The book report

A presenter-friendly roundup of new books on speaking, technology and business.

There are two reasons we read books: for pleasure and for education. Business and books fall into the latter category, at least for most of us. We only turn down that aisle in the bookstore when we are second-guessing our management or interview skills, need to give a presentation to a big client or want to learn something that may improve our career.

If you're a presenter, the task is that much harder because good books on presenting are few and far between. To help make the hunt easier, we combed the shelves and found a number of volumes worth considering. The following is our final report — and then some.

—The Editors



Life Is a Series of Presentations

Tony Jeary (with Kim Dower and J.E. Fishman)

Tony Jeary, who calls himself "Mr. Presentation," has dedicated the past 20 years to improving the presentation skills of both himself and others, most notably top executives of such stalwart companies as Caterpillar, Ford and Wal-Mart. Although Jeary has written other books on presenting, Life Is a Series of Presentations crams the basics of his philosophy and methodology into a readable and informative volume that, if you stick with it and apply his principles, is bound to yield surprising rewards. No one has devised a more thorough, systematic approach to getting better at the art of presenting.

If anything, there may be too much information here. The book starts off with an overview of the academic theory underlying Jeary's methods, including sections on Robert Cialdini's research into the psychology of persuasion, the mechanics of neurolinguistic programming and other arcane areas in the social sciences. Terms such as sensory modality, sensory acuity, the Law of Requisite Variety, metaprograms, and kinesthetic learning are tossed around fast and furiously in the first 60 pages. After that the book settles into its central premise and starts to tease out the important stuff.

Jeary's key insight is that, as the title suggests, life can be seen as a series of all kinds of presentations. Sales calls and speeches aren't the only kind of presentations, he says. E-mails, phone calls, conversations with your spouse and children — these all are forms of presentation, and each represents an opportunity for the "presenter" to affect the outcome of the interaction. If the presenter can take maximum advantage of each of these opportunities — that is, do everything possible to achieve the desired outcome — then it follows that the presenter's entire life, career and overall sense of well-being will improve.

Jeary provides numerous assessment tools for identifying overlooked presentation opportunities, and outlines practical, step-by-step methods for improving one's performance both on the job and off. There aren't any quick fixes here, and it could take many years to master the principles outlined in this book, but there's plenty of good advice between these covers, whether you take it in pieces or, as Jeary himself has done, devote your entire life to it. Either way, you'll come out ahead.
Tad Simons

Life is a Series of Presentations
Price: $24.
Simon & Schuster, New York City, 2004; pp. 251. www.tonyjeary.com

What it covers: A unique way of viewing life as a series of opportunities for improving presentation skills and making life more rewarding in the process.

What it doesn't cover: The role of technology in improving presentations.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: You're serious about using your presentation skills to get ahead in work and in life.



Working the Room: How to Move People to Action Through Audience-centered Speaking

Nick Morgan

As the editor of the Harvard Management Communication Letter and principal of the communication-coaching company Public Words, Nick Morgan has developed strong opinions over the years on what works with an audience — and what doesn't. Working the Room kicks off with "The only reason to give a speech is to change the world," a quote attributed to a speechwriter friend of the author's. This leads readers into the theory of "kinesthetic speaking."

Morgan's concept of kinesthetic speaking focuses on making intellectual, emotional and sometimes even physical contact with the audience to create positive, meaningful impact. The book begins smartly with the premise that most business presentations are dreadful, and then cites examples and lends advice from some of the most successful speakers and speeches of all time, from the ancient Greeks to President John F. Kennedy. There are chapters on paying attention to audience needs and choreographing the kinesthetics.

Both literally and figuratively, Morgan's ideas offer a hands-on approach to affecting people through public speaking.
Stephen Regenold

Working the Room: How to Move People to Action Through Audience-centered Speaking
Price: $25.
Harvard Business School Press, Boston, 2003; pp. 230. www.hbspress.com

What it covers: Identifying an audience members' needs and crafting a message to tug at their emotions.

What it doesn't cover: It reads like a textbook, so simple how-to tips will not be found here.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: You want to connect with your audiences at a deeper level.



Top of the class ...



How to Prepare, Stage and Deliver Winning Presentations

Thomas Leech

Out of all the books reviewed here, this is the one we recommend to anyone who has been asked to present and hasn't stepped up to a podium since college. The book is well-written, easy to read and full of solid basics on presenting.

Because the book is organized in sections such as Prepare, Stage, Deliver, Follow-up and Special Situations, the reader can walk through the learning process and gain insight into the importance of each step. We like how the author chooses not to rely on "When I am in this situation" advice. Rather, Leech peppers the book with quotes from clients across several industries to help illustrate how these skills pay off in real-life settings. The quotes add credence to Leech's advice, especially in the introductory overview that stresses the importance of taking presentation and other communication skills seriously for the sake of your career. All in all, it's a great book for any presenter's bookshelf.
Julie Hill

How to Prepare, Stage and Deliver Winning Presentations
Price: $25.
AMACOM, New York City, 2004; pp. 330. www.amacombooks.org

What it covers: Everything you need to prepare and deliver a solid presentation.

