with or Without Slides

Garr Reynolds | 4.43

Confessions of a Public Speaker

Scott Berkun | 4.43

Storytelling with Data

A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals

Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic | 4.43

Roger D. Peng It’s important to think in terms of what your audience needs, and what would be best for them among the many choices you could make when analysing data. (Source)

Envisioning Information

Edward R. Tufte | 4.37

Kevin Rose The master when it comes to taking complicated data and turning it into beautiful charts and graphs that are easy to understand. If you’re into graphic design, print design, web design, you name it, you’re going to get some really good information and how tos out of these books. He has a whole series of these books. (Source)

Where the Sidewalk Ends

The Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein | 4.37

On Writing Well

The Classic Guide To Writing Nonfiction

William Zinsser | 4.37

Mark Manson I read a bunch of books on writing before I wrote my first book and the two that stuck with me were Stephen King’s book and “On Writing Well” by Zinsser (which is a bit on the technical side). (Source)

Tim O'Reilly On Writing Well, by William Zinsser. I wouldn't say this book influenced me, since my principles of writing were established long before I read it. However, it does capture many things that I believe about effective writing. (Source)

Derek Sivers Great blunt advice about writing better non-fiction. So inspiring. (Source)

Show and Tell

How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary Presentations

Dan Roam | 4.36

Nonviolent Communication

A Language of Life

Marshall B. Rosenberg, Deepak Chopra | 4.35

Satya Nadella Upon becoming CEO, Nadella confronted Microsoft’s legendarily combative culture by urging his new reports to read this book, which preaches the power of empathy, self-awareness, and authenticity in collaboration in the workplace, at home, and beyond. Like many of his favorites, it was first recommended to him by his wife, Anu: “I’m heavily influenced by the books she reads more than the books I... (Source)

Dustin Moskovitz Seek first to understand. (Source)

Esther Perel I think that this book is a classic for anyone who is thinking relationships. (Source)

Presenting to Win

The Art of Telling Your Story

Jerry Weissman | 4.32

The Back of the Napkin

Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures

Dan Roam | 4.31

HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations

Nancy Duarte | 4.28

How to Deliver a Ted Talk

Secrets of the World's Most Inspiring Presentations, Revised and Expanded New Edition, with a Foreword by Richard St. John and an Afterword by Simon Sinek

Jeremey Donovan | 4.28

The Elements of Style

William Jr. Strunk | 4.27

Tobi Lütke [My] most frequently gifted book is [this book] because I like good writing. (Source)

Bill Nye This is my guide. I accept that I’ll never write anything as good as the introductory essay by [the author]. It’s brilliant. (Source)

Jennifer Rock If you are interested in writing and communication, start with reading and understanding the technical aspects of the craft: The Elements of Style. On Writing Well. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. (Source)

Presentation Secrets

Do What You Never Thought Possible with Your Presentations

Alexei Kapterev | 4.26

Blah Blah Blah

What To Do When Words Don't Work

Dan Roam | 4.23

The Art of Explanation - Making Your Ideas, Products and Services Easier to Understand

Lee LeFever | 4.22

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect

What the Most Effective People Do Differently

John C. Maxwell | 4.22

The Writer's Journey

Mythic Structure for Writers

Christopher Vogler | 4.22

Darren Aronofsky It’s the Bible for screenwriters. I think it’s the best book on how to write a screenplay ever written. It helped me get through so many roadblocks as a writer. (Source)

Business Model Generation

A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers

Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneu | 4.22

Kaci Lambe Kai This was a great book, because it opened up the idea of what a business model is supposed to be vs what it can be. It doesn't have to be a stuffy, boring document. (Source)

Alexandra Stroe [I'd recommend] The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur and Zero to One by Peter Thiel when they are in the starting phase of a business that needs to validate its business model. (Source)

