How to Give A Damn Good Speech: Even When You Have No Time to Prepare (30-Minute Solutions Series)

By Philip R. Theibert and Philip R Thiebert

Book Overview

The best advice, openings, stories, and facts for a standout speech--from a professional speechwriter for CEOs, political figures, and other top officials.

Don't let the mere thought of presenting a speech tie your stomach in knots and put you in state of sheer panic. Philip Theibert, author of Business Writing for Busy People, has written How to Give a Damn Good Speech to help you give any speech, sounding like a seasoned pro. He provides a blueprint for producing a professional, thought-provoking, friendly, and authoritative speech, even when you have very little time to prepare.

How to Give a Damn Good Speech provides you with professional speech writers' techniques to make each and every speech a powerful presentation. Theibert has done years of research and has read thousands of speeches in an effort to better illustrate his points and bring you the best examples possible. You can read the book in its entirety or, if you simply need a refresher, you can read the section that best suits your needs. This format allows you to focus on areas of your speech that most need help. Topics covered include: How to organize and write a speech 100 important things you need to know about giving an effective speech Interesting and entertaining stories to use in any speech Best quotations ever heard Historical anecdotes for each day of the year
How to Give a Damn Good Speech, with its easy-to-read, accessible style, makes writing and giving speeches a breeze, and will prevent you from turning green the next time you're asked to give a speech.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1564143066
• ISBN13: 9781564143068
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: Weiser
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.3" x 0.8" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

This is a damned good book

I have many books about speaking, presenting, etc.; most of which are singularly unhelpful. This book gives great, practical advice ~ and, if you follow it, you will give a damn good speech. Buy it. Use it.

No Kidding - With This Book You Can Give A Great Speech

If you must speak to a crowd greater than one - then you need this book. This book has it all. The author has done extensive research and has read thousands of speeches in preparation for this book. If you want to be the best you can be at public speaking, at selling yourself and your ideas, this book will be your best friend. As explained by the author here are some of the basics of a good speech: 1. Identify your topic and goal 2. Write your opening line 3. Identify a few key points 4. Support your key points 5. Wrap it up with a summarizing conclusion Go beyond a basic outline as explained by the author: 1. Acknowledge your audience 2. Take a moment to define your terms 3. Clarify your qualifications 4. Address audience biases 5. Tell them what you are going to talk about 6. Tell the audience why they should care 7. Back up your points with stories 8. Back up your points with facts 9. Back up your points with history 10. Build strong transitions 11. Wrap it up 12. Include a call to action 13. Conclude with the beginning The book gives the reader 100 fantastic openings for the reader to choose from in preparing his/her own speech. In addition, the book provides the reader with a list of 250 great quotations to choose from in writing a speech. Also, the book provides the reader with an almanac which provides happenings on each date of the year which the speech writer can include when the date the speech is to be given is known.

Really good book to help prepare my speech

The outline in this book is better than many others I have seen. I was able to put my speech together much quicker and in a more organized fashion with this book. Great Reference to have in your personal library.

Lot of useful advice!

You'll get a lot of useful advice from HOW TO GIVE A DAMN GOOD SPEECH by Philip R. Theibert, a professional speech writer . . . and regardless of your level of experience in this field, you'll find something that will be of value here.There's excellent material on how to organize and write a speech, followed by 100 important things you need to know about giving an effective speech . . . I also liked the author's collection of "best" quotations, along with his compilation of 365 ideas relating to historical dates and events that can be weaved into your speech . . . best of all: he shows you how!Here's just some of the material that caught my attention:A baseball legend's rules for a long lifeSatchel Paige, a famous baseball pitcher of indeterminate age, once offered his rules for a long life:* Avoid fried meats, which angry up the blood.* If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts.* Keep the juices flowing by jangling around gently as you move.* Go very light on the vices, such as carrying on in society. The social rumble ain't restful.* Avoid running at all times.* Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you.I'd like to add another rule onto that list. And that one is: Avoid speaking to a group for more than 10 minutes. A long talk might anger up the audience's blood. So today, let me--very briefly--talk about . . . Use Elvis . . . he always gets a laughWell, I know you have to be very cautious about making predictions. Especially when you predict where things are going to be five years from now. For example, in 1973, there were 457 Elvis impersonators in America. In 1993, there were 2,736 Elvis impersonators in America. If this trend continues, by the year 2000 one out of four Americans will be an Elvis impersonator.Tip O'Neill, US Congressman and former speaker of the House ofRepresentatives, enjoyed telling the story of the only election he ever lost. As a very young man, he ran for the city council in his hometown of Cambridge, Massachusetts. After his defeat, the elderly lady who lived next door said she had voted for him even though he had never bothered to ask for her vote. O'Neill was surprised. He pointed out that he had shoveled her snow every winter. Cut her grass every summer. Couldn't he just assume that he had her vote? But the woman just looked at him and said: "Tip, people like to be asked."

This is GREAT!

I bought this book to help me give my first corporate speech. Not only did I give a damn good speech, but every aspect of my communicating life has been improved. I use Theibert's methods for giving speeches, writing, phone calls, and daily conversations. Now I feel more comfortable communicating, whatever the situation.