What it doesn't cover: Advanced skills those who speak professionally may be looking for.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: You haven't made a presentation since college, are looking to improve your skills, or just want a solid presentation reference book.



The Coward's Guide to Conflict

Tim Ursiny, Ph.D.

Dealing with conflict isn't easy. But it's not that hard, either — and if you can learn even a few of the skills discussed in The Coward's Guide to Conflict, your personal and professional lives are bound to improve.

Author Tim Ursiny is a psychologist and "success coach" who takes the average-man approach to grappling with uncomfortable personal encounters: If he can do it, anyone can. Ursiny uses an entertaining mix of personal anecdotes and anonymous case studies to illustrate the various ways people tie themselves in knots trying to avoid conflict. Then he steps back and offers more-constructive ways to deal with the same situation, and provides several workbook exercises to help readers identify and rethink their own conflict-avoidance tactics. (Yes, this is one of those books that is more useful if you can muster the self-discipline to work through the many self-examination exercises.)

Even if you don't do the exercises, you'll find plenty of sound reasoning on why avoiding conflict causes more pain and anguish than learning how to confront it — especially when one realizes that such confrontations don't necessarily have to involve yelling or hurt feelings. By the time you're done, Ursiny may even have you embracing conflict as a means of improving your relationships with people — or at least considering it.
T.S.

The Coward's Guide to Conflict
Price: $17.
SourceBooks Inc., Naperville, Ill., 2003; pp. 282. www.sourcebooks.com

What it covers: Conflict, why we avoid it, what it costs us personally, and how to get our mind around this most basic of human fears.

What it doesn't cover: Magic cures — it won't solve your communication issues if you don't do the exercises.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: You'd rather drive razor blades under your fingernails than face an uncomfortable conflict situation.



Listen… It Will Change Your Life

Charles Page

Although presenters tend to focus on what's coming out of their mouths, Charles Page's book makes a good argument for paying closer attention to what goes into their ears. Listen…It Will Change Your Life offers a no-nonsense approach, along with some humor, as it lays out a simple procedure for listening to others, overcoming obstacles and improving listening skills. There are special chapters on listening in professional settings as well as sections on listening during arguments and listening to difficult personality types. There's also a catch-all chapter that offers tips for listening to your doctor, children, even unhelpful customer-service reps. You may want to skip the over-indulgence of the author's 34 precepts to a happy and fulfilling life, but otherwise, this book is an easy read that contains tips that can be used everywhere.
J.H.



Listen…It Will Change your Life
Price: $13.
Park Place Publications, Pacific Grove, Calif., 2002; pp. 119. www.listen-it-will-change-your-life.com

What it covers: Basic listening skills and tips for listening at work, in interviews, in presentations and with various personality types.

What it doesn't cover: Other communication skills.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: You have ears and want to use them more effectively to gather useful information.



Photoshop Studio Skills

(Several contributors)

Put out by the publishing company that creates Design Graphics magazine, Photoshop Studio Skills is a beautifully illustrated book that's just as fun to page through as it is to read. Like a photo? See a cool effect? Wish you could do that in Photoshop? You can, following this book's detailed illustrations, screen shots and advice. The chapters, arranged and color-coded by topic, include palettes and tools, color effects and correction, lighting and shadows, paths, selections, channels and masks, and more. Keep in mind that this is a technical book; it will show you the how-to, but won't delve into the why. Regardless, it's a great book if you love to play in Photoshop and want to create stunning images.
J.H.

Photoshop Studio Skills
Price: $35.
Wiley Publishing Inc., Hoboken, N.J., 2003; pp. 317. www.wiley.com/compbooks

What it covers: Numerous image-editing techniques, from fixing up photos to creating cool visual effects.

What it doesn't cover: Although it tells you how to do it, it doesn't go into when or why.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: You love working and playing with digital images and want to get better at it. A great go-to book for ideas.



From Contact to Contract: 496 Proven Sales Tips to Generate More Leads, Close More Deals, Exceed Your Goals, and Make More Money

Dianna Booher

Besides the lengthy title promising sales nirvana, Dianna Booher's From Contact to Contract offers hundreds of easy-to-read tips for selling products, and yourself, in the business world. There are 20 pages on sales presenting. Otherwise the book focuses on sales techniques ranging from cold calling to selling your product to a senior executive. Booher leans on her 20-plus years of consulting experience with Fortune 500 companies to provide no-nonsense advice as well as rationales for why people react the way they do in sales meetings. There are some platitudes in the book's 282 pages, but it's easy to skim past the stuff you know and grab valuable new selling ideas.
S.R.

From Contact to Contract: 496 Proven Sales Tips to Generate More Leads, Close More Deals, Exceed Your Goals, and Make More Money
Price: $20.
Dearborn Trade Publishing, Chicago, 2003; pp. 282. www.dearborntrade.com

What it covers: Some sales presenting tips and plenty of sales communication (i.e., seal-the-deal, make-them-like-you advice). One chapter is dedicated to sales-presentation skills.