Ashley Hathaway I could probably name a dozen books here, but I’ll point out The Business Model Generation and Value Prop Design from Strategyzer. I steal from these constantly and are engrained in my work process. These books put into practice really taught me how to think. As soon as I saw that everything should have a foundation of empathy, what good user-testing looks like, how to test and iterate it changed... (Source)

Trees, maps, and theorems

Jean-Luc Doumont | 4.20

Beautiful Evidence

Edward R. Tufte | 4.20

The Pyramid Principle

Logical Writing, Thinking and Problem Solving

Barbara Minto | 4.18

Patricia Reed The Minto Pyramid Principle: For would-be consultants, a (very dry) book on how to write effectively for business. (Source)

Unfolding the Napkin

The Hands-On Method for Solving Complex Problems with Simple Pictures

Dan Roam | 4.18

Visual Meetings

How Graphics, Sticky Notes & Idea Mapping Can Transform Group Productivity

David Sibbet | 4.17

Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting

Robert McKee | 4.17

Bill Liao The human world occurs in language so best get good at it! (Source)

Culinary Artistry

Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page | 4.17

Better Presentations

A Guide for Scholars, Researchers, and Wonks

Jonathan Schwabish | 4.17

The Sketchnote Handbook

The Illustrated Guide to Visual Note Taking

Mike Rohde | 4.16

Give Your Speech, Change the World

How To Move Your Audience to Action

Nick Morgan | 4.16

Indistractable

How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life

Nir Eyal | 4.15

Cal Newport Indistractable is a master class in understanding the root cause of distraction. Recommended for anyone looking to do more deep work. (Source)

Arianna Huffington This is such an important book. Indistractable is the best guide I’ve read for reclaiming our attention, our focus, and our lives. (Source)

Mark Manson Indistractable is the most practical and realistic approach to balancing technology with well-being. A must-read for anyone with a smartphone. (Source)

The Charisma Myth

How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism

Olivia Cabane, Lisa Cordileone | 4.15

Marissa Mayer Proud of our friend and neighbor Olivia Fox Cabane - her book 'The Charisma Myth' launched today and is already #122 of all books on Amazon. It went into its second printing even before launch! (Source)

Laura Lang Olivia Fox Cabane offers hands-on advice and a practical guide to humanizing leaders without comprising integrity or authority. She focused on the ‘it’ factors that can make a real difference. (Source)

Dr. Monali Y. Desai Currently, my favorite business book is The Charisma Myth (Olivia Fox Cabane) because I feel it has so many small but impactful takeaways about improving how you communicate with others, I try to reread it once a year. (Source)

The Non-Designer's Design Book (Non Designer's Design Book)

Robin William | 4.14

Lead with a Story

A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire

Paul Smith | 4.14

Beyond Bullet Points

Using Microsoft PowerPoint to Create Presentations that Inform, Motivate, and Inspire

Cliff Atkinson | 4.13

Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges

Amy Cuddy | 4.13

Ryan Foland Finished listening to Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest ... by @amyjccuddy via #Audible. Great book 👍👍 Want it? Get it free: https://t.co/Q0kbPqqJuF (Source)

Visual Thinking

Empowering People and Organisations through Visual Collaboration

Williemien Brand | 4.12

Walleye Presentation

#3 Core Techniques

In-Fisherman Staff | 4.12

Show Me the Numbers

Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten

Stephen Few | 4.11

The Art of the Pitch

Persuasion and Presentation Skills that Win Business

Peter Coughter | 4.11

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 11th edition

Henry M. Robert III | 4.11

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief

Henry M. III Robert | 4.11

The 45 Second Presentation That Will Change Your Life

Don Failla | 4.10

La Sociedad De Santafé Colonial

ENGELMANN ET AL. | 4.10

The Craft of Scientific Presentations

Critical Steps to Succeed and Critical Errors to Avoid

Michael Alley | 4.09

100 Things Every Presenter Needs to Know About People

Susan Weinschenk | 4.09

The Story Factor

Inspiration, Influence, and Persuasion through the Art of Storytelling

Annette Simmons, Doug Lipman | 4.08

Flip the Script

Getting People to Think Your Idea Is Their Idea

Oren Klaff | 4.07

Daymond John In Flip the Script, Oren Klaff gives readers powerful tools that will help them get what they want. Instead of trying to convince people to buy what you’re selling, his techniques will show you how to create an entirely different dynamic. A game changing read (Source)

