Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln: 21 Powerful Secrets of History's Greatest Speakers

by James C. Humes

Book Overview

Turn any presentation into a landmark occasion

"I love this book. I've followed Humes's lessons for years, and he combines them all into one compact, hard-hitting resource. Get this book on your desk now."--Chris Matthews, Hardball

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761563512
• ISBN13: 9780761563518
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Delivers

Unbelievable that no one taught me these principles years ago. This guy has been around a long time! Excellent, easy to read and incorporate.

Easy to read, easy to apply

The author offers 200 pages organized around 21 principles of persuasive speaking. The principles cover a wide range of topics. The book includes many examples from historical speakers. This book was a joy to read and I have already shared it with others. John Dunbar Sugar Land, TX

Superb! Cant be more helpful!

I had read the author's another book "The wit and wisdom of Winston Churchill". I expected this to be something very similar to that. I had been absolutely wrong. This book is dedicated to the enhancement of a speaker's ability to deliver a quality speech. It is eloquently written and well organised with elaboration of distinctive secrets or fundamental elements employed by great speakers (please refer to the content page here for a quick grasp). I am sure that if I had read it years earlier, I would have saved myself from having spoken "dully" or even "foolishly" in various occasions, despite from hindsight. In short, a must read for anyone who wants to speak, impress and lead. Below please find some of my favorite passages for your reference. Hope you like them. Blair delivers a gravity defying performance of style over substance...a slick talk of accomplishments, not solid accomplishment itself. pg ix Churchill once explained that praise in the beginning of a talk sounds like flattery, whereas the same praise wedged in the middle of the talk comes off as sincerity. pg 10 Churchill once said that a speech is like a symphony. It may have three movements but must have one dominant melody. pg 29 Oh Lord. We thank you for giving us minds and mouths. Please help us keep the two of them connected. pg 30 Good communication spells the difference between a leader and a manager. pg 45 JKF: "Our task is not to fix the blame for the past, but to fix the course for the future". Louis Pasteur: "Do not promote what you cant explain, simplify and prove early". Pg 51 Churchill would argue that an article should be written for the eye, but a speech for the ear. pg 116 For a strong ending, said Churchill, you have to appeal to the emotions - pride, hope, love, and occasionally, fear. pg 177 An unconditional display of courage can send an unusally strong message. pg 199

The Fundamentals

Red Auerbach used to teach his legendary Boston Celtics to stick to the fundamentals. This book is filled with help to make your speeches memorable. This book will add impact to your next talk whether in school, work or a one on one meeting. The author presumes a basic knowledge of speech construction. If you want help with that read Jack Valenti.

Wonderful Tool For Speakers

I expected a lot from this book and was still pleasantly surprised. James C. Humes is a very experienced speechwriter and speaker that takes the time to tell you some great secrets of public speaking. The book goes through every aspect of speaking from opening to closing and beyond. Each section has many great ideas to take from it. There was no chapter that I did not walk away from saying, "That was a great idea!" When he makes a recommendation, he backs it up with supporting facts and real stories that illustrate the point. The book is also easy to read. The writing style is easy to read and is interesting. Humes seamlessly ties in stories from the great speakers of history to demonstrate his ideas. Many of the stories are humorous, but all are good. Humes is also very clear in his recommendations, which leaves little confusion on the reader's part. I would recommend this to anyone interested in public speaking.