What it doesn't cover: Much information on anything other than selling.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: You're new to the sales field and anxious to find helpful tips.



How to Do Everything With Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003

Ellen Finkelstein

Every beginner to presenting should have a good PowerPoint reference book, and How to Do Everything With Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 is just such a resource. Divided by sections on creating, adding multimedia and managing PowerPoint presentations, the chapters are packed full of visual examples, boxed-out tips, shortcuts and notes. The opening chapters serve the beginner well. There are also chapters on more-advanced techniques for using Visual Basic script, creating macros, and preparing Web-style presentations. It's occasionally necessary to consult the index for specific pieces of information, but for the novice user this book has lots of helpful ideas for creating an effective PowerPoint presentation.
J.H.

How to do everything with Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
Price: $25.
McGraw-Hill/Osborne, Emeryville, Calif., 2003; pp. 415. www.ellenfinkelstein.com

What it covers: Basic PowerPoint slideshow-creation skills. Shortcuts, tips, notes, resource sidebars and examples pepper the text for easy reading. Intermediate and advanced skills are in the back of the book.

What it doesn't cover: Not many new ideas for advanced users.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: You're a PowerPoint novice. Intermediate and advanced users should consider their skill level before plunking the money down.



The Complete Guide to Public Speaking

Jeff Davidson

What this book leaves out of its title is the word professional. While most of the tips have some value for all presenters, the majority of this book's content is geared toward the professional speaking life. It includes tips on evergreen topics, trend-watching, marketing yourself, negotiating contracts and other aspects of speaking professionally. There are some gems in here, such as a whole chapter dedicated to identifying good stories and making them better and a chapter on using pauses to your advantage. This is a quick read and most of the advice is fairly general. If your ultimate goal is to follow in the footsteps of Tom Peters or Zig Ziglar, this book provides a "lets-get-started" roadmap.
J.H.

The Complete Guide to Public Speaking
Price: $17.
Wiley Publishing Inc., Hoboken, N.J., 2003; pp. 324. www.wiley.com/business

What it covers: Great advice for budding professional speakers. Chapters on emotional appeal and stories are particularly helpful.

What it doesn't cover: Beginning presentation skills.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: You want to be a professional speaking star. If you'd rather only speak when called upon, look elsewhere for advice.



Photoshop Elements 2 Bible

Laurie Ann Ulrich

If an image-editing task can be done in Photoshop Elements 2, then you can do it too. That's the premise of Laurie Ann Ulrich's Photoshop Elements 2 Bible, a how-to compendium on just about every trick and tool Adobe's consumer-level imaging program has to offer. There are sections on Web graphics, retouching old photographs, animation, painting, filters and artistic effects, as well as basics such as cropping, resizing an image and adding text.

The book's 500-some pages lean on numbered steps, easy-to-read paragraphs and lots and lots of screen shots. Most of the book is in black and white, but it also includes a 32-page gallery section of glossy color pages. Overall, the book does the job of showing how to get the most out of Photoshop Elements 2.
S.R.

Photoshop Elements 2 Bible
Price: $30.
Wiley Publishing Inc., Hoboken, N.J., 2004; pp. 553. www.wiley.com/compbooks

What it covers: The ins and outs of Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 with lots of screen shots and examples.

What it doesn't cover: Design philosophies.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: Adobe Photoshop Elements is your main image-editing program and you're tired of staring at the interface with no idea where to start.



Detention



The Present

Spencer Johnson, M.D.

The Present currently sits atop the business best-seller list, having pushed aside the author's previous serving of self-help pablum, Who Moved My Cheese? Let me begin by saying that I realize this book was not written for people like me. Right out of the box, Johnson implies that skeptics may find it too easy to dismiss such a profoundly simple story — and he is absolutely right. Allow me to save you $20.

Subtitled The Gift that Makes You Happy and Successful at Work and in Life, the vanilla truths revealed in this book boil down to this: Think positively, live in the present (get it?), learn from your mistakes, plan for the future, and do meaningful work.

The trick to making such platitudes seem more profound than they really are is, evidently, to put them in italics. Everything seems more important in italics. Three other crucial elements: make the type REALLY HUGE, don't use any big words, and never write a paragraph more the three sentences or 50 words long (whichever comes first). If you do all of these things and can legitimately put the designation M.D. after your name, people will mistake your simplicity for wisdom, and you will become very rich. Of such stuff best-sellers are made.

I realize there are millions of people out there who loved Who Moved My Cheese? But if you are one of those lonely souls who didn't, and who is looking for an excuse not to have to buy or read The Present, or any other book by Spencer Johnson, clip this review and show it to your manager. This is my gift to you.
T.S.

The Present
Price: $20.
Doubleday, New York City, 2003; pp. 106. www.thepresent.com

What it covers: Living in the present.

What it doesn't cover: Almost everything else.

Spend your hard-earned cash on this if: You need to start a fire and are in desperate need of something combustible.
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