Jonah Berger Flip the Script is the rare book that shows you how to increase your influence, at work and at home. Oren Klaff's methods are both intuitive and completely actionable. This book is loaded with real-world examples, some radical, some surprising, but all incredibly useful. (Source)

Perfect Pitch

The Art of Selling Ideas and Winning New Business

Jon Steel | 4.07

Bogdana Butnar I thought I might put my money where my mouth is. I keep whining that young people are not in touch with some essential books on advertising that have helped me shape the way I practise my trade today, but I never did anything about it. So I am starting here the ultimate books to read list. I will add to it as I get suggestions and as more good books get written. (Source)

Power Presenter

Jerry Weissman | 4.07

Speak With No Fear

Go from a nervous, nauseated, and sweaty speaker to an excited, energized, and passionate presenter

Mike Acker | 4.07

Good Charts

The HBR Guide to Making Smarter, More Persuasive Data Visualizations

Scott Berinato | 4.07

Presentation Now

Prepare a first rate presentation when you're short of time

Andrew Lighthear | 4.07

Storyworthy

Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling

Matthew Dicks, Dan Kennedy | 4.06

Do You Talk Funny?

7 Comedy Habits to Become a Better (and Funnier) Public Speaker

David Nihill | 4.06

Neal O'Gorman I found when reading a book from my friend David Nihill called "Do You Talk Funny?:7 Comedy Habits to Become a Better (and Funnier) Public Speaker" there were lots of learnings. Not just learnings, but actually simple things I've been able to put into practice when presenting. For example, I'm even more conscious of the rule of three, using stories and reconstructing sentences to leave the final... (Source)

Death by Meeting

A Leadership Fable...about Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business

Patrick Lencioni | 4.06

Css: The Definitive Guide

Visual Presentation for the Web

Eric A. Meyer and Estelle Weyl | 4.06

Just My Type

A Book About Fonts

Simon Garfield | 4.06

Marius Ciuchete Paun Question: What books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path? Answer: “Just My Type” by Simon Garfield “Thinking with Type” by Ellen Lupton “Don't Make Me Think” by Steve Krug “Geometry of Design” by Kimberly Elam “Grid Systems in Graphic Design” by Josef Müller-Brockmann “ReWork” by Jason Fried These titles should be a good start, I think. (Source)

The Functional Art

An Introduction to Information Graphics and Visualization

Alberto Cairo | 4.05

The Wall Street Journal Guide to Information Graphics

The Dos and Don'ts of Presenting Data, Facts, and Figures

Dona M. Wong | 4.05

Communication Skills

A Practical Guide to Improving Your Social Intelligence, Presentation, Persuasion and Public Speaking

Ian Tuhovsky and Wendell Wadsworth | 4.05

The Storyteller's Secret

From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch On and Others Don't

CARMINE GALLO | 4.05

Julia Enthoven Since Kapwing is still a very young company, The Storyteller’s Secret helps me think about how I can communicate the origin story of Kapwing to our users and other people. I’m enjoying both! (Source)

Craft Your Story, Build the Perfect Pitch Deck, and Launch the Venture of Your Dreams

Evan Baehr, Evan Loomis | 4.05

15 Minutes Including Q & A

A Plan to Save the World from Lousy Presentations

Joey Asher | 4.05

Storytelling Zen

The Art of Using the Power of Story to Create & Deliver Engaging Presentations

Garr Reynolds | 4.04

Evil by Design

Interaction Design to Lead Us Into Temptation

Chris Nodder | 4.04

101 Sample Write-Ups for Documenting Employee Performance Problems

A Guide to Progressive Discipline and Termination

Paul Falcone | 4.04

Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies and Symbols

Nancy Duarte, Patti Sanchez | 4.03

Let's Practice!

Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic | 4.02

I Can See You Naked

Ron Hoff | 4.02

TED Talks Storytelling

23 Storytelling Techniques from the Best TED Talks

Akash Karia, Matt Stone, et al | 4.02

The Big Book of Dashboards

Visualizing Your Data Using Real-World Business Scenarios

Steve Wexler, Jeffrey Shaffer, et al. | 4.02

The 3-Minute Rule

Say Less to Get More from Any Pitch or Presentation

Brant Pinvidic | 4.01

How to Make an Impact

Influence, Inform and Impress With Your Reports, Presentations and Business Documents

Jon Moon | 4.01

The Articulate Advocate

Persuasive Skills for Lawyers in Trials, Appeals, Arbitrations, and Motions

Marsha Hunter, Brian K. Johnson, et al. | 4.01

Michael Symon's Carnivore

120 Recipes for Meat Lovers

Michael Symon | 4.01

Gamestorming

A Playbook for Innovators, Rule-breakers, and Changemakers

Dave Gray, Sunni Brown, James Macanufo | 4.01

Ola Olusoga Skimmed in the past, rereading. It has great examples of frameworks that help move you from fuzzy ideas to tangible output. (Source)

Advanced Presentations by Design

Creating Communication That Drives Action

Andrew Abela | 4.01

Largemouth Bass Presentation

Dynamic Lure Trends That Boat Bass Anywhere

In-Fisherman Staff | 4.00

Draw to Win

A Crash Course on How to Lead, Sell, and Innovate With Your Visual Mind

Dan Roam | 4.00

The Art of Rhetoric

Aristotle | 4.00

Presentation Patterns

Techniques for Crafting Better Presentations

Neal Ford, Matthew McCullough, Nathaniel Schutta | 4.00

Stories That Move Mountains

Storytelling and Visual Design for Persuasive Presentations

Martin Sykes, A. Nicklas Malik, Mark D. West | 3.99

Bringing you weekly presentation productivity pointers to help you finish that deck faster and deliver more impact at work.

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! 🚀

Decktopus AI Review 2023

Best AI Presentation Software 2023

Best PowerPoint Tool for Creating Charts 2023: Think Cell

My Top 10 Book Recommendations on Presentations & Public Speaking

Below are my top ten books that I recommend in the field of public speaking and business presentations. I have read & own all of these books – let me know if you have any questions on them.

What are your favourite books on the topic? I’d love to hear from you .

Chip & Dan Heath – Made to Stick

The Heath brothers’ masterpiece. They introduce a format of 6 key elements to add to messages to make them stick (as e.g. unexpectedness). Rich in stories and examples, you will not be able to put this book away.

Garr Reynolds – Presentation Zen

The classic in the field of modern presenting. Garr Reynolds instructions on key, simple and clear chart design are unparalled. Highly useful.

Lilly Walters – Secrets of Successful Speakers

Lilly Walters runs a speakers bureau in the US. She has collected wisdom from professional speakers on preparation and platform skills and has put this into this highly actionable book.

Scott Berkun – Confessions of a Public Speaker

Scott Berkun is a great author and storyteller. With openness and he opens the books and shares his experiences of the “behind the scenes” of speaking professionally. Great, revealing, with many tips and tricks also for the novice and business presenter.

Nancy Duarte – Resonate

This book looks at the basis of great presentations. What si the underlying structure & framework? Very practical, watch also Nancy’s TEDx talk to get an overview.

Jeremy Donovan – How to give a TED talk

TED is a modern presentation format that is setting standards in terms of presentation delivery and design. Jeremy has analyzed plenty of TED talks and destilled what it takes to present one.

Stephen Few – Now you see it

One of the more forgotten items behind all the fancy presentations – often we have to present data and tables. Stephen Few shows in this book the key elements to transforming your data and tables into communication devices.

Gene Zelasny – Say it with Charts

The McKinsey classic. I got my consulting schooling with this firm. Here, the communications director shares his thoughts on compelling business presentations. Especially valuable for the exploration of chart types.

Nancy Duarte – Slide:ology

In this book Nancy covers the key ground on how to create great visual expression of your thoughts. With plenty of examples to help you design great content with presentation software.

Paul Arinaga & Lars Sudmann – The Smart Presenter

The book that I co-authored together with Paul Arinaga. In there we have put everything we know about business presentations. It covers in a highly practical fashion the POINT formula – 5 key steps to double your impact and halve your preparation time for your next business presentation.

The above book links will point you to amazon.co.uk where you can directly order these books via amazon with free shipping also to continental Europe. They are affiliate links.

Receive insights on leadership, communication, and so much more

My latest book on innovation leadership

Book on Leadership Communication

Watch my TEDx talk on Self-Leadership

Watch my TEDx talk on Public Speaking

Lars Sudmann’s twitter account

Privacy overview.

Testimonials
Book Recommendations

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.

Carmine Gallo - Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

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.

William Steele - Presentation Skills 201

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.

Berkun - Confessions of a Public Speaker

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.

Get instant access to my newsletter where I share my best presentation tips.

100% Privacy. No Spam.

10 Key Takeaways from a Shark Tank Success Story

Learn from Haley McClain Hill’s Shark Tank success story what it takes to prepare for Shark Tank — and secure a deal!

Enter the Spotlight with PowerPoint Cameo

PowerPoint Cameo is a hidden gem, a powerful feature that allows you to seamlessly integrate your live video feed into your presentation slides.

ChatGPT Voice - Your Universal Translator

ChatGPT Voice – A Translator in Your Pocket

For anyone who has ever wished for a universal translator à la ‘Star Trek’ – our sci-fi dreams are coming closer to reality, thanks to ChatGPT Voice.

Latest PitchZone Episode

Create Beautiful PowerPoint Slides with ChatGPT and VBA

Here’s a quick tip to boost your productivity by letting ChatGPT and VBA do the heavy lifting when creating PowerPoint slide decks.

Where to Start when Creating an Investor Pitch

Creating an investor pitch can be quite a challenge. So it’s tempting to use a pitch deck template. But there is a better way…

SUGGESTED TOPICS
The Magazine
Newsletters
Managing Yourself
Managing Teams
Work-life Balance
The Big Idea
Data & Visuals
Reading Lists
Case Selections
HBR Learning
Topic Feeds
Account Settings
Email Preferences

What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman (St. Martin’s Press).

Partner Center

Best Books on Presentation Design (Updated 2023)

Discover the best presentation design books: tips, inspiration, and expert advice for effective and visually appealing presentations.

In line with the topic, I can also recommend you some books on the psychology of persuation .

Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences

by Nancy Duarte

Link to the book at Amazon

Nancy Duarte, an expert in the field of presentation design, demonstrates how to create impressive and impactful presentations that not only inform the audience but also inspire and move them to take action. Presentations whose ideas stick, causing the audience to reflect on and talk about them long after they are over.

The underlying idea is to develop a story around the information and then use storytelling principles (as employed in film and literature) to evoke emotions in the audience. The hero of the story is not the presenter but the audience itself. The presenter plays the role of a mentor, inspiring and encouraging the audience to take action.

The author explains these principles through speeches and presentations by well-known speakers and presenters such as Steve Jobs, Martin Luther King Jr., and Ronald Reagan and shows how to incorporate their techniques into your presentations.

A recommendation for anyone who wants to turn their presentations into captivating and impactful experiences, leaving a lasting impression on their audience.

About the Kindle version: Due to numerous graphical contents and partly colored text, I advise against buying "resonate" in the Kindle edition. It does contain the graphics, but in poor resolution, so you cannot read them well even after tediously zooming in.

Suitable as an audiobook? The title is unavailable as an audiobook and would not be suitable as such.

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

Many presentation slides serve primarily as a teleprompter: the presenter, having their back turned to the audience, meanders along countless bullet points. And the audience quickly gets bored because they can read faster than the presenter can talk.

Good presentations, on the other hand, focus on the presenter and their ideas and visions. Slides help the audience grasp those ideas through memorable images and graphics (and occasionally words) – rather than distracting from them.

Nancy Duarte, founder of Duarte Design, has designed presentations for world-renowned brands such as Adobe, Cisco, Google, Hewlett-Packard, and Al Gore’s Oscar-winning film “An Inconvenient Truth.” In “Slide:ology,” she takes you through the presentation development process, from brainstorming to designing powerful and visually appealing slides to eventually delivering the talk.

The book’s focus is on the content and design of the slides. It covers how to present insights rather than data; how to arrange elements and space them properly; how to display numbers, dimensions, and words; how to create diagrams; how to select images; how to choose colors, backgrounds, and fonts; and how to create animations and slide transitions.

The book is excellently structured and designed with great attention to detail. Numerous before-and-after case studies in all chapters help to understand the visualization strategies presented. Even without having studied graphic design, you will be able to implement many of the principles. A recommendation for anyone who wants their next presentation to stand out from the crowd of standard talks.

About the Kindle version: Do yourself a favor and buy the printed book. The many graphics have a poor resolution in the digital version and are, on top of that, black and white on the Kindle.

Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery

by Garr Reynolds

Who doesn't know them? Boring presentations, full of slides cluttered with bullet points, where you are unsure whether to listen to the presenter or read the text.

In “Presentation Zen,” you'll learn how to create presentations that engage the audience, inspire them, and have a lasting impact on them.

You do this, firstly, by using stories, metaphors, and compelling storytelling to build an emotional connection with your audience. And secondly, by using minimalist, visually appealing slides that support the presenter's message with images and graphics rather than confusing the audience with textual clutter.

The book offers numerous design examples, understandable explanations, and practical advice. For example, the author recommends planning a presentation with a whiteboard and sticky notes and only after this “analog” phase creating the slides on the computer. And if a presentation document is required that non-participants can read, we should design it as a separate handout instead of placing all the information as text on the slides.

I highly recommend “Presentation Zen” to anyone who wants to give an effective presentation – whether at university, in the office, or at a conference.

Suitable as an audiobook? The title is unavailable as an audiobook and would not be suitable as such due to numerous illustrations.

The Tall Lady With the Iceberg: The Power of Metaphor to Sell, Persuade & Explain Anything to Anyone

the tall lady with the iceberg anne miller

by Anne Miller

People are generally not won over by facts alone. Salespeople cannot sell on facts alone, and speakers cannot inspire anyone with facts alone. Only when facts are accompanied by emotional messages, for example, in the form of images, stories, or metaphors, can people be persuaded.

In “The Tall Lady With The Iceberg,” Anne Miller, a presentation and communication coach, explains what metaphors are, how to develop them, and how to use them effectively as a salesperson, speaker, or presenter to communicate more effectively, explain complex ideas understandably, and captivate and convince the audience.

Numerous real-life stories and over two hundred example metaphors for various situations make the book an informative and entertaining read. Exercises at the end of the chapters help to consolidate the learned material and allow the reader to develop metaphors for their own messages.

This is a recommendation for all who want to use convincing language to stand out from the crowd of speakers and salespeople or simply in everyday conversations.

Suitable as an audiobook? Yes.

IMAGES

What Are The Must-Read Essential Presentation Books?
The Top 35 Books on Presentations
5 Must-Read Books For Presentation Design Enthusiasts
The Top 35 Books on Presentations
The Top 35 Books on Presentations
11 Best Powerpoint Books Learn Step by Step

VIDEO

2024 Presentation design trends by Williams Lea
Mantano Reader : read and annotate PDFs
Book Notes App
Caraval Book Review #books #booktok #short #reading #review #caraval
Datawars and the future of Advertising: Futurist Speaker Gerd Leonhard at Guardian Ad Summit (2)
How To Create Book Report Presentation on Microsoft Powerpoint

COMMENTS

7 Great Books for Boosting Your Presentation Skills
There are thousands of "how-to" books about presentations, but these, IMHO, are the best and most useful: 1. Speak to Win. Subtitle: How to Present With Power in Any Situation. Author: Brian Tracy ...
17 must-read books about presentation design
The Non-Designer's Presentation Book: Principles for effective presentation design by Robin Williams. This book has helped countless non-designers find their presentation mojo. It's based around four easy-to-understand design principles and guides readers in creating a presentation from start to finish.
16 public speaking books you need to read
16 public speaking books you need to read. 1. The Successful Speaker by Grant Baldwin (2020) 2. How to Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie (1976) 3. Ted Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson (2017) 4.
6 Must-Read Books on Public Speaking That Will Perfect Your Pitch
1. Art of the Pitch: Persuasion and Presentation Skills That Win Business. by Peter Coughter. The author of this narrative book has worked with some of the best advertising agencies in the world ...
What Are The Must-Read Essential Presentation Books?
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 ...
Top 35 Presentation Books: Expert Ratings
Most books (31 out of 35) are rated 4 out of 5 stars or higher by amazon.com readers. 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 ...
10 Best Presentation Books: Boost Your Presentation Skills
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 ...
10 Best Books for Presentation
10 of the best and most popular books for presenting and building presentation skills. Rated by presentation experts, and based on each book's presentation focus as well as content, structure, visual design, and delivery. All are rated 4/5 on Amazon by readers.
11 of the Best Public Speaking Books
TED brings together the world's leading thinkers and speakers who inspire people and give them the confidence to overcome their fear of public speaking. This public speaking book reveals the nine secrets of successful TED presentations by going through hundreds of TED talks and interviewing top presenters and researchers. Get Book. Rating: 4.6/5
100 Best Presentation Books of All Time
100 Best Presentation Books of All Time. We've researched and ranked the best presentation books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more. Featuring recommendations from Sheryl Sandberg, Charles T. Munger, Richard Branson, and 261 other experts. 1.
Top 9 Presentation Design Books (2023)
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.
8 Best Presentation Books for Beginners
The 8 best presentation books for beginners, such as Pitch Ninja, Practical Charts, Presentation Genius and The Art of Public Speaking.
16 Books You Must Read To Create A Persuasive Presentation
The book contains well-explained strategies that are easy to translate from book knowledge to the podium, allowing readers to craft out and deliver speeches that are more impactful and persuasive. To Recap. And there we have it, 16 books to ensure that you have this persuasive presentation down pat! Give them a read, jot down the points they ...
My Top 10 Book Recommendations on Presentations & Public Speaking
Paul Arinaga & Lars Sudmann - The Smart Presenter. The book that I co-authored together with Paul Arinaga. In there we have put everything we know about business presentations. It covers in a highly practical fashion the POINT formula - 5 key steps to double your impact and halve your preparation time for your next business presentation.
Five Must-Read Presentation Skills Books
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 ...
The Best 24 Presentations & Public Speaking Books
Presentations and Public Speaking Books to read in 2024 to broaden your knowledge in Career and Success. User verified book suggestions such as 'The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs' and 'Pitch Anything' by top notch authors like Carmine Gallo and Oren Klaff.
What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation
Read more on Business communication or related topics Power and influence, Presentation skills and Public speaking Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of ...
20 Best-Selling Presentation Books of All Time
20 Best-Selling Presentation Books of All Time - BookAuthority. A list of the best-selling presentation books of all time, such as slide, Resonate, TED Talks and Pitch Anything.
20 Best Microsoft Powerpoint Books of All Time
#5 Best Seller in Presentation Software Books on Amazon; Recommended by Kim Denny. Kim Denny Microsoft PowerPoint Best Practices, Tips, and Techniques is an accessible and thoughtfully organized resource that will help readers create more effective and engaging presentations using PowerPoint. The author covers all the basics, shares best ...
Best Books on Presentations (11 books)
Best Books on Presentations A collection of books which are really unique and offer practical advice. flag All Votes Add Books To This List. 1: The Public Speaking Bible; a Survival Guide for Standing on Stage by. Marcus Alexander. 4.38 avg rating — 803 ratings. score: 2,600 ...
Best Books on Presentation Design (Updated 2023)
Nancy Duarte, founder of Duarte Design, has designed presentations for world-renowned brands such as Adobe, Cisco, Google, Hewlett-Packard, and Al Gore's Oscar-winning film "An Inconvenient Truth.". In "Slide:ology," she takes you through the presentation development process, from brainstorming to designing powerful and visually ...
Presentation Skills Books
avg rating 3.97 — 32 ratings — published 2011. Want to Read. Rate this book. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. Books shelved as presentation-skills: slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations by Nancy Duarte, The Presentation Secrets of Steve...
Using Microsoft PowerPoint
Unlock the full potential of Microsoft PowerPoint with "Using PowerPoint," the ultimate guide to creating captivating presentations. Whether you're a novice or seasoned user, this book is your comprehensive resource for mastering every aspect of PowerPoint. From the very basics of getting start…
20 Best New Microsoft Powerpoint Books To Read In 2024
A list of 20 new microsoft powerpoint books you should read in 2024, such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft PowerPoint 2024.

16 public speaking books you need to read

Table of Contents

1. The Successful Speaker by Grant Baldwin (2020)

2. How to Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie (1976)

3. Ted Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson (2017)

4. How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling (2022)

5. How to Win an Argument: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Persuasion by James May (2016)

7. Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking by Mehdi Hasan (2023)

8. How Your Story Sets You Free by Heather Box and Julian Mocine-McQueen (2019)

9. How to Speak, How to Listen by Mortimer J. Adler (1983)

10. Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences by Nancy Duarte (2010)

11. The Public Speaking Bible: A Survival Guide for Standing on Stage by Marcus Alexander (2020)

12. How To Talk To Anybody :14 Speaking Techniques To Instantly Connect With Anyone by Ryan Harrison (2022)

13. Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun (2009)

14. Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds by Carmine Gallo (2015)

15. Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln by James Hume (2002)

16. Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results by Rob Biesenbach (2018)

About The Speaker Lab

Get Started

What are the Must-Read Essential Presentation Books?

We’ve got to hand it to the internet.

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

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

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

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

4. Confessions of a Public Speaker, Scott Berkun

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

6. Interaction of Color, Josef Albers

Other Recommend Reading:

Illiya Vjestica

Speech Critiques

Top 35 Presentation Books: Expert Ratings

Analysis and Participants

Summary of the Results

Books with a Content/Delivery Focus

How about you? Which are your favorites?

Please share this...

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Subscribe - It's Free!

Find More Articles Tagged:

1 Blog Link

Featured Articles

Books We Recommend

Top 10 Best Presentation Books: Transform Your Public Speaking Skills

Key concepts and techniques

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Confessions of a Public Speaker” by Scott Berkun

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

Best Presentation Books Wrap Up

Additional Resources

4 thoughts on “Top 10 Best Presentation Books: Transform Your Public Speaking Skills”

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

100 Best Presentation Books of All Time

Presentation Zen

Made to Stick

slide:ology

Crucial Conversations

Start with Why

Talk Like TED

Don't have time to read the top Presentation books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

Pitch Anything

Presentation Zen Design

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook

Never Split the Difference

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information

The Non-Designer's Presentation Book

The Naked Presenter

Confessions of a Public Speaker

Storytelling with Data

Envisioning Information

Where the Sidewalk Ends

On Writing Well

Show and